Sailors Surge Late, Push Peach Kings to the Brink

Port Dover, ON – March 1, 2026

The third period has belonged to the Port Dover Sailors in this series.

On Sunday afternoon inside a buzzing Port Dover Arena, the Sailors scored three unanswered goals in the final eight minutes to defeat the Grimsby Peach Kings 3 to 1 in Game 4 of their PJHL playoff matchup. The victory gives Port Dover a 3 to 1 series lead with Game 5 set for Monday night in Grimsby.

It was not comfortable. It was not easy. It was playoff hockey in its purest form.

Grimsby controlled much of the shot clock, firing 46 pucks toward Samuel Rudner. The Sailors generated 30 of their own. The difference was timing and composure.

Through forty minutes the game followed a familiar script. Tight checking. Limited space. Very little separation. Grimsby broke through first at 13:50 of the second period when Joey Marrese converted off a feed from Nathan Leistner. For long stretches the Peach Kings dictated pace, forcing Port Dover to defend and absorb pressure.

Rudner never flinched.

The Sailors goaltender turned aside 45 of 46 shots, including several high danger looks during four Grimsby power plays. He was square, patient and controlled rebounds. In playoff hockey, that steadiness spreads.

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Port Dover entered the third period trailing by one and needing a response. They found it at 12:35 when Lucas Koutny scored his first of the postseason, finishing a play created by Cole Barone. The equalizer shifted the building.

From there, the Sailors seized control.

At 16:46, Trevor Nunn continued his strong playoff run, wiring home his fifth of the series off crisp puck movement from Aiden Cloet and Dylan Courrier. The play was quick, decisive and emblematic of a team confident in its structure.

Max Koekoek sealed it with an empty net goal at 19:25, set up by Ryan Vannetten, sending 458 fans home sensing something significant.

Head Coach Mike Miket was clear afterward.

“We are winning games right now because we are playing good not because they are playing bad.”

It is a pointed distinction. The Sailors are not capitalizing on mistakes. They are forcing them.

Head of Hockey Operations Mike Tobin echoed that view.

“All four games have been good entertaining hockey and each could have gone either way. I think something that is definitely helping us is we are getting strong efforts from all 20 guys in the line up. When we have had an injury, the next guy has been able to step in and not miss a beat. We realize there is still a lot of hockey left and know that they are a good team.”

That depth showed Sunday. Port Dover killed four penalties. They matched Grimsby’s physicality. They stayed within their lanes and did not chase the game emotionally. It was disciplined hockey in a high pressure moment.

Now the Sailors head back to Grimsby for Game 5 with a chance to close the series. The Peach Kings have proven throughout this matchup that they are capable of swinging momentum quickly. Nothing will come easily.

If the series returns to Port Dover on Tuesday night, puck drop is set for 8:30 and the Sailors will need the same energy that filled the arena Sunday.

For now, Port Dover holds the edge. Three wins. One to go.

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