Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Amherstview’s power-play unit made good use a Napanee double-minor penalty, producing two goals that made the difference in their 4-2 win Friday night at the SPC.
With the game tied 1-1, Trent Williams of the Napanee Raiders was assessed a four-minute penalty for spearing with just over a minute and a half left in the first period. He wouldn’t end up serving the full sentence as the Jets’ Brayden Robinson scored just over a minute into the man-advantage. Andrew White added another just 18 seconds later to give the Jets a 3-1 lead heading into the first intermission.
Brad Wilson tacked on another Jets goal late in the second to push the lead to 4-1. Napanee got one back at 6:48 of the third when Spencer Cranley found the back of the net. That would mark the final goal either team would score on the evening.
The Raiders appeared to be ready to start their 2024 off on the right skate as Cole Campbell put the home team up 1-0 just 2:19 into the game. The Jets wouldn’t have to wait long to get their first of the new year as Wyatt Gregory answered back at 7:56, the start of four unanswered for the Jets.
Napanee’s Logan Vale makes a save against Amherstview’s Thomas Elkins. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Napanee wasn’t without chances, firing 42 shots at Jets goalie Robert Marc-Olivier. Napanee’s Logan Vale saw 24 shots down at the other end.
With the win the Jets were able to leap-frog the Raiders for third in the East Tod Division by a narrow one point margin. The Jets are now 17-11 (34 points) on the season while the Jets are 16-11 with one tie (33 points). Both clubs have played 28 games.
The Frankford Huskies lead the division at 20-5-4 (43 points), the Port Hope Panthers sit second with 37 points. The Picton Pirates have 23 points in 27 games while the Campbellford Rebels are still winless but have two points via a tie and overtime loss.
Napanee will visit the Rebels for their next game on Jan 13, followed by a stop in Frankford on Jan. 14. On Jan. 18 they’ll wrap up a three game road swing with a trip to Picton before returning home on Jan. 19 to face the Port Hope Panthers. Puck drop for that game will be 7:30 p.m. at the SPC.