73’s need to find a way to complete three periods

by the sportsguy

A special matinee game on Monday for the Annual Family Day event in which Kemptville 73’s faced their nemesis, Hawkesbury Hawks, to be hammered 7-3 in front of over 400 fans. Municipality N.G. Council supplied hot chocolate and baked goods in celebration of long time 73’s fan, and previous councillor, Terry Butler. The 73’s also invited their fans to skate with them after the game.

Tyler Laureault for the 73’s, and Dimitri Pelekos for the Hawks, received the honours as stopper starters to represent their clubs. Kemptville drew first blood when Morency came up the wall with Eastwood to find Chase Lammi in the slot to bang it home at 3:15. Hawkesbury answered back with PPG from Jeremy Quesnel, with helpers from Sauve and Gendron, at 4:43. Morency streamed through the neutral zone with Brazier to put it on net, and Benjamin Campeau stretched the mesh to give the 73’s the lead at 9:50. Jeremy Quesnel posted his second from Gendron and Kirk for a tie at 15:48. The Hawks came on with Mark Cooper, assisted by Spratt with Cusson, to break the tie at 16:17.

Transition from Caulfield to Taylor on the wall, to Hunter Brazier from half circle to even it at 1:03 to open the second. Josh Spratt, with Hlusiak and Cusson, for tie breaker at 18:51. Last twenty was owned by Hawkesbury, with three markers, as Rylee Hlusiak steal found the back of the net at 6:52. Jackson Kirk PPG, assisted by Quesnel and Tremblay at 11:26, to double it up for Hawks 6-3 romp. Kemptville pulled their stopper at 15:07 for extra attacker, without success. Jeremy Quesnel ENG marked his hat trick, with helpers from Spratt and Cooper at 15:20, to plug the dyke and 7-3 win.

Wednesday night’s challenge, to meet the Nepean Raiders on their home turf, proved to be another disappointing result, as the 73’s suffered their second loss of the week of 4-3. Kemptville 73’s Connor Blackwood, and Nepean Raiders Connor Shibley, drew the short straws for goal duties this evening.

Opening period closed out scoreless, with only visits to the sin bin for both teams. Kemptville struck first for second stanza, with Taylor setting up the attack, back to York, across to Johnny Howie on point for PPG at 2:51. Ryan Liverman, with assists from Graham and Matsukubo, to even it up at 14:02 to end the twenty.

Coleman Bennett PPG, with helpers from Hillier and Liverman, for tiebreaker at 6:46. The magic combination of Chase Lammi to Hunter Brazier to rifle it top shelf at 12:30 to put Kemptville ahead. Hunter Brazier recorded his second of the contest after Lammi doubled up with his line mate after penetration over the line at 15:06. Raiders bounced back, with Owen Hollingsworth from Matsukubo at 15:50 for 4-all tie. At 19:04, Coleman Bennett PPG for his second, with helpers from Liverman and Rivard, to award Nepean with 4-3 victory.

A major battle for the 73’s, as Ottawa Jr. Senators in home barn on Friday turned out to be a tough go, as the relentless Senators bounced back from a 2 goal deficit at the end of the second to take a win in OT of 3-2. William Desmaris for Ottawa, and Tyler Laureault for Kemptville, received the call as stoppers.

Kemptville came out with a vengeance during a see saw initial twenty, as Eastwood penetrated the line with Taylor onto the tape of the magic stick of Ty Whyte to hammer it home at 9:28. The second was still a battle in both zones, with 73’s on PP and Taylor, Lammi combination back to Matthew York PPG on the point to launch a heavy bomb between the posts at 8:23 to make it a 2 to zip contest.

The wheels fell off for Kemptville for the last twenty, when Ottawa initiated a comeback with two unanswered markers. Simon Isabelle, with helpers from Brennan and Recine, to spoil Tyler’s shut-out at 7:16. Bodie Nobes, assisted by Velocci, with Jacques at 18:05 to tie it up and force OT. With 5 more minutes on the clock to determine the victor, Anthony Provost capitalized at 4:08 to give Ottawa a 3-2 victory.

Extremely strange night, with questionable infractions that had both clubs chasing the first 40 minutes and then penalty free for the final session. Kemptville had to accept a 1 point result after being outshot 39-33, and having 3 PP with one finding the mark.

Hawkesbury Hawks will be back on the 73’s home ice for a Sunday matinee.

See you around the boards..hockey with edge.