by Romano Di Franco
The Nepean Raiders welcomed the Pembroke Lumber Kings for Game 4 of their season long seven game homestand. They came into this game hoping to end their 2023 calendar on a successful winning note. For the starting goalies, Brady McEwen got the start for the Raiders after taking Sunday off against the Smiths Falls Bears. Conor Waldron made his first career CCHL start for the Pembroke Lumber Kings as both of his appearances were in relief roles.
The first period kicked off with the visiting Lumber Kings taking control early on, securing a 2-0 lead. Liam Cardiff opened the scoring at 8:57, showcasing his offensive prowess with a goal assisted by Cam Hicklin and Eric Barnard. Eric Barnard then extended the lead with a shorthanded goal at 13:28, assisted by Cam Hicklin and Nathan Duck. It was also Barnard’s second point of this game.
The Nepean Raiders, however, weren’t ready to back down. In the second period, Curtiss Sturgeon put the Raiders on the board at 6:47 with a goal assisted by Marty Magaletta and Jonah Henderson. The Raiders continued to press, and Peter Freel capitalized on a power play opportunity at 17:06, narrowing the gap to 2-2. The Ottawa native has now had points in ten consecutive games dating back November 10th against the Brockville Braves.
As the tension escalated in the third period, the Nepean Raiders took control of the game. Brandon Reinisch netted a goal at 6:47, putting the Raiders in the lead for the first time. It also stood as the eventual game winning goal. Curtiss Sturgeon sealed the victory with his second goal of the night at 9:31, assisted by Marty Magaletta and Peter Freel. Sturgeon continued his career year scoring his 15th goal of the season. The final score stood at 4-2 in favor of the Nepean Raiders.
The teams battled fiercely throughout the game, as reflected in the shots on goal statistics. Nepean outshot Pembroke 39 to 27, demonstrating their offensive tenacity and the goaltending prowess on both sides.
Penalties played a role in the game, with both teams facing power play opportunities. Despite several penalty kills, neither team was able to capitalize on the man advantage as the penalty kill units held strong. Notably, Nepean killed off all five of Pembroke’s Powerplay opportunities.
The three stars of the game were awarded to standout players from both teams. Curtiss Sturgeon of the Nepean Raiders claimed the first star with a remarkable two-goal performance. John Lumsden, also of the Nepean Raiders, earned the second star with one assist. Eric Barnard from the Pembroke Lumber Kings secured the third star with one goal and one assist in a commendable effort.
In summary, the December 20, 2023, matchup between the Nepean Raiders and Pembroke Lumber Kings delivered an exciting display of hockey talent and sportsmanship. The Nepean Raiders showcased resilience and skill, ultimately securing a well-deserved victory over their opponents.
The Raiders next game will be on Sunday January 7th when the Brockville Braves come to town and it will be following their two week Christmas break which will also be Game 5 of their homestand.
