by Romano Di Franco

The Nepean Raiders concluded their two game road trip by visiting the Cornwall Colts at the Ed Lumley Arena for this Monday matinee game. This was the fifth and final meeting for these two teams of the regular season. For the starting goalies, having made a career high 52 saves in Friday night’s game against the Rockland Nationals, it was John Gedraitis who got the start in goal for Nepean was in goal once again for the Raiders. Caleb Chabot who appeared in forty minutes of relief in a blowout 9-2 loss to the Rockland Nationals got the start in goal for the Colts.

The Nepean Raiders scored the first two goals of the game from tallies from Luka Benoit and Spencer Thompson. It was Benoit’s team-leading 22nd goal of the season assisted from Peter Freel and Tyler Smith. As for Spender Thompson’s marker, it was his third goal of the season assisted from Dylan Pollock and David Taylor who was recently committed to Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston.

Although the Cornwall Colts outshot the Nepean Raiders 19-8, John Gedraitis was again a workhorse for the Raiders stopping all 19 shots in that period.

Cornwall got a goal back from Sean Matthew Goyette assisted from Adam Walker and Kaiden Pyke. However, the Raiders continued to put up goals in a hurry with goals from Liam Carroll and Dylan Pollock. Caleb Chabot had a rough afternoon allowing four goals in twenty four minutes until he was pulled from the game and replaced by Cohen Lesperance-Spack.

By the end of the second period, Cornwall continued to overwhelm the Nepean Raiders in the shots on goal having outshot them 14-8 in the second period, but John Gedraitis continued to stop the shots from the Cornwall Colts allowing only one goal in that period.

The third period began when Liam Carroll scored his fifth goal of the season and his second goal of the game. Nick Houben and Deklyn Campbell assisted on the marker. The Cornwall Colts cut the Raiders lead to 5-2 when Camden McCuaig deflected a shot from Sean Matthew Goyette. Bradley Fraser had the only other assist on that goal. The Nepean Raiders restored their four goal lead when Carter Williamson scored on a tap-in. Dylan Pollock and Tristan Konobelj assisted on the goal as they would be it.

Not only did the Raiders win their 14th game of the season, but it was their first win against the Cornwall Colts since March 6, 2022.

Five different players have had multiple point performances for the Nepean Raiders and they were Dylan Pollock, Tristan Konobelj, Nick Houben, Liam Carroll and Carter Williamson.

As for the three star selections, with two goals in this game it was Liam Carroll who earned the first star of the game for the Nepean Raiders. With one goal and two assists in the game it was Dylan Pollock who was named the game’s second star. Last but not least, with one goal and one assist of the game it was Sean Matthew Goyette who was named the game’s third star.

Nepean’s next game will be held on Sunday, February 23rd when the Carleton Place Canadiens visit the Raiders at the Nepean Sportsplex Steve Yzerman Arena for a 2:30PM puck drop.

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