by the sportsguy
The Raiders from Nepean met with the 73’s for Friday evening redemption after suffering two previous losses, only to be handed another deficit of 6 – 1.
Kemptville came out on fire as they controlled the opposition zone for the initial frame with a smooth transition and aggressive forchecking. Nepean was flat without any spark that got them chasing the game, and to compound that, riding the slap didn’t help. The 73’s with a man extra when Henry dropped it back below the line to Merrett to find Hunter Brazier PPG across the blue paint past Luca Sandhu at 8:20. McDougall controlled the trenches, over to Warner to newbie Ryan Rutley in the lane to make it 2 zip at 10:17. Nepean with a man advantage after Owen Hardy PPG with helpers from Posthumus and Ricciardi to spoil Alex Musielak SO at 17:34.
The fans were treated to a small exhibition from the Tim Horton Tim Bits during the first intermission.
Second stanza opened with Thomas springing Henry, up to Hunter Brazier gliding through the perimeter across the middle with a toe drag to count his second of the evening at 6:35.C. Bennett knocked down a clearance onto the tape of Warner to bounce it off the pillows, so Gavin McDougall could rifle it home for his first of the season at 8:45 for Kemptville’s three goal lead. The 73’s on PP when N. Bennett cycling low to find Logue, reversed to Matt Thomas on point into the seven hole at 12:57. Alex Musielak received a rocket bucket buster at 18:13 that needed to be repaired and Jacob Biron was dropped into the fray for 25 seconds.
Final twenty with Nepean replacing their stopper when Kemptville had a man advantage as Merrett caught N. Bennett up the wall, across to Tyler Melvyn flying downtown to put it six hole by Joshua Branton for 6 to 1 run at 16:21. Kemptville hammered Nepean 47 to 27 with 3/7 PP and the Raiders 1/5.
Sunday matinee, the 73’s battled the Ottawa Junior Senators and would be seeking redemption after suffering two losses in previous meetings. Unfortunately, the boys came out unprepared as the Junior Senators hammered everything that moved and pinned their opponent’s ears back as they constantly ran the stopper. Kemptville would be slammed with a 7 – 2 beatdown as Ottawa eliminated one of the 73’s top snipers in the first frame. Break down in 73’s coverage gave Sam Grabner with a helper from Gentile first marker through traffic, past Alex Musiielak at 3:31. Kemptville rebounded to knot it at one when C. Bennett found Nicholas Bennett in the circle to flip the rubber top shelf over Connor Shibley at 12:07.
Second frame with PP for Kemptville as Thomas transitioned over the line with Haughian slamming the pillows and Emile Trottier buried the garbage into the mesh at 2:20 to make it one all. Then the bleeding began as Mickael Hebert assisted from Velocci and Winsor to break the tie at 9:51. Anton Sorenson with a lone effort awarded Ottawa the game winner at 17:53.
Last twenty miler was owned by the Junior Senators as Sorenson with Gentile rammed the net and James Taylor PPG joined in the penetration for the insurance marker during a PP at :38. Another PP at 5:23 when Mickael Hebert PPG with helpers from Beaulne and Villiard to make it a 5 to 2 romp for Ottawa. Kemptville on a PP when their attack failed as Chase Lammi SHG assisted from Bedard and Gentile at 16:51. A 73’s soft defensive play gave Losier with Sorenson an opportunity to direct the puck to Mathis Bedard in the slot at 18:48 to give the Junior Senators the 7 – 2 runaway.
Kemptville 73’s were peppered with a blistering 57 to 23 disadvantage and 1/5 PP, with Ottawa having 2/4 PP.
If all the irons rung and posts being hammered, it could have been a closer contest.
Next home game with the Pembroke Lumber Kings will be on Tuesday, January 24 and then with the Renfrew Wolves on Friday, January 27.
Hockey with EDGE…see you around the wall.
