Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Bailey Maracle turned away all 25 shots he saw Saturday night to lead the Napanee Raiders to a 4-0 road win over the Port Hope Panthers.
Blake Aylesworth chipped in with a pair of goals in the second period, both coming in a span of 38 seconds towards the end of the frame, his 13th and 14th on the season. Those goals made it 3-0 at the time as Ben Carter had given the Raiders a 1-0 lead while the team was short-handed at the 16:20 mark of the first in what would stand up as the game winner. Adam Nuttall added an insurance goal midway through the third.
Napanee outshot Port Hope 38-25 on the night.
The Raiders have just two games remaining in 2022, starting with a home date against the Picton Pirates this Friday. Puck drop is 7:30 p.m. at the SPC.
On Dec. 20 it’s a rare Tuesday game, as the Raiders travel to Campbellford to face the Rebels. Puck drop is 7:30 p.m.
From there they’ll enjoy a 16-day break before returning to the ice Jan. 5 when they visit Picton for the first game of 2023.
At 21-2 on the season, Napanee enjoys a comfortable 11-point lead over the second place 15-9-1 Amherstview Jets (42 points to 31). Picton is third at 12-8-1 (25), Frankford fourth at 10-12-1 (21), Port Hope fifth at 8-12-2 (18) and the Rebels sit last at 1-20-2 (four).