by Romano Di Franco
Video Highlights Unavailable due to the technical difficulties, the video highlights will be available in the next game.
The Nepean Raiders travelled to the Rockland CIHA Arena to entertain the first place Rockland Nationals. Both teams were coming off their respective games against the Navan Grads. The Raiders came off an 8-1 loss to the Navan Grads whereas the Rockland Nationals were fresh off a 6-3 victory against the Grads. For the starting goalies, John Gedraitis who came in relief against Navan got the start in goal, while Benoit Forget was in the net for the Rockland Nationals.
The first period was all Rockland in that first period as Tristan Witmer and Gabriel Le Houllier each scored the goals for the Nationals. As for Witmer’s goal, it was his first career CCHL goal. The Nationals outshot the Raiders 20-7 in that first period, but John Gedraitis was brilliant in goal for the Raiders making eighteen saves in that first period.
Although, Rockland added another goal from Josh Penney, the Raiders made things very interesting in the second period. Dylan Pollock scored twice in the game and Luka Benoit and Zack Freimuth also tallied the goals for Nepean. Former Hawkesbury Hawks forward Remi Gagne replied for the Nationals. By the end of the second period, Rockland would outshoot the Raiders 15-11, but once again it was John Gedraitis who showed signs of excellence in the second period.
Nepean restored the lead when Peter Freel fired home his fifteenth goal of the season assisted from Tyler Smith and Andrew Thompson. Alex Kelloway would score the game tying goal three minutes after Freel’s goal. John Gedraitis was once more marvelous in goal only allowing one goal in the third period.
The Nationals were able to cap off the game with the game winning goal by Alex Kelloway. Despite that, the Nepean Raiders showed signs of tremendous resiliency, taking the third best team in the Canadian Junior Ranks into Overtime.
The three star selections of the game were with two goals including the game-winning goal was Alex Kelloway, having made a career high 52 saves in the game, it was John Gedraitis for the Raiders who was given the game’s second star and with one goal and one assist it was Remi Gagne who was awarded the game’s third star.
Nepean’s next game will be on Monday, February 17th at the Ed Lumley Arena when they visit the Cornwall Colts for a 2:30PM puck drop.
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