by Romano Di Franco
The Nepean Raiders lost 6-3 in a high-scoring affair with the Navan Grads as Jackson Arcan opened the scoring at 9:26 before getting his second just six minutes later and capping off his night with a hat-trick goal 38 seconds into the second period.
Keenan Alnahas was coming off arguably his best performance of the year against the Pembroke Lumber Kings where he earned the Third Star of the Game got the start in goal. He was barraged with shots allowing four goals on eighteen shots and was chased out of the game after Arcan’s third of the night. Tyler Laureault came in to play almost forty minutes turning aside 16 of the 18 shots he faced. In fact both goalies faced 18 shots, Alnahas in about 20 minutes time and Laureault in about 40 minutes.
Alex Robert, Alec Lovisek, and Zane Dalpe had the other goals for the Grads to stake them to a 6-0 lead.
The Raiders started the comeback at 6:36 of the third period as Matt McQuade busted Alex Aslanidis’ shutout bid. Zachary Gravel scored three minutes later with his 13th tying him with McQuade for the team lead. It was also Gravel’s fourth goal since joining the Nepean Raiders in a trade with the Ottawa Junior Senators. Alex Rossides got the Raiders closer with their second powerplay goal of the game.
It was a valiant effort that fell just short. With one goal and one assist, Matt McQuade was named one of the stars of the games for the seventh time this season. McQuade seems to be at his best when facing the Grads as he was named the first star of the game the last time these two teams faced off.
Giuseppe Marino was in the box for Arcan’s second goal of the game and Colin Cromie and Wil Murray were tossed from the game at 14:11 of the second period for Unsportsmanlike Conduct.
The Raiders next game is Thursday, February 6 as they visit the Ed Lumley Arena to take on the Cornwall Colts for a 7:30pm puck drop.
