photo credit: icelevel.com
Kemptville 4, Ottawa 3
Kemptville claimed a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Ottawa, capitalizing on key opportunities despite being outshot 40-21. After falling behind early in the first period to an Ottawa goal by Pelchat just 1:39 into the game, Kemptville remained composed, keeping the deficit to one as both teams stayed disciplined with no penalties in the opening frame.
The second period showcased Kemptville’s resilience and offensive depth. Redmond scored a shorthanded goal at 11:33 to tie the game, energizing his team. Stubbings followed with a goal at 15:52, assisted by Bennett and McDougall, giving Kemptville their first lead. Redmond struck again at 18:04, extending the lead to 3-1. Kemptville weathered a series of penalties, including misconduct by Ottawa’s Poirier, to maintain their momentum.
Ottawa pushed back in the third period, scoring twice on the power play through Brennan and Matsukubo, but Kemptville held firm. Canevari’s power-play goal at 12:02, set up by Bennett and McDougall, proved decisive. Despite Ottawa’s relentless attack, Kemptville’s goaltender Donovan was outstanding, making 37 saves. This disciplined and opportunistic performance secured a vital win for Kemptville, showcasing their ability to overcome adversity and make the most of their chances.
Kemptville 2, Navan 3
Despite a valiant effort and a strong start, the Kemptville 73’s fell just short in a tightly contested 3-2 loss to the Navan Grads. Kemptville struck first in the opening period with a shorthanded goal by Montoni, who capitalized on a feed from Redmond and Sweetapple at 2:53. The 73’s showcased their defensive resilience early, with Bennett making key saves to preserve the lead.
The second period saw Navan respond, tying the game just under three minutes in when Brown scored off a setup from Ramsay and Pedersen. Kemptville’s penalty trouble proved costly midway through the frame, as Navan’s Smith scored on the power play at 13:15 to give the Grads a 2-1 lead. Kemptville struggled to generate offense in the period, managing only six shots on goal.
The 73’s came out strong in the third, determined to even the score. Sweetapple delivered with a goal at 6:05, assisted by Graves and Loreto, tying the game 2-2 and reigniting Kemptville’s hopes. However, Navan regained the lead late in the period when Holmes scored the game-winner at 17:25, assisted by Smith. Kemptville pushed hard in the final minutes but couldn’t find the equalizer, despite outshooting Navan 13-10 in the period.
Bennett was stellar in net for Kemptville, making 32 saves on 35 shots, while Gagne’s 30-save performance for Navan proved just enough to secure the victory. Although the 73’s came up short, their effort, especially in the first and third periods, showcased their resilience and determination.
Kemptville 1, Renfrew 4
The Kemptville 73’s battled hard but came up short in a 4-1 loss to the Renfrew Wolves, a game that showcased moments of brilliance and determination from the 73’s. After conceding two goals in quick succession during the first period, including a power-play strike by Lefebvre, Kemptville regrouped and found their footing. Despite trailing 2-0, Bennett stood tall in net, making critical saves to keep the game within reach.
The second period saw Kemptville respond with energy and focus. The team’s persistence paid off when McDonald scored his first goal of the season at 8:32, capitalizing on a precise feed from Trottier. Kemptville’s penalty kill shone, nullifying Renfrew’s man-advantage opportunities and allowing the team to maintain momentum. Though unable to capitalize on their own power-play chances, Kemptville showed flashes of offensive creativity and continued to press.
In the third period, Kemptville continued to push Renfrew, with Bennett making key stops to give his team a chance. Despite their effort, Renfrew extended their lead with a power-play goal by Streska and an even-strength tally from Lefebvre. Kemptville refused to back down, with gritty play and physicality evident in a series of penalties that underlined their determination to compete until the final whistle.
While the scoreboard didn’t favor the 73’s, the game highlighted strong goaltending from Bennett, who made 31 saves, and a resilient performance from the team as they matched Renfrew’s intensity. Kemptville will look to build on their disciplined second period and continue striving for success in upcoming matchups.
