by the sportsguy
After a steady showing during their pre-season schedule against the Smiths Falls Bears, to post a tie and OT win, and a loss to Kanata Lasers and Brockville Braves, our boys of Winter were pumped for their initial home opener facing the Nepean Raiders. Mayor Nancy Peckford was present to drop the puck to officially launch the season at Friday night’s home opener, as the boys double downed on their opponents with a 6 to 3 victory for their fans. With new sweaters showing off a new improved logo, they were all dressed up for the dance: and what a dance it was.
73’s struck first with man advantage, and the combination of Suzuki with Brazier, when Luke Jefferies picked up the rebound to drive it behind Andrew Rose at 7:40 for PPG. Raiders countered at 12:11 with Josh Shimizu, from Shanklin and McQuade, to find open space by Riley McCabe to even it up at one to end initial period. Kemptville slammed 13 to 8 SOG and spent most of the first in the opposition zone.
Second stanza was owned by the 73’s, as Broda to Brazier to allow Evan Mitchell, pinching from point, to ram it home at 6:29 for the tie breaker. Go-ahead goal for the 73’s when Chase Broda picked up his first goal of the season from Lammi and Wood to launch a missile top shelf at 15:33. Third marker for 73’s at 17:20 the SBJ penetrator’s 2nd attack, when Jefferies, Suzuki found Hunter Brazier through the middle to rifle it top shelf for his 2nd of the season. 73’s maintained their lopsided SOG 19 to 13.
Final twenty, Nepean came out with man advantage when Patrick Larkin, assisted by McQuade and Rossides, leaned into it for a PPG at 9:17. Kemptville moved forward on PP, as Brazier with Sazuki across to Captain Jared Patterson who deaked Raiders “D”, hammered it high for PPG at 15:21 for his first to make it 5 to 2 contest. Nepean, awarded a PS, could have brought them within two, but a steller stop, as Josh Shimizu was stoned by Riley McCabe at 16:39. Chase Lammi sprung from Mitchell and Patterson for his 2nd of season at 16:59 to gave Kemptville a 6 to 2 lead. Raiders counted one more time, when Jack Miles, with helpers from Venne with Chabot, tried to bring it closer at 18:48 to record a 6 – 3 lopsided win, as predicted by Chico when he constructed his puck display.
Kemptville continuing to outgun their opponents by 16 to 5 in the third for a total of 48 to 26.
Both clubs had 4 PP opportunities, with Kemptville having 2 results and Nepean with 1, as well as PS without capitalizing.
After the 73’s loss to the Brockville Braves during off season session, they face them on their home ice Sunday, September 8, at 3 pm anticipating better results.
Hockey with edge…a cut above the rest…show you care…see you there.
