by Romano Di Franco
The Nepean Raiders made it back to the Sportsplex following a short two game road trip. Nepean played host to the Cornwall Colts. Both teams came off losses. The Raiders came off a game in which they heavily outshot the Pembroke Lumber Kings only to fall short 5-3 and the Colts also fell short to the Hawkesbury Hawks in overtime 4-3. Otsirakatste Brant made his second straight appearance in goal for Nepean and Colton Rheaume got the start for the visiting Colts.
Fifty seven seconds into the game itself, the Raiders drew first blood on a long shot from Nicholas Larkin that fooled Colton Rheaume. It was his sixth goal of the season assisted from Ryan English and Carter Williamson.
It was the only goal to report in that first period alone. More importantly, the Nepean Raiders outshot the Cornwall Colts 11-5 as well.
The second period saw both teams continuing to play scrappy hockey on both ends of the rink especially in the fight against Mack Mckee and Fraser McDonnell. The Colts began to largely dominate in the shots on net only for Otsirakatste Brant to close the door including the one where despite losing his stick, he kept the Raiders in the game. The only goal to report in that second period was from Cornwall’s leading goal scorer in Luc Beliveau which was his eighth goal of the season assisted from Brandon Rockwell and Derek Rhodes.
A minute and six seconds into the third period, Spencer Thompson scored from the point to help get the Raiders into the lead again. Not only did he get his eighth of the year, but he continues to lead defensemen in the CCHL in goals.
Seven minutes later Camden McCuaig scored his third of the season to tie the game at two as well as to set the stages for the end of the game. Luka Benoit’s twelfth goal of the season was the game winning goal assisted from Nicholas Larkin and Jack Yates.
The Cornwall Colts had a brief scare late in the third period as Kaleb Gauthier fell down on a freaky sort of developing play. It could have helped the Raiders put the game away for good.
Still nevertheless, the Nepean Raiders held on to win by a final count of 3-2 to end a three game losing streak.
For the three star selection, with one goal and one assist in the game Nicholas Larkin was named the first star of the game for the Nepean Raiders, for his 32 save performance, Otsirakatse Brant was rewarded the second star of the game for the Raiders and finally Colton Rheaume who was equally great stopping 29 of 32 shots of the game was given the third star.
Nepean’s next game will take place on Wednesday November 12th when they visit the Carleton Place Canadians for the second meeting of the season for these two teams.
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