by the sports guy
Friday evening was end-to-end action as the Kemptville 73’s hosted the Rockland Nationals to steal a 5 to 2 victory.
Trottier with Lammi penetrated the line onto the tape of Hunter Brazier to flip it over Ben Grahame to draw first blood for Kemptville 73’s at 8:39. Whyte combined with Campeau to find Devin Savignac in the lane to bang it home to put the 73’s on the board by two at 8:57. Kemptville with an extra man as Trottier reverses to Yakubowski on the point and Chase Lammi PPG pulls the trigger to chase Grahame to the bench after the third goal at 11:32. A terrible decision by the D cost Jacob Biron a SO as Patrick Lanthier PPG with helpers from Prepszl with Crete took advantage of the failed block at 19:51. Kemptville outgunned their opponent by 14 to 12 and spent most of the initial frame in their zone.
See saw battle to open second stanza as Campeau feathered it to Savignac, back to Nathan Merrett pinching the line to launch a missile past Hadyn Gould at 7:29 to give Kemptville a 4 to 1 advantage. Kemptville still ahead of Rockland with 15 SOG to 12.
Another D miscue gave Kyle Leonard a doorstep marker with helper from White at 3:15 to pull the Nationals within two. Rockland yanked Gould at 17:26 for extra attacker that was unsuccessful as Matthew O’Doherty ENG solo effort to pull the trigger at 18:54 for his first of the season. Kemptville outshot Rockland by 14 to 9 with both teams recording 1 PPG on 2 attempts.
Coach Shawn Fensel summed it up best when he stated, “this was a must needed win and we played a complete game with executing our systems, a great example of we want to play as a team this season. Jacob Biron as stellar in net and it was great to almost have our veterans off IL to help settle things down”.
Saturday evening the 73’s invaded the Hawks Nest in Hawkesbury to settle for one point as they were handed a 3 to 2 loss in OT.
Kemptville with man advantage as Yakubowski rifles it from the line and Hunter Brazier PPG finds the rebound to put it behind Dekon Randell-Snow at 3:07. A solo effort as Noah Leithman beats Jacob Biron at 6:46 to knot it up at one. Hawkesbury hammered 15 SOG to Kemptville 10.
Kemptville on PP when Merrett held the line to Vollett, onto Grady Logue stick for PPG at 16:06 for the tiebreaker. Hawks still in charge as they outshoot the 73’s 16 to 12.
Kemptville gets caught flat-footed early in the final frame and pays for it when Sauve springs Alex Fournier free at 1:55 to close the twenty and force OT. Hawks on the roost to post a 16 to 8 shot advantage.
Sauve with Kirk for Alex Fournier second of the game at 2:47 and award Hawkesbury a hard earned 3 to 2 win. The Hawks managed 4 SOG to 1 from the 73’s and failed on three PP, with Kemptville two PPG on four tries.
Next Friday the Nepean Raiders will invade the 73’s barn for second time as they will be seeking redemption after being spanked 5 to 3 during their last meeting.
Hockey with EDGE…see you around the wall….remember “Beer on Tap in the Barn”.
