Adam Prudhomme
Editor
A third period rally was needed to keep the Napanee Raiders unbeaten this weekend, as they battled the Port Hope Panthers to a 5-5 draw Friday before trouncing the visiting Uxbridge Bruins 10-2 on Sunday.
On Friday the Raiders fell behind 3-0 to the Panthers and trailed the entire game before a last minute goal in the third evened the score at 5-5. Marshall McFarland potted the equalizer on the power-play, with the assist from Aidan McFarland.
A seven minute overtime solved nothing and the teams were left to settle with one point each in the standings.
Former Raider Cam Harris scored the game’s first two goals, converting on the power-play 9:41 into the game and again with 17 seconds left in the period. He was at it again just over a minute into the second, assisting on George Miranda’s goal to put the visitors’ up 3-0, forcing the Raiders to call a timeout.
Napanee finally broke though just shy of the midway point of the game, when captain Justynn Steven notched a power-play goal. He added another less than four minutes later to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Port Hope’s Mateo Cabral scored just two minutes later to slow the Raider rally and restore the two goal advantage.
Port Hope goalie Curtis Laviolette juggles the puck up in the air. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
The two sides traded goals in the opening five minutes of the frame, with Aidan McFarland scoring for Napanee, offset by Port Hope’s Nolan Kellachan.
Brodie Maracle brought Napanee to within one with a goal at the 7:24 mark, setting up Marshall McFarland’s last minute heroics.
Though they were able to come away with at least a tie, the Raiders had their share of chances to secure the win, outshooting Port Hope 58-28 on the game, including 7-3 in overtime. Curtis Laviolette made 53 saves while Mitch Bown turned away 23 for Napanee.
Napanee rode the momentum of Friday’s comeback into Sunday evening, compiling double-digits in goals for the fourth time this year with the 10-2 win.
Nic Case, Curtis Marrison, Aidan McFarland, Logan White and Devon King each scored in the first, building a 5-0 lead 17:34 into the game. Uxbridge’s Joshua Cammalerri scored in the final seconds of the first.
The late goal did little to deter Napanee, as Case, Aidan McFarland and Evan Foley all scored within a two minute span to put the game out of reach early in the second. Steven and Maracle tacked on goals early in third.
Bailey Maracle picked up the win for Napanee, stopping 31 Bruin shots. Jordan Yaremchuk took the loss, allowing all 10 goals on 55 shots.
Napanee will welcome the Picton Pirates to the SPC this Friday to close out their five game home stand. On Saturday they return the favour and visit the Pirates in Picton. Both games start at 7:30 p.m.
With their three points this weekend Napanee continues to enjoy a comfortable lead in the standings. At 12-0-1-1 and 26 points, they lead Amherstview (9-4, 18 points), Gananoque (7-3-1-2, 17 points), Port Hope (6-4-1-1, 14 points), Picton (5-7-1, 11 points) and Campbellford (0-11-0-1, one point).