by Romano Di Franco
The Nepean Raiders hosted the Navan Grads at the Nepean Sportsplex Steve Yzerman Arena having won their last three straight games. Navan came into this game having been shut out 2-0 to the Pembroke Lumber Kings. For the starting goalies Otsirakatste Brant got the start in goal for the Raiders who has been great in his last three starts by stopping 76 of the 81 shots he has faced. Tomas Gagne who has been equally solid was in goal for the visiting Grads.
Early Dominance from Navan
The Grads wasted no time in asserting their dominance, scoring just 1:05 into the game when Wake Purdy opened the scoring with his first goal of the night, assisted by Cole Jenken. The momentum continued to swing in Navan’s favor as Louie Marcellino doubled the lead at 2:20, with assists from Colin Holmes and Noah Carpenter. Marcellino’s goal came on the power play, an early indication of the Grads’ special teams’ success.
Despite the early pressure, the Nepean Raiders found a response at 10:45 when Peter Freel netted a power play goal to pull the Raiders within one. Assists came from David Taylor and Spencer Thompson. But just a minute and a half later, at 12:11, Colin Holmes restored the Grads’ two-goal lead, taking a feed from Kiki Brown and Cole Jenken to make it 3-1 at the end of the first period.
Raiders Fight Back in Second Period
The second period saw a slight shift as the Raiders began to push back, but it was Carter Williamson who got the only goal of the middle frame. Scoring at 14:07, Williamson’s tally, assisted by John Lumsden and Peter Freel, brought Nepean within a single goal at 3-2. However, the Grads’ defense and goaltending stood firm, preventing any further damage through the remainder of the period.
Navan Pulls Away in the Final Frame
The final period saw Navan unleash a flurry of goals to put the game out of reach. Just 21 seconds into the third, Colin Holmes scored his second of the game, assisted by Wake Purdy and Louie Marcellino, to make it 4-2. Less than a minute later, at 1:33, Wake Purdy increased the Grads’ lead to 5-2, collecting a pass from Colin Holmes and Louie Marcellino. Holmes struck again at 1:50, completing his hat trick and giving the Grads a commanding 6-2 advantage, assisted by Louie Marcellino and Aidan Connors.
To add insult to injury for the Raiders, Danik Marion rounded out the scoring at 7:46, scoring his first goal of the season with helpers from Felix Bellfoy and Damien Poulin, bringing the score to a resounding 7-2.
Three Stars of the Game
1. Colin Holmes (Navan Grads) – With a hat trick and two assists, Holmes was the standout performer in the game. His offensive brilliance helped lead Navan to victory.
2. Wake Purdy (Navan Grads) – Purdy contributed two goals and an assist, showcasing his ability to make an impact at both ends of the ice.
3. Peter Freel (Nepean Raiders) – Freel was the lone bright spot for Nepean, scoring a goal and adding an assist in a losing effort.
As a result of the 7-2 loss, the Raiders had their three game winning streak snapped. They last did that in late October. Therefore the Raiders will have time to start a new winning streak.
Nepean’s next game will be held on Wednesday December 18th, when they visit the Kemptville 73s at the North Grenville Municipal Centre. Their next home game will take place on Sunday when the Brockville Braves come to town.
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