Adam Prudhomme
Editor
A home-and-away sweep of the Picton Pirates has the Napanee Raiders rolling to start the month of November.
After hanging on for tense 4-3 victory in Napanee on Friday, the Raiders made themselves right at home on Saturday, cruising to a 7-0 victory in Picton.
Bailey Matthews scored the eventual game winner on Friday, notching a goal at the midway point of the third period to put the Raiders ahead 4-3.
Picton goalie Brennan Bush kept his team in the game, stopping 45 shots on the night while his teammates mustered just 17 shots total. Napanee matched Picton’s total shot output in the first period alone, and again in the second while firing 15 in the final 20 minutes.
Nick Kyte put the Pirates ahead in the first at 8:25 into the game. Evan Foley and Jacob Gilbert each scored within a two minute span to give the Raiders the lead, only to be offset by Khaden Henry.
Neither side found the back of the net in the middle period and the two teams entered the final intermission tied 2-2.
Devon King put the Raiders up 3-2 before Aiden MacDonell tied it up just over two minutes later. Matthews put the Raiders ahead for good at 10:02.
Bailey Maracle earned the win for Napanee.
After holding their own against the Tod Division’s top team a night before the young Pirates were no match despite holding home-ice advantage the next night, falling 7-0. Mitch Bown collected the shutout, turning away 16 shots.
King scored just 2:37 into the game in what would prove to be the game winner. Marshall McFarland, Nic Case, Aiden McFarland, Foley, Mackenzie Warren and Brodie Maracle each tallied for the Raiders.
Eric Tessier took the loss, allowing all seven goals on 32 shots.
Prior to Sunday’s league game, the Raiders and Pirates held an exhibition alumni game, made up of players from each team’s 30 year history.
Suiting up for the Raiders were Brent Mills, Ben Tee, Kyle Murphy, Keegan Wayte, Shawn Wannsborough, Hugh Murphy, Riley Steeves, Troy Wylie, Zack Revell, Zach Knapp-Hermer, Ryan Casselman, Ryan Mills, Jacob Murphy, Mike Casselman, Landon Mutch, Nathan Mutch, Jordan MacDonald as well as current coaches Ben Hagerman and Chris Brown.
The Napanee alumni topped the Pirates alumni 5-3.
Napanee’s next league game is Friday when they welcome the Campbellford Rebels to the Napanee. Puck drop is 7:30 p.m.
On Sunday they travel to Clarington for an Orr Division matchup with the Eagles. Puck drop is 1:20 p.m.
With their pair of weekend wins, Napanee is now 14-0-1-1 on the season with 40 points. Amherstview is second at 10-4 (20 points), Gananoque third at 8-3-1-2 (19), Port Hope fourth at 7-5-1-1 (16), Picton fifth at 5-9-1 (11) and Campbellford still looking for a win at 0-11-0-2 (two).