The Rayburn Construction Junior A Northmen are one step closer to their regular season after defeating Burlington 9-6 in exhibition play on Saturday night.

With both teams looking to make their mark, tempers flared from the start earning an early trip to the showers for both Mike McLeod and Jay Card.

The Cheifs were first to the scoreboard at the 12:47 mark of the opening period.

Spencer Joyce would get that back for Orangeville five minutes later but then Burlington added another pair to restore their lead, widening it to 4-1 with another off the top of the second.

Orangeville soon came alive, however, with unanswered goals from Matt McMurray, Jesse Gamble, Jeremy Noble and Cody Richardson to take the lead.

Alone Cheifs marker with 6:18 left in play in the second brought Burlington as close to Orangeville as they would get for the remainder of the game with the score tied at 5-5 going into the final 20 minutes of play.

In the third, it was all Northmen. Greg Harnett,

Matt Lyons and Andrew Suitor each tagged singles while Richardson notched his second of the night to lead Orangeville to a 9-6 win.

The two teams will hook up once more in exhibition play back in Orangeville on Friday May 4th before opening the regular season on the road in Akwesasne the following weekend.