by Romano Di Franco
The Nepean Raiders played their final home pre-season game hosting the reigning Bogart Cup Champion Rockland Nationals.
Nepean came into this game hoping to shake off their 10-4 loss to the Kemptville 73s. Meanwhile the Nats blew out the Ottawa Junior Senators by a final score of 7-0. The starting goalies were Otsirakatste Brant making his second consecutive start while Jack Carter made his debut for the red and white.
The Raiders got off to a fantastic start when Carter Williamson scored his second goal of the exhibition portion two minutes and two seconds into the match. Jack Yates and Daniil Viscu contributed to the tally. Matt Iitzkovitz and Matt Vohra scored the last two goals of the first period for the Rockland Nationals.
Despite being outshot 12-5, Otsirakatste Brant kept it a 2-1 game saving ten of twelve shots for the Raiders in that first period.
Nepean began the second period with two grade-A scoring chances from Luka Benoit as well as the former National Raphael Tellier, but Jack Carter stood on his head. Rockland scored two more goals from Reid Harper and Gulliame Labre.
The Raiders stormed back with goals from Luka Benoit and the former Powassan Voodoos forward in Daniil Viscu. The Nats closed the second period with a goal from third year forward Alex Kelloway. The former Renfrew Wolf Josh Penney and Matt Vohra assisted on the goal.
Just like the second period, the Raiders began the third period with a couple of quality chances. Carter Williamson shot one over top of the net and came so close to getting back within one on a breakaway.
The Rockland Nationals closed the scoring with goals from David Deschatlets and Josh Penney.
The three stars in the game are as follows. For the first star with one goal and one assist, Matt Vohra was named the first star of the game for the Rockland Nationals, also with a goal and an assist Reid Harper was awarded the game’s second star and lastly, Daniil Viscu who scored his first goal of the pre-season was awarded the third star for the Nepean Raiders.
The Raiders close out the exhibition portion with road games in Rockland and Kemptville on Friday and Sunday before returning home to play their home opener/season opener on Wednesday September 17th when they host the Renfrew Wolves.
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