by Romano Di Franco
The Nepean Raiders travelled to the myFM Recreational Complex for a Saturday night game against the Renfrew Wolves. Nepean has played Renfrew previously having won their home opener season opener by a final score of 4-2 on September 17th. For the starting goalies, Otsirakatste Brant made his second start of the season having seen action two weeks ago against the Ottawa Junior Senators. Meanwhile, Kale Osipenko made his first ever start against the Raiders.
The Raiders got on the board first when Carter Williamson scored on a one-timer that Osipenko had no chance on whatsoever. Jack Yates and Luka Benoit drew the assists. The Wolves got a great break when Theo Avilla scored his first career CCHL goal, but that lead wouldn’t last as the Raiders regained the lead just before the period ended. Raphael Tellier scored with forty six seconds left to go in the opening frame on the powerplay. It was his first goal in a Raiders uniform. Best of all, the Nepean Raiders outshot the Renfrew Wolves 17-8.
Much of the second period was filled with great saves by Otsirakatste Brant including a terrific glove save he made on a 2 on 0 rush on the former Raider in Nolan DeFazio. The only goals in the second period were both from the Renfrew Wolves. Jackson Arango and Andrew Enright had the goals for Renfrew. Although the Raiders were outshot 14-12 in the second period, they began a wonderful comeback.
The game tying goal came when Kale Osipenko though he had the puck frozen but that somehow trickled into the net. It was Owen Kinghan who got credit for that goal which was his first goal of the season.
The Raiders got a great break when Nicholas Larkin scored a gorgeous goal that ended with a fiddle celebration. Nepean then closed the door on an empty netter from Jack Yates.
Not only did the Raiders outshoot the Renfrew Wolves 11-5 in that third period but they killed off all five of the Wolves powerplay chances.
In terms of the three star selections, with the game winning goal and two assists, it was Nicholas Larkin who was rewarded the first star of the game for the Raiders. Otsirakatste Brant who made 24 saves was the second star of the game for Nepean and Kale Osipenko who stopped 35 of the 39 shots he faced in the game was named the third star for the Renfrew Wolves.
Nepean’s next game will be in less than 24 hours when they go back home to face off against the Navan Grads at the Nepean Sportsplex Steve Yzerman Arena.
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