by Romano Di Franco
The Raiders traveled to the North Greenville Municipal Centre in Kempville to see the 73s for their final pre-season game. Nepean looked to close out their exhibition portion on a winning note while the 73s were coming off a tough shootout loss to the Ottawa Junior Senators. The starting goalies were John Gedraitis for the Raiders and Keegan Carswell for the Kemptville 73s.
Three minutes into the first period, John Gedraitis faced his first big test of the game when he stopped Darius Nichols on a breakaway opportunity. It was the first of many big saves the Westmount Illinois native had to make.
The 73s got on the board first when Alexis Beaulieu scored on the powerplay. It was his fourth goal of the season. Lucas Achim and Eric Sweetapple drew the assists. Nepean would answer back with two minutes left to go in the first period when Jack Yates replied for the Raiders with a goal of his own. It was his second goal of the season assisted from Mack McKee and Tyler Smith.
Both teams exchanged some pretty good scoring chance in the first period.
The second period was all Kemptville 73s as they outshot the Raiders 15-0. Despite that, John Gedriatis played tremendously well in that frame for visiting Nepean including where the Raiders defense saved a goal from Lucas Achim.
The only goal scored in the period was from Anthony D’Arienzo assisted from Will Mullins and Will St. James.
In the third period, the Raiders pulled off a big comeback when Karsten Barbeau scored the game tying goal with eleven minutes to go in regulation. It was his second goal of the pre-season, Anthony Bertrand and Tristan Konobelj drew the assists. Mack McKee completed the comeback with a minute thirty seconds left to go in the game. Jack Yates and Tyler Smith assisted on the goal.
For the three star selection, it was a clean sweep. For starters, having scored the game winning goal and drawing an assist, Mark McKee was named the first star for the Nepean Raiders, Jack Yates was given the second star for Nepean also scoring one goal and one assist. Finally, having made 29 of the 31 shots he faced in the game John Gedraitis was the third star for Raiders.
The Raiders will have three days off before hosting the Renfrew Wolves for their home opener season opener.
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