Freimuth Scores First Career CCHL Goal

 

by Romano Di Franco

The Nepean Raiders played out the final game of this five game road trip by visiting the Navan Grads at the Navan Memorial Centre. Nepean came into this game fresh off a 6-4 loss to the Kemptville 73s. For the most part, the Navan Grads have been playing some .500 hockey as of late. For the starting goalies John Gedraitits who was fantastic in a 7-6 OT loss to the Cornwall Colts got the start in goal and Tomas Gagne who was 2-0 this season against Nepean was in goal for the defending champs.
The Navan Grads scored the first two goals from Vincent Latreille and Kyle Kussmann. It was Kussmann’s second career CCHL goal assisted from Sebbie Johnson and Shaan Kingwell. The Nepean Raiders would cut the lead in half on the strength of Luka Benoit’s 19th goal of the season. Maasilan Etchart and Nick Houben drew the assists. The Grads would restore the lead when Ottawa 67s prospect Shaan Kingwell would score his 19th goal of the season of his own. Felix Belfoy and Kiki Brown would draw the assists.
By the end of the first period, the shots on net were eleven a piece.
Navan would increase the lead to 4-1 when Sebbie Johnson scored on the rebound from Walty Pedersen. Nepean would cut the Grad’s lead to a two goal game again when Zack Freimuth scored his first career CCHL goal. Tyler Smith and Owen Kinghan assisted on that goal.
By the end of the second period, the Nepean Raiders proceeded to outshoot the Grads 15-10.
In the third period, it looked as if the Raiders would make this game a one goal game again, but the referee blew the whistle as the goal was called off. Instead it was Colin Holmes who celebrated his 25th goal of the season. The Grads even tried to cap off the scoring when Tomas Gagne shot the puck deep within only for it to be blocked by Maaslin Etchart. Navan would instead close out the scoring on an empty net goal by Wake Purdy.

Three Stars of the Game

  1. Kyle Kussmann (Navan Grads) – 1 Goal, 2 Assists
  2. Sebbie Johnson (Navan Grads) – 1 Goal, 2 Assists
  3. Luka Benoit (Nepean Raiders) – 1 Goal

Notable Performances

  • Kyle Kussmann: Instrumental for Navan with contributions in all areas.
  • Sebbie Johnson: A key playmaker for the Grads with three points.
  • Luka Benoit: Bright spot for the Raiders with a goal and solid play.

The Raiders and the Grads next game against each other will be held on Tuesday February 4th in a make up game for a game that was supposed to take place on November 1st.

Nepean has one more game to close out the month of January when the Smiths Falls Bears come to town to the Nepean Sportsplex Steve Yzerman Arena on Wednesday January 29th for a 7:30PM puck drop.

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