Kemptville 3, Hawkesbury 5
In a thrilling game, Kemptville battled hard against Hawkesbury but ultimately fell short, showcasing a spirited comeback that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Hawkesbury came out strong, quickly establishing a commanding lead. Gelinas opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal at 9:13, and Charbonneau, Besner, and Bath added three more goals in rapid succession, giving Hawkesbury a 4-0 lead by the end of the first. Despite multiple penalties on both sides, Kemptville struggled to find any offensive rhythm early on.
Kemptville started the second with renewed energy as Bennett scored just 10 seconds in, sparking a bit of hope for the team. However, Hawkesbury extended their lead when Skoczylas capitalized on a power play at 16:37, making it 5-1. Both teams continued to trade penalties in this physical period, but Hawkesbury’s defensive play held Kemptville to a single goal.
Refusing to give up, Kemptville mounted a comeback in the third. Trottier scored on the power play at 3:52, and later, Graves found the back of the net at 17:29 to bring Kemptville within striking distance. Despite their best efforts and an impressive 46 shots on goal, Kemptville couldn’t bridge the gap as Hawkesbury’s goalie Ruddy made 43 saves, securing a 5-3 victory for the Hawks.
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Kemptville 2, Carleton Place 3
Kemptville showed great resilience and clawed their way back after an early Carleton Place lead, ultimately making it a competitive game.
Carleton Place started strong, scoring twice in the opening minutes, with Bouwer and Neil each finding the net within the first two minutes to give their team a 2-0 advantage. Midway through the period, Barton extended Carleton Place’s lead to 3-0. However, Kemptville found their rhythm late in the period, and Graves answered with a crucial goal at 18:51, assisted by McDougall and McDonald, cutting the deficit to 3-1 and giving Kemptville a boost heading into the second.
Kemptville built on their momentum in the second period, tightening their defense and controlling the pace. McDougall narrowed the gap further with a well-executed goal at 11:38, assisted by Canevari and Stubbings, bringing Kemptville within one at 3-2. Although physical play led to several penalties for both teams, Kemptville’s focus and disciplined play in the middle of the period helped shift the game’s momentum in their favor.
Despite several power-play opportunities and a relentless offensive push, Kemptville couldn’t find the equalizer in the third period. Strong defensive play from both sides resulted in no scoring during the final frame. Kemptville’s effort to control the pace and intensity throughout the second and third periods highlighted their determination and competitiveness.
photo: www.mikemartinphotgraphy.ca
