by Romano Di Franco
The Nepean Raiders traveled back home to square off against the Carleton Place Canadiens for Part One of their home and home series with Game 2 happening tomorrow afternoon in Carleton Place.
For the starting goalies, Brady McEwen got the start for the Raiders having gotten two weeks off from game action and he hopes to continue his success against his former team. For the Carleton Place Canadiens, it was Aiden Feddema who appeared in relief last month against the Renfrew Wolves got the start for the visiting Canadiens.
Scoring Summary: The first period saw both teams delivering impressive performances, each netting a goal. Will Soloway of the Carleton Place Canadians struck first just after the one-minute mark, assisted by Bill Gourgon and Aidan Cooper. Nepean Raiders responded at 11:34 with Owen Colter finding the back of the net on the power play, assisted by Oliver Band and Nicolas Papineau.
In the second period, Nepean Raiders took control with two goals. Curtiss Sturgeon scored at 6:04, with Mario Scalise and Owen Colter contributing to the play. Oliver Band extended the lead at 17:04, assisted by Joshua Reid and Carson McGurn. For Curtiss Sturgeon it was his career high 18th goal of the season and for Owen Colter it was his fifth goal of the season and his first goal against his old team.
The Carleton Place Canadians fought back in the third period, as Will Soloway tallied his second goal at 15:58, assisted by Bill Gourgon and Tristan Boudreau. Despite their efforts, Nepean Raiders managed to hold on to their lead, securing the win.
Shots on Goal and Penalties: The game witnessed a close battle in shots on goal, with Carleton Place Canadians recording 24 shots and Nepean Raiders notching 36. Both teams displayed resilience on the penalty kill, but Nepean Raiders capitalized on a power-play opportunity, going 1/3, while Carleton Place Canadians were held off the scoreboard on their lone power play.
Three Stars of the Game:
- Owen Colter (Nepean Raiders): Colter’s outstanding performance earned him the first star, contributing with one goal and one assist.
- Will Soloway (Carleton Place Canadians): Soloway’s two-goal effort earned him the second star, showcasing his offensive prowess.
- Oliver Band (Nepean Raiders): Band’s goal and assist secured him the third star, playing a crucial role in Nepean Raiders’ victory.
Penalty Drama: The game wasn’t short of physicality, with both teams accumulating penalties throughout. Bill Gourgon of Carleton Place Canadians and Joshua Reid of Nepean Raiders were involved in a late second-period altercation, each receiving roughing penalties.
Conclusion: The clash between the Carleton Place Canadians and Nepean Raiders provided fans with an exhilarating spectacle of hockey. Nepean Raiders’ ability to capitalize on power-play opportunities and withstand the late surge from Carleton Place Canadians ultimately secured their triumph in a closely contested battle on the ice.
As mentioned in the article, the Raiders will travel to the Carleton Place Arena Rink 1 tomorrow for a Monday matinee game and a 2:00PM puck drop.
