by Romano Di Franco
NEPEAN, ON – The Nepean Raiders were back at home after a mini two-game road trip. They hosted the Kemptville 73s at the Nepean Sportsplex Steve Yzerman Arena. It was the final meeting of the season between the two teams with the 73s having a 3-1 edge in the previous four matches.
The starting goalies were Connor Blackwood (0-1, 4.00 GAA, 0.905 SV%) for Kemptville while Connor Shibley (2-6, 4.86 GAA, 0.875 SV%) was between the pipes for Nepean.
The two teams skated to a 0-0 draw after 20 minutes with the two Connors turning aside all shots thrown their way. The best chance for Kemptville came from Devon Savignac who was all alone and had his point-blank shot from the slot blocked by Shibley’s left pad. Kemptville outshot Nepean 10-6. The Raiders best chance game off a similar play at the other end of the ice where Ryan Liverman had his shot from the slot stopped.
Johnny Howie got the game’s first goal with Ryan Liverman in the box serving a bench penalty for Too Many Men. Howie’s blast from the top of the right faceoff circle got past Shibley’s left pad just before he was able to slide to the post.
Liverman had Nepean’s best chances again in the second ringing one off the side of the post after a Raider face-off win in the Kemptville zone. He deflected a cross-ice pass from Jack Matsukubo over Blackwood’s shoulder to tie the game at 1-1. Jordan Graham had the other helper on the Liverman’s 9th of the season.
Adam Cater was ejected from the game for a Check from Behind. The Major penalty was split across the second and third period but two penalties to Kemptville on Hunter Brazier (Roughing After Whistle) and Lane Morency (Roughing) had the two teams playing 4-on-4.
Kemptville had many chances in the second period but Shibley made a ton of big saves to keep the game close. The Raiders were outshot in the second 12-7 but after 40 minutes it was still anyone’s game.
Nepean got their first lead of the game after captain Coleman Bennett’s PowerPlay goal with Ty White in the box for Tripping. Bennett’s blast from the point beat Blackwood low glove-side. Ryan Liverman and Jack Hillier got the assists on the 2-1 go-ahead goal.
With the Raiders bench already short following the Adam Cater ejection the bench got even shorter after Louis Chabot was tossed for a Check From Behind.
Hunter Brazier then scored a pair of goals to steal back the lead for Kemptville. Both goals were setup by Chase Lammi as the 73s went up 3-2.
The scrappy Raiders clawed back to even the score 44 seconds later when Owen Hollingsworth backhanded home a pass from Jack Matsukubo who had made a superb individual effort to steal the puck from Alexander Caulfied, take the puck behind the net before finding Hollingsworth for the 3-3 equalizer.
Hunter Brazier then earned himself a Cross-Checking major after sticking it to the face of Samuel Beaulne. The Raiders didn’t wait long to capitalize as Coleman Bennett got his second of the game on a harmless looking shot that eluded Connor Blackwood that gave Nepean a 4-3 victory.
Nepean captain Coleman Bennett (2G) was named the game’s first star. Jack Matsukubo (2A) was a solid choice for second star while Chase Lammi (2A) earned third star honours.
Owen Hollingsworth (1G) was named the hardest working Raider.
The Raiders are in action again on Friday Night as they travel to the Rockland CIHA – Arena 1 to take on the Rockland Nationals for a 7:30pm puck drop.
