The Rock put together a 5-goal run in the final three minutes of the first period to lead 6-2 heading into the intermission and they held on to pull out the win. The teams each scored 5 times in the second period and Brampton fought back to make it close, scoring the first 3 goals of the third period to pull within 11-10. But Oakville added a goals from Leblanc and Brendan Muise in the final five minutes to seal the deal.
Brendan Thenhaus scored a hat trick and an assist while Nic Grasby contributed 1 goals and 5 assists for Oakville. Dan Dawson was Brampton's top scorer with a goal and 5 assists while Mike Burke chipped in 2 goals and 2 assists.
Brampton fell to 0-2 to start the season for the first time in 13 years. The positive side to that stat for Excelsiors fans is that in 2000 the team rebounded from the slow start to reach game seven of the MSL finals. That iteration of the team, by the way, included for one game a young Jr A callup named Sandy Chapman. The Brooklin team that beat the Excelsiors in the finals and went on to win the Mann Cup was led by current Redmen Shawn Williams and Gavin Prout.
