The Newmarket Hurricanes tried to dig themselves out of a three-goal hole, but the Pickering Panthers held on for a 4-2 victory.

Pickering made the score 4-1 on a goal by Mitch Emerson at 10:23 in the third period, and Newmarket got as close as 4-2 when Cameron Nicoll scored 18:49 into the third period.

Referees had their hands full with a major incident at 19:26 into the second period. Four fighting penalties were dished out along with two game misconducts.

The Panthers forced the Hurricanes goalie Connor Ryckman to work between the pipes, taking 32 shots.

Pickering was helped by Chris Sekelyk, who tallied one goal. Sekelyk scored 5:32 into the first period to make the score 1-0 Pickering. Daniel Butchart provided the assist. Pickering additionally got points from BJ Salerno, who also registered one goal and one assist. Pickering also got a goal from Aidan Parker as well. In addition, Pickering received assists from Riley Devine, who had two and Doug Carter, Sean Power, Mark Tenuta, and Blake Coffey, who contributed one each.

Sam Hu also scored for Newmarket. More assists for Newmarket came via Mitchell Duggan, Christian Dedonato, and Dallas Baird, who each chipped in one.

The Panthers' Austin Washkurak stopped 27 shots out of the 29 that he faced. Pickering totaled 25 minutes in penalty time with five minors and one major and went 1-for-5 on the power play. Team's Kyler Challis and John Hudgin were slapped with misconducts and ejected from the game. Connor Ryckman made 28 saves for Newmarket on 32 shots. The Hurricanes totaled 15 minutes in penalty time with five minors and one major and went 1-for-5 on the power play. Newmarket ran into serious disciplinary problems during the contest, and Brett Thomson was ejected from the game.