The race for the lead in the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Phillips Division is turning out to be a five-team affair, which includes the Huntsville Muskoka Otters.

Only five points separate the teams following weekend play. The Otters are currently in third place in the division with 17 points, three behind the division leaders Orangeville Crushers and one back of the Aurora Tigers. Couchiching (16 points) and North York (15 points) round out the fivesome.

The Otters, with a record of 8-2-1, are in the midst of a four-game winning streak that has put them back into the hunt for the division lead after a three-game mini slide early in the season. Huntsville downed its regional rivals the Seguin Bruins 6-4 Friday night before winning an important 3-1 game against the Crushers in Orangeville Saturday night.

Huntsville pounded the Seguin Bruins’ defence on Friday night at the Jack Bionda Arena with 50 shots, but ran into a hot Seguin netminder Brian Valentine.

The Otters were able to build a 3-0 lead after one period but the 484 fans at The Jack saw a Seguin comeback in the second as the visitors chipped away at the lead and tied it at 4-4 going into the third.

Huntsville scoring was led this weekend by some of its up-and-coming players.

Phil Moreau scored what proved to be the winner at 12:16 of the final frame. Rob Waddell salted the game away with a marker with 24 seconds remaining.

Corey George had a pair for the Otters and was named the game’s first star. Greg Cerilli and Chris Wiggin had the other goals for Huntsville. Ron George took second star honours while Valentine was selected second star.

In Orangeville, goalie Ryan Williams turned aside 37 shots to hand the Crushers only their second loss of the season.

The 18-year-old was exceptionally sharp in the third when his team was outshot 15-7, but he didn’t allow a goal on the way to earning his eighth win of the season. His lowered his goals-against average to under three (2.93) and upped his save ratio (.902).

George scored his third goal in two games and seventh of the year with a powerplay marker at 13:09 of the first. The score remained 1-0 for Huntsville until 55 seconds into the second when the Crushers tied the game. The tie was broken just more than one minute later as Cerilli notched his fourth of the season.  Moreau scored in his third straight game to stake the Otters to a 3-1 lead early in the third and Williams gave Huntsville the edge it needed to win the match.

The Huntsville powerplay, which had been red-hot in recent games, went stone cold over the weekend, scoring just once in 16 attempts.

The Otters are back at The Jack this Friday night when they host the expansion Upper Canada Hockey Club.  They are in Orillia on Sunday to face the Terriers in an afternoon matchup.