Adam Prudhomme
Editor
An eventful week for the Napanee Raiders hockey team saw them unveil their Schmalz Cup championship banner as well as collecting all six available points.
Playing three games in a four day span, the Raiders topped the Picton Pirates 4-2 on the road Thursday before earning a 5-2 win in their home opener against Port Hope Friday and an 8-2 win over the visiting Georgina Ice on Sunday.
Brodie Maracle and Justynn Steven each found the back of the net twice for the Raiders in Sunday’s lopsided affair, with Reid Humphrey, Evan Foley, Bailey Matthews and Noah Westwater each with singles.
Maracle had the game’s lone goal of the first period, 3:39 into the game. The Raiders broke it open with five unanswered in the second period. They held a 7-0 advantage before Georgina’s Jesse King-Norris broke up the shutout 4:42 into the third period, though by then the game was long decided. Mitch Bown earned the win, facing just 16 shots the entire game, compared to 50 seen by his counterpart David Giancola.
Members of last year’s Napanee Raiders gather at centre ice to unveil the 2018-19 Schmalz Cup Junior C championship banner. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Prior to Friday’s home opener the Raiders took time to celebrate last season’s Schmalz Cup championship by unveiling their 2019 championship banner. Former players from last year’s roster, which included Port Hope’s Cam Harris, joined current players at centre ice for a photo and ceremonial puck drop.
Once the game got underway Harris chipped in with an assist against his former team, earning a point on Corey Saman’s goal to put the Panthers up 1-0.
That lead held until just under five minutes into the second when Aidan McFarland scored Napanee’s first home goal of the season.
Tied 1-1 heading into the third, Napanee was able to secure the win by outscoring the Panthers 4-1 over the final 20 minutes. Steven began the scoring flourish at 8:36, followed by Devon King at 11:24 and Marshall McFarland at 12:03.
Port Hope’s Ethan Shore responded just 13 seconds later, but it wasn’t enough. Aidan McFarland added an insurance tally at 15:18.
Bailey Maracle turned away 17 of 19 shots for the win while Curtis Laviolette took the loss with 32 saves. The teams were a combined 0-9 on the power-play.
Thursday’s game in Picton was tightly contested, with Foley’s final seconds empty-net goal securing the 4-2 win.
Picton led 1-0 early in the first before Aidan McFarland scored just shy of the halfway mark.
Former Raider Griffen Conger found the back of the net on the power-play to give the home team a brief 2-1 lead. Napanee’s Curtis Marrison and Aidan McFarland scored under two minutes apart, the latter on the power-play to put Napanee ahead for good. Bown was strong in net, turning away 20 shots for the win, including all seven he saw in the third.
Next up Napanee will welcome the Amherstview Jets on Friday for a 7:30 p.m. start in a clash of unbeaten teams. On Sunday the Raiders visiting Georgina for a 3:30 p.m. puck drop.