by Romano Di Franco
The Nepean Raiders travelled to the Smiths Falls Memorial Centre for Game Three in their five game road trip against the Smiths Falls Bears. John Gedraitis who was absolutely brilliant in his last start against the Navan Grads got the start for Nepean. Nikolas Trakakis who almost had a month off from the crease got the call tonight.
From the opening face-off, it was clear that the Bears meant business, controlling possession and dictating the pace of play. The first period saw the Bears assert their authority with four goals, leaving the Raiders scrambling to mount a comeback.
The scoring barrage began at 6:31 into the first period when Quinn Booth found the back of the net on the power play, setting the tone for the Bears’ offensive onslaught. Trevor Faucher added to the lead with two goals of his own, displaying clinical finishing to put his team in a commanding position. Travis Ouellette further extended the Bears’ lead with a late power-play goal, leaving the Raiders with a mountain to climb heading into the second period.
In the second period, Shaymus Stevenson added insult to injury for the Raiders, extending the Bears’ lead to five goals with a well-taken effort that effectively put the game out of reach.
Penalties marred the game, with both teams spending considerable time in the penalty box. However, it was the Bears who capitalized on the power play, converting two of their four opportunities to further cement their dominance on the scoreboard.
Nepean had two great scoring chances in that third period. First, Josh Reid had a great scoring lane but was denied by Nikolas Trakakis. Second, Nicholas Papineau had two quality chance only to be stopped both times.
As the final buzzer sounded, the Bears celebrated a comprehensive victory, while the Raiders hope to regroup ahead of their next outing.
The three stars of the game Trevor Faucher leading the way with two goals and an outstanding performance that earned him the first star honors. Shaymus Stevenson’s goal-scoring contribution earned him the second star, while John Gedraitis who stopped 30 of the 35 shots he faced secured him the third star accolade.
Overall, it was a night to remember for the Smiths Falls Bears and their fans, as they showcased their championship credentials with a dominant display against a formidable opponent. As they look ahead to the remainder of the season, the Bears will undoubtedly draw confidence from this performance as they aim for further success on the ice.
Nepean’s next game will be on Thursday March 14th (which is also “Pi Day”) when they visit the Ed Lumley Arena to face off against the Cornwall Colts for a 7:30PM puck drop. This will be the first of two games in 24 hours before returning home for one last home against the Renfrew Wolves on Sunday.
