by Romano Di Franco
The Nepean Raiders came back to Benson Centre to wrap up the Showcase on Sunday afternoon with their matinee outing against the Hawkesbury Hawks. For the starting goalies, after having an off night yesterday against the Cornwall Colts, John Gedraitis was in goal for a bounce back game. Jabe Breitzke got the start for the Hawkesbury Hawks.
The Hawks got on the board first when Antoine D’Arcy scored with John Lumsden in the box. This was the second straight game that the Raiders allowed the first goal of the game. Remi Gagne and Mikka Kelechian got the assists. It didn’t take long for Nepean to respond back when Nick Houben scored three minutes later on a beautiful back hand shot. John Lumsden and Liam Carroll assisted on the marker.
Nepean went on to outshot the Hawkesbury Hawks 13-7 in the first period.
The Raiders got a quick response when Nicolas Papineau scored thirty four seconds into the second period assisted from Lumsden and Benoit. It was Lumsden’s second point of the game.
Hawkesbury responded with two quick goals when Remi Gagne and Remi Gelinas replied for the Hawks. They went on to outshoot the Nepean Raiders 17-13 in the second period.
For the third period, instead of unravelling against the Hawks, the Raiders stormed back when Carter Williamson responded for Nepean on the powerplay. It was the only goal of the third period as the game went into overtime.
With 1:43 left to go on the clock, the Nepean Raiders prevailed in OT when Luka Benoit scored going in solo. Nicolas Papineau got the only assist in the goal.
With one goal and two assists, Nicholas Papineau was named as the game’s third star, With one goal and two assists also, Remi Gagne was named as the game’s third star and with the game winning goal Luka Benoit was the named as the game’s first start.
John Gedraitis certainly used the game as a bounce back contest and he capitalized on that very well. Best of all, Nepean has now won two in a row against the Hawkesbury Hawks dating back to last season on December 11 2023.
The Raiders next game will be held on Friday, September 20 when they visit the Kemptville 73s at the North Greenville Municipal Centre. Their first home game of the season will be held on Sunday, September 22nd when the Ottawa Junior Senators come to town.
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