by Romano Di Franco
The Nepean Raiders visited the Pembroke Lumber Kings at the Pembroke Memorial Centre for their second game of the season. Nepean has played the Lumber Kings just once this year and they fell short by a final score of 5-4 back on October 6th. The Raiders were coming off a dominating 7-2 victory over the Hawkesbury Hawks. As for the Pembroke Lumber Kings, they came into this game on a five game winning streak. Before the game began, both teams honored Raiders former General Manager Randy Watt for died from ALS.
For the starting goalies, Otsirakatse Brant who was fantastic in the aforementioned Hawkesbury Hawks game got the start in goal for the Raiders. Meanwhile Michel Modelski who contributed greatly in the Lumber Kings five game winning streak and who won twenty four hours later was in net for Pembroke.
The first period saw both teams exchanging goals as Spencer Thompson scored off of the point assisted from Peter Freel and David Taylor. The lead will last right about eleven minutes as Maverick Hayes scored from a rebound to tie the game at one a piece. As part of a special promotion, many fans would toss teddy bears on the ice.
Notably, Spencer Thompson and Maverick Hayes would each score their first goals of the season.
By the end of the first period, the Lumber Kings would outshoot the Raiders 10-8 despite the first period stalemate.
The second period was pretty much all Nepean as they scored goals from Luka Benoit and Liam Carroll would each score goals to help extend the Raiders lead to 3-1. Both goals came on the powerplay.
By the end of the second period, Nepean was again outshot 14-12 by the Lumber Kings. However, Otsirakatste Brant kept Pembroke at bay.
Nepean would add two more goals when Josh Caesar and John Lumsden scored to help the Raiders put the game out of reach for the Pembroke Lumber Kings. It was Caesar’s first career CCHL goal.
Although Pembroke scored back to back goals from Jayson Alegria, it was simply not enough as the Nepean Raiders held off the Lumber Kings comeback as they won by a final score of 5-3.
Alegria’s goals in the third period were his 27th and 28th of the season respectively. On top of that, his goals remain in first place in the CCHL up to this point.
Three Stars of the Game
- Spencer Thompson (NEP): 1 Goal, 2 Assists
- Jayson Alegria (PLK): 2 Goals
- Liam Carroll (NEP): 1 Goal
The Raiders’ balanced scoring and penalty kill efforts secured their victory, while the Lumber Kings’ Jayson Alegria stood out with two goals in the final period. Spencer Thompson’s three-point performance highlighted his key role in Nepean’s success. In addition to that, the Nepean Raiders were able to rally behind GM Randy Watt who passed away from ALS. Nepean will dedicate the final three months of the season in his memory.
The Raiders next game will be on Saturday December 14th when they visit the Renfrew Wolves at the myFM Recreational Complex for a 7:30PM puck drop.
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