by Romano Di Franco
The Nepean Raiders returned to the Steve Yzerman Arena of the Nepean Sportsplex as they continued their pre-season against the Navan Grads.
Nepean’s previous pre-season game came on Sunday, August 30th when they beat the Kemptville 73s 4-2. It was the first pre-season game for the Grads.
For the starting goalies, Evan Grant got the start in goal for the Nepean Raiders while Caleb Hennings got the call for the Grads.
Nepean didn’t have to wait that long to score the first goal as it took a mere twenty-three seconds for them to draw first blood. Cole Stants got the goal for the Raiders. Sidney Belfoy and Ryan English got the assists.
Kane Styres would score to tie the game at one for Navan and from here on it was all Nepean Raiders as Brody Dunbar, Reed Pettipas and and Ryan English scored the goals for Nepean.
Following that four goal outburst from the Nepean Raiders, the Navan Grads decided to switch things up. Athan Stone would replace Hennings to start the second period.
There were some highlight reel chances for two teams coupled with some mini brawls. Despite these, Jackson Legault scored from the rebound to make it 5-1 Nepean.
A minute and twenty-three seconds into the third period Damien Poulin would cut the Raiders lead to 5-2. Nepean would add the last two goals from Sidney Bellfoy and Adam Walker.
Although the Grads score the final three goals from Alessio Servello, Caleb Hamilton and Braydon Lindsay, it was too little too late for the Grads as the Nepean Raiders would hang on to defeat the Navan Grads 7-5 and go 2-0 on the pre-season.
The three star selections were for his three point performance, Sidney Bellfoy was the first star, also for his three point efforts Brody Dunbar was given the second star of the game for the Raiders and finally for his three point effort of his own, Damien Poulin was the third star for the Grads.
We will have a rematch for these two teams on September 9th which will be in a week from today.
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