Matsukubo, Hardy Score in Season Finale

by Romano Di Franco

NEPEAN, ON – The Nepean Raiders hosted the Hawkesbury Hawks at the Nepean Sportsplex – Steve Yzerman Arena. It was the final game of the season for the Raiders.

The third-place Hawks entered the game on a two-game winning streak while the Raiders are coming off an impressive 7-2 victory over the playoff bound Renfrew Wolves.

Dimitri Pelekos (20-14-4-1, 3.07 GAA, 0.918 SV%) got the start in the Hawkesbury goal while Luca Sandu (6-20-1, 5.09 GAA, 0.880 SV%), was in goal for Nepean.

The two teams traded goals in the first period with Evan Cuddihy getting credit for the opening goal for Hawkesbury while Jack Matsukubo blasted his 12th of the season on a one-timer from the right face-off dot.

The Hawks outshot Nepean 12-9 in the opening period.

The second period was all Hawkesbury as Jakson Kirk, Nathan Gagne, Nicholas Brennan, Landon Brownlee, and Ryan Liverman all scored to give the visitors a 6-1 lead after 40 minutes on 15 shots versus 11 for Nepean.

Brownlee, Liverman, and Gagne each picked up their second of the game in the third period to give Hawkesbury a 9-1 lead.

Nepean made it 9-2 on a great individual effort by Owen Hardy who skated through the entire Hawks team before depositing his 14th of the season to close out the scoring.

Ryan Liverman (2G | 1A) was named the game’s first star. Anthony Rivard (1A) took second star honours while Harris Hilfiker got the nod as the game’s third star.

Jack Matsukubo is named the Hardest Working Raider with his second goal in as many games.

Nepean completes the regular season with many successes including Luke Posthumus being named Rookie of the Year, Nicholas Larkin being named to the All-Rookie Team and VP Randy Watt winning the Sam Pollack Award.

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