by Romano Di Franco
The Nepean Raiders began their season long four game road trip by going to the Ed Lumley Arena to visit the Cornwall Colts. This was the third meeting on the season. Nepean has beaten Cornwall twice this season by outscoring them 10-4 in the process. The Raiders were coming off a tough 7-3 loss to the Rockland Nationals. As for the Colts, they came off a close game in which they lost 4-3 in overtime to the Hawkesbury Hawks.
For the starting goalies, Evan Grant got the start in goal for the Raiders. His last appearance in goal was on October 23rd against the Smiths Fall Bears in a 5-2 loss. Meanwhile Benjamin Boudreau’s last appearance in goal was in relief against the Renfrew Wolves on October 22nd.
Nepean got on the board first when Cole Rowat scored his third goal on the season assisted from Ryan English and Brody Dunbar. Matthew Homer would respond three minutes after the goal when he scored his third goal of the campaign unassisted.
Despite being outshot 14-8, Evan Grant was outstanding for the Raiders in that period stopping thirteen of the fourteen shots he faced.
Cornwall would grab the lead on the strength of Dax McKinnon’s fourth goal of the year assisted from Brandon Rockwell and Fraser McDonell. Nepean took over the rest of the period with goals from Reed Pettipas, Ryan English and Lincoln Baker.
The Nepean Raiders would close out on the scoring on the strength of Lucas Leblanc’s fourth goal of the season which was an empty netter. Cole Krottner got the only assist on the goal.
The Cornwall Colts dominated the third period when the outshot the Nepean Raiders 20-4. Really it was Evan Grant who saved the day for Nepean by stopping all 20 shots in the third period and 41 overall!
For the three star selection, with the game winning goal it was Ryan English who got the first star of the game for Nepean, having scored a goal and two helpers in the game Lucas Leblanc was rewarded the second star of the game for Nepean and with one goal in the game Matthew Horner was honored the third star of the game for the Cornwall Colts.
As a result of the victory not only did the Nepean Raiders win thrice against the Cornwall Colts, they pretty much won the season series against Cornwall as well.
Nepean’s next game takes place tomorrow when they see the Navan Grads at the Earl Armstrong Arena for a 7:30PM puck drop.
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