by Romano Di Franco
In a game that was far closer then the score would indicate, the Nepean Raiders hosted the Cornwall Colts for their home opener in Game 3 of their season. The game ended with a final score of 3-0 in favor of the Cornwall Colts. For the second time in as many weeks, Brady McEwen got the start for the Raiders and on the other end, Donald Hickey got the call for Cornwall.
The first two periods of the game saw no scoring, with both teams engaged in a defensive battle. Goaltenders on both sides were tremendous, with neither team able to break through. After two periods, the score remained tied at 0-0, with each team registering 27 shots on goal.
The decisive action came in the third period when the Cornwall Colts finally found the back of the net. At 15:28, Brayden Bowen scored the opening goal, assisted by Etienne Lessard and Dante Ersoni. The Colts extended their lead at 18:41, with Brayden Bowen netting his second goal of the night, assisted by Tristan Miron and Dante Ersoni. Just 20 seconds later, Tristan Miron scored an empty-netter at 19:01 to seal the victory for the Colts.
Throughout the game, both teams incurred penalties, with the Colts going 0 for 2 on the power play and the Raiders going 0 for 4. The physicality of the game was evident, resulting in a total of 21 penalty minutes assessed.
The three stars of the game were awarded to Brayden Bowen of the Cornwall Colts (2 goals), Donald Hickey of the Cornwall Colts (27 saves for a shutout), and Brady McEwan of the Nepean Raiders (24 saves).
In the end, it was the Cornwall Colts who emerged victorious with a final score of 3-0, showcasing strong defensive play and timely scoring in the third period.
The Raiders next game will be on Wednesday September 27th when they welcome the Navan Grads for a 7:30pm puck drop.