Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Jubilation turned to heartbreak for the Napanee Raiders on Friday night as a last minute comeback was undone by an even later response, resulting in a 4-3 loss to the visiting Frankford Huskies.
Napanee was down a goal with less than a minute to go in the game when Ben White answered the call, tying the game at 3-3 with 57 seconds on the clock.
Frankford’s Ben Smith spoiled the celebration however, putting the Huskies ahead 4-3 at 19:40. This time the Raiders didn’t have any magic left in them.
Earlier in the game Napanee clawed their way back from a first period 2-0 hole. Jacob Tinney and Brayden Adams had scored for the Huskies while Cole Campbell and Cameron Krupa responded for the Raiders.
That 2-2 score held until the opening minute of the third when Adams put the Huskies ahead with his second of the night. That set up the wild finish when both teams scored in the final minute, the difference being the Huskies were already up a goal before the madness.
Hayden Candler earned the win with 31 saves, Bailey Maracle took the loss with 29 saves.
The loss snapped Napanee’s eight game winning streak and accounts for just their third loss on the season overall in 26 games played.
Thursday night the Raiders returned from the holiday break with a 3-0 road win over the Picton Pirates.
Adam Nuttall, Christos Chronis and Blake Aylesworth each scored for Napanee. Maracle earned the shutout with 20 stops.
Napanee is now 23-3 on the year. They’ll hit the road for a rare Tuesday game when they visit the Campbellford Rebels. They’re back home Jan. 13 to host the Port Hope Panthers.