Image
John Wright Photo
Petrolia Squires forward Isaac McLean battles for the puck in game four of the Ontario Elite Hockey League conference semi-final on Sunday night.

Squires on the brink of elimination in OEHL playoffs

March 9, 2026

John Wright/The Independent

The Petrolia Squires have no room for error after falling 7-3 to the Elora Rocks in game four of their Ontario Elite Hockey League conference semi-final on Sunday night.

Elora jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period but the Squires cut their lead in half with a goal from Joey Ferrera late in the frame.

The two teams traded goals in the second with Curtis Helps evening the game just over six minutes into the period. Elora restored their lead late, scoring with 30 seconds left in the middle frame.

Helps potted his second goal of the night early in third to tie the game for the second time but after that the Rocks would pull away, putting up four unanswered goals to take a commanding a 3-1 series lead.

Jakob Knowles was busy in Petrolia’s crease, stopping 51 shots.

Elora dominated the shot clock, outshooting the Squires 58-27.

Petrolia hosts game five at Greenwood on Friday night at 8:30. If the Squires win, they would force a sixth game in Elora on Saturday night at 7:30.

Share This

Image
Front Page

Joris excited to serve on Warwick council

October 28, 2026

Heather Wright/The Independent “I was totally stunned that I got the most votes, honestly,” says Jane Joris. The Watford resident is the newest member of Warwick Township council. Joris, a former long-term care administrator in Lambton, received 800 votes in Monday’s municipal election. That put her at the top of the polls for one of the four council seats. “I’m

Read More

Image
Front Page

Sting, Knights players on radar for 2027 NHL Draft

October 28, 2026

Barry Wright/The Independent Easton Walos of the Sting is one of ten players from the OHL rated as potential first round picks for the National Hockey League draft in 2027. He was one of five Sting players on NHL Central Scouting’s Players to Watch list released Monday. The Wisconsin native, who turns 18 in two months, is third in league

Read More

Image
Front Page

Reviving Watford’s ‘amazing’ library

October 28, 2026

Blake Ellis/The Independent “It is an amazing building,” said Lambton County Warden Kevin Marriott, as the Watford Public Library was officially reopened. One of the few Carnegie libraries still in operation, Marriott said when the library first opened, books were kept behind the service desks and patrons relied on the librarian to retrieve a book. “It is remarkable to think

Read More

Image
Front Page

Sports Briefs: Brandon records first career OJHL hat trick

October 28, 2026

Barry Wright/The Independent Gage Brandon scored three times and assisted on the game-winning goal in the third period to lead the Pickering Panthers to an 8-7 win over North York in OJHL action Friday. It was the first OJHL hat trick for the Petrolia native. Brandon is among the rookie scoring leaders in the league this season with six goals

Read More