by Romano Di Franco
The Nepean Raiders travelled to the Ed Lumley Arena to meet the Cornwall Colts for their second to last road game of the season and the first of games in 24 hours. For the starting goalies, after three consecutive starts from John Gedraitis, it was Brady McEwen who got the start in goal for the Nepean Raiders. He was spectacular in his previous start against the Pembroke Lumber Kings. For the Cornwall Colts, it was Donald Hickey who also had a great game last week against the Hawkesbury Hawks that got the call in goal. So, the game featured both goalies who were solid in their last game.
Scoring Recap:
The first period saw both teams trading goals, with Calvin Little opening the scoring for the Colts at 15:41. It was his first career CCHL goal with Colby Lauzon and Kaiden Pyke getting the assists. The Colts lead would not last long as Nicolas Papineau answered back for the Nepean Raiders with his 16th goal of the season assisted from Nolan DeFazio and Oliver Band. At the end of the first period it was the Cornwall Colts who outshot the Raiders 8-7, but the score remained 1-1.
In the second period, the Colts took command of the game with goals from Nathan Garnier and Kobe Tallman, extending their lead to 3-1. It was all Cornwall in that second period, but Brady McEwen made some big saves in that period including when he flashed the leather against Brayden Bowen.
The third period saw the Colts further solidify their lead with a power-play goal from Bradley Fraser assisted by Kobe Tallman and Brennan Boyce.
Shots on Goal:
Throughout the game, the Colts outshot the Raiders, demonstrating their offensive prowess and relentless attack. The final shot count stood at 40 for the Colts and 25 for the Raiders, highlighting the Colts’ dominance in generating scoring opportunities.
Penalty Trouble:
Penalties played a significant role in the game, with both teams spending considerable time in the penalty box. The physicality of the game was evident, with several players receiving penalties for roughing, fighting, and other infractions.
Three Stars of the Game:
- Nathan Garnier (Cornwall Colts): Garnier’s goal early in the second period provided the Colts with the momentum they needed to seize control of the game.
- Kobe Tallman (Cornwall Colts): Tallman’s contributions, including a goal and an assist, were instrumental in the Colts’ victory.
- Bradley Fraser (Cornwall Colts): Fraser’s power-play goal in the third period helped secure the win for the Colts and earned him recognition as one of the game’s standout performers.
In conclusion, the Cornwall Colts delivered a commanding performance against the Nepean Raiders, showcasing their skill, discipline, and determination. While the Raiders put up a valiant effort, they ultimately fell short against their formidable opponents. As the Colts celebrate their well-deserved victory, the Raiders will regroup and look to bounce back in their next outing, eager to return to their winning ways.
Nepean’s next game will be held tomorrow when they travel to the Brockville Memorial Centre to face off against the Brockville Braves. More importantly, the Raiders are looking to complete a season sweep of the Braves.
