Adam Prudhomme
Editor
A mismatch between the juggernaut Napanee Raiders and the struggling Trent Hill Thunder went exactly as one might expect on Friday.
The hometown Raiders dominated on both ends of the ice, cruising to a 9-0 victory. Both teams entered at opposite ends of the standings with Napanee leading the pack while the Thunder are limping to the finish line with just seven wins in 39 games entering tonight’s action.
That difference was evident early on as Napanee had four goals in the first period alone, while the Thunder managed just four shots total.
Jackson Barnes and Ben White each scored twice while Erik MacNiel, Luke Jarmin, Trent Williams, Christos Chronis and Michael Patrick each had a goal. Napanee’s power-play unit was clicking as they scored on four of five opportunities.
Logan Vale made 16 saves to earn his second straight shutout and third in five games. Overall as a team the Raiders have now posted three straight shutouts, with fellow goalie Denholm Blair picking one up in between Vale’s two perfectos.
While the victory may not have been too difficult to come by, it was an important one as the Raiders continue to chase down a first place finish in the East Tod Division.
Napanee is now 30-7 with one overtime loss and one shootout loss on the season, good for 62 points with three games remaining. They’re four points up on the second place Frankford Huskies.
Napanee will face another floundering team tomorrow night when they travel to North Kawartha to face the last place Knights with a 7:25 p.m. puck drop.
On Feb. 14 the Raiders return to the Best and Bash Arena for their final regular season home game, hosting the Amherstview Jets. Puck drop is 7:30 p.m.
They’ll close the season on the road Feb. 15 against the Huskies.