by the sportsguy – North Grenville Times
Kemptville 73’s still on the road again to battle Rockland Nationals for a Sunday matinee challenge. Rockland struck first when Matthew Vermaeten, with helpers from Menges and Pound, blew one by Riley McCabe at 9:14. Second stanza was owned by Nationals, as they hammered in four unanswered markers with 5-zip lead. At 1:02 Cole Craft, assisted by Smith and Taylor, to initiate the roll. Second goal for Cole Craft with helpers from Labelle with Smith at 6:07. Vermaeten combined with Cameron Scrivens at 7:25 for the third. Fourth netter came when Matthew Vermaeten, assisted by LaFrance and Hilton at 9:36 to chase Riley McCabe to a early shower. Kemptville 73’s spoiled Jack MvGovern’s SO when the 73’s PP Wood back to Anderson pumped it ahead to Luke Jefferies PPG at 11:32. Rockland rebounded with 73’s on a PP as Collins broke out with Pound to Gunnar Smith (SHG) to beat William Anderson at 12:33. Cotham with Easton Ryan and cut down the deficit for Kemptville at 16:08.
Final twenty, Rockland came out strong at 4:46, as Jack Miles, assisted by Pound and Collins, rifled it home to make it a runaway 7-2 romp. Wood up the wall to Taylor and Hunter Brazier drove it top shelf at 6:17 for Kemptville’s third goal. Nationals with man advantage when Vincent Labelle (PPG), with helpers from Landry and Miles, to count another one at 8:23. Matthew Vermaeten, with helpers from Scrivens and Menges, to close out the day with 9-3 onslaught at 8:58.
Rockland Nationals: SOG: 15-13-10 to Kemptville 73’s: 8-11-5 for a total of 38 to 24 for Nationals. Kemptville PP: 4 attempts with 1 result, and with Rockland Nationals having 5, also with 1 goal. Post game comments from the coach: “Played fine in the first, gross after that.”
Hawkesbury Hawks flew into Kemptville to battle the 73’s on Wednesday, February 19, at 7:00 pm, for a make-up game, not usual time of 7:30, with two more home games on Friday, February 21 against Kanata Lasers at 7:30 pm, and Sunday, February 23 for 2 pm matinee to face Brockville Braves.
Kemptville found themselves down a man at 11:56 to open the first, as Ryan Pawlikowski stripped the puck off Hawks offender to beat Mathieu Chenier with SHG. Slow whistle with 73’s stopper holding the rubber during PP and Hawkesbury Patrick Calahan, assisted by Grainger with Rose to eventually push it through between post, behind Riley McCabe at 12:50.
Second session, 73’s with PP as Patterson flipped it to Suzuki, back to the point for Gavin Wood to rifle it home for PPG at 5:45 for tie breaker. Broda combined with Mitchell to open Nicholas Domitrovic to lift one glove side into the mesh at 7:09. Hawks countered at 8:37, when Evan Johnston, with helper from Leonard, to put them within one. Then, the next goal for the Hawks with PPG came at 17:37, after the whistle was blown, and then the delayed light as Hawkesbury bench called the play for Kris Pietroniro from Cooper with Winn to tie it up at three. After a tie, you could sense the contest was about to change in favour of the visiting team. Another infraction was called at 18:30 by Hawkesbury bench, when a good shoulder check turned into an elbow, that resulted in a 5 major check to the head with 10 minute misconduct to one of 73’s main snipers. “Not sure of the game the officials attended,” as voiced by a faithful fan.
Moving forward into the third with Hawkesbury Hawks on a PP, as Sean E Clarke, assisted by Sabourin with McCarthy, for the tie breaker at 7:51. 73’s pulled McCabe for extra man at 18:47 and at 19:31 Evan Johnston picked up a stretch pass to hammer it in for EN.
Coach summed it up: “We took too many penalties and the team was rolling as we started off great with a 3-1 lead. The penalties didn’t help, and they had a couple of lucky bounces. We played hard and deserved better.”
Hawkesbury Hawks: SOG; 11-7-15 for a total of 33 with 7 PP for 2 points. Kemptville 73’s: 14-7-10 for a total of 31 with 4 PP, with 1 result.
Kanata Lasers were on 73’s home ice for Friday night’s contest that was a must win to move forward for a play-off birth. Kemptville came out hot, dazed and confused, as they opened with a visit to the sin-bin. Kemptville having numerous opportunities as the first was in Kanata’s zone for most of period. Period closed out without results, with both clubs having great chances.
Kemptville managed to regain their focus in the second, as AP Ty Whyte picked up his first of the season when York-Mitchell combination back to the slot to drive it past Jean-Phillippe Tourigny at 6:49. A squeaker beat William Anderson at :22, when Bujold setup Dylan McMahon to tie it into the third. Susuki with Moretti displayed fantastic skill, speed and finese when Ryan Pawlikowski capitalized on a sloppy rebound at 7:55. Laser’s pulled their stopper at 18:25 when 73’s received undisciplined penalty that they couldn’t take advantage of, as Kemptville PK shut them down. Gavin Wood bumped opponent off the rubber for his SHG to chalk up EN at 19:54 to give 3-1 win over Kanata.
Kanata Lasers: SOG: 9-14-17 to Kemptville 73’s 12-13-10, for a total of 40 to 35 for Lasers. Kanata with 4 unsuccessful PP and Kemptville with 2 attempts.
“We played with focus, determination, grit, and never let the bigger club push us around, as well as William Anderson’s stellar performance.” Diggers Award goes to Cameron Cotnam, who has shown consistent growth with improvement every game.
Rockland Nationals roll into 73’s barn for a Friday evening battle at 7:30. Hockey with edge…a cut above the rest……show you care….see you there.
