Belleville Bulls’ Jake Marchment gets in dandy scrap, living up to family reputation

Belleville Bulls newcomer Jake Marchment is the nephew of Bryan Marchment, not his son, in case one needed clarification. When you join the same Ontario Hockey League team that your uncle graced before going on to be one of the most reviled heels in NHL history, there's an expectation of bringing second-generation toughness.

Jake Marchment, whom the Bulls traded for in the summer after scouting him last season with the nearby Wellington (Ont.) Dukes, got the invitation to doff the mitts with Peterborough Petes rookie defenceman Cameron Lizotte during an exhibition game on Thursday. It was a lulu — if you're into that sort of thing. Some of us treat a fight as a chance to step out and get a drink.

Lizotte is a 16-year-old rookie whom the Petes took in the second round of last spring's priority selection draft. The Petes plan to groom him into a shutdown defenceman to complement first-rounder Matt Spencer.

Based on his seven-goal, 20-point, 52-PIMs statline in 49 games with Wellington, it doesn't appear Marchment fights regularly but it is something he has to have in his toolbox. The OHL, of course, has its 10-fight limit to crack down on habitual and staged fighting. There are certain players who, so long as the NHL allows fighters to remain in the game, have to show fighting is in their toolbox. Marchment demonstated that with aplomb.

(Stick tap: Bobby Murray @OHLMurray.)

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet. Please address any questions, comments or concerns to btnblog@yahoo.ca.