CRUSHERS Jarrod Connolly powers past BeeHives Kyle Merman in CCHL Junior A action in Orangeville on Friday night. Photo/MIKE MALONEY The Orangeville Crushers seemed to solve their recent scoring slump, tallying for 13 goals while allowing only five against in wins over Dixie and Upper Canada this past weekend.

Following on the heels of a 8-3 road loss to Pickering on Wednesday the Crushers made the most of home ice advantage on Friday when the Dixie BeeHives came to town.

Having another big night, Mike Arnold lead the way for Orangeville. Opening the scoring just 51 seconds into the opening frame with the help of line mates Jarrod Connolly and Philip Teri, Arnold would also assist on a goal by Teri in the first before adding two more for the hat trick in the second.

Nicholas Vassos didn't take long gelling with his recently acquired linemate Ryan Marcuz.

Playing in his first game with the Crushers, Marcuz assisted on both of Vassos' two goals as well as adding one his own with the help of Beni Berisha late in the third.

Nick Gigone played a solid game in net for Orangeville, turning away 25 of 27 shots sent his way in the 7-2 Crusher victory.

Sunday night found Orangeville at the Lakeshore Lions Arena in Etobicoke where they hooked up for their first meeting of the season against the Upper Canada Patriots.

Again it was a familiar cast of characters leading the way, and a few not-so-regulars poking onto the scoresheet as well.

For the second night in a row, Arnold was the man with the hot stick, scoring four with Connolly assisting on them all.

Marcuz accounted for the other two Crushers goals with Teri (1), Vassos (2) and Berisha (1) being joined by Tyson Fawcett, Brock Bissonnette and Cody Britton - each with one in the assist column.

Speaking after Friday nights win over Dixie, Orangeville coach Dale Hawerchuk was pleased to finally see the team get rewarded for their efforts with a win.

Noting how they had out played, out shot and out chanced both opponents in their last two games only to come up on the short side of the scoreboard, it was nice to see his team score some goals.

Knowing the team is "still a work in progress," he is encouraged to see the guys starting to come around and he feels the things he and his coaching staff are trying to impart on the guys will soon become second nature out there on the ice.

Currently, Orangeville sits two pints back of Burlington and Toronto, who are tied at 15 for first place in the central Canadian Hockey League West Division standings.

Even though it is Thanksgiving, there will be no holiday this weekend for the Crushers.

Playing back-to-back games at home to Hamilton and Ajax, Friday and Saturday night respectively,

Sunday afternoon will find them on the road again when they face off at 2 p.m. against the St. Michaels Buzzers.