Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Marshall McFarland scored four times over the Napanee Raiders’ two game split this weekend, but none bigger than his tally at 16:40 of the first in Friday’s game against Picton.
Not only did that goal tie the game at 1-1, but it had stuffies tumbling from the seats of the Strathcona Paper Centre, the magical goal in the team’s annual teddy bear toss game. Action was paused for a few moments as the players scooped up the toys which will be distributed to Morningstar Mission this holiday season.
Raiders gather up toys tossed from the stands as part of the annual teddy bear toss game. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Christos Chronis would give the Raiders the lead at 12:08 of the second before McFarland potted his second of the night just 1:32 into the third period. His second of the night held up as the game winner, as Picton would answer back just 37 seconds later to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Napanee’s Michael Patrick attempts to redirect an incoming shot in front of Picton’s Ethan Schwarz. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Blake Aylesworth added some insurance for Napanee at 7:15 and Cole Campbell iced the victory with 15 seconds left in regulation to wrap up the 5-2 win. Logan Vale made 19 saves for the win while Picton’s Ethan Schwarz faced 53 shots in the loss.
Saturday night McFarland again notched a pair, as did Erik MacNiel, but it wasn’t enough in Napanee’s 6-4 road loss to the Port Hope Panthers.
Napanee never led, though they did manage to tie the game at 1-1 and 2-2 before the Panthers began to pull away. An empty net goal with just over a minute left to play locked up the win for Port Hope.
Vale made the start in back-to-back nights, allowing five goals on 36 shots. Panther goalie Brayden Friedrich was busy, turning away 46 Raider shots for the win.
With the win the Panthers moved ahead of the Raiders by a single point, climbing into second place. Napanee is now 14-8 with one tie on the season, good for 29 points. The Panthers are 14-8 with an overtime and a loss accounting for their extra point. Frankford leads the way at 18-4-3 (39 points).
Rounding out the rest of the standings are the Amherstview Jets at 13-11 (26 points), Picton in fifth at 9-12 with a tie (19) and the Campbellford Rebels still winless in 22 games with an overtime loss and a tie.
Napanee will welcome the first place Huskies to the SPC on Friday for a 7:30 p.m. puck drop. On Dec. 17 the Raiders travel to Amherstview for a 7:30 p.m. road match.