Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Aspirations of a perfect season for the Napanee Raiders were dashed Friday night as the visiting Amherstview Jets posted a convincing 6-0 victory.
Napanee had entered the game with a perfect 10-0 record to open the season.
Dawson Frost got the Jets rolling early, scoring just 28 seconds into the game with his first of two on the night. Zackery McMahon doubled the Jets lead before the game was even five minutes old. Elliott Belzile tacked on another at the 15:43 point of the opening period to give the Jets a 3-0 cushion heading into the first intermission.
Amherstview’s defense shut down the Raiders in the first half of the second period to allow enough time for the offense to put the game out of reach. Frost scored his second of the night at 15:03 before Jack Kauffeldt potted a pair, the first at 16:10 the other with 47 seconds left in the period, to push the lead to 6-0.
Napanee was able to slow the Jets offense in the third but were unable to generate any of their own. Jeremy Piazzi earned the shutout, turning away all 24 shots he faced on the night. Bailey Maracle took the loss as he too faced 24 shots. Amherstview converted on one of their two power-plays while Napanee went 0-for-2.
The shutout marked the first time Napanee had been blanked since Dec. 20, 2019 against the Clarington Eagles, which marked a span of 33 regular season games. It was also their first loss since a 3-1 loss to Lakefield on Feb. 11, 2020. Counting playoffs and factoring in last year’s cancelled season, the Raiders had been unbeaten in 29 straight games. The Raiders were also one of only two PJHL Junior C teams in Ontario that had yet to suffer a loss this season. The Lakeshore Canadiens of the West Stobbs Division now stand alone, albeit at 8-0 they’ve played three fewer games.
Napanee will have had a full week to regroup before they take the ice Friday night when they welcome the Frankford Huskies to the SPC. Puck drop is 7:30 p.m. On Saturday they hit the road and travel to Campbellford to take on the Rebels.
Friday’s loss allowed the second place Jets an opportunity to close the gap on the Raiders-and perhaps send a message that the East Tod Division race is far from over. The 10-1 Raiders (20 points) are four up on the 8-2 Jets (16). Heading into the weekend the Jets’ only two losses have been at the hands of the Raiders. Amherstview is scheduled to take on the Huskies Sunday afternoon in Amherstview. Puck drop is 3:30 p.m.