Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Early offense mixed with solid late goaltending was enough for the Napanee Raiders to hang on for a 4-3 road victory Sunday night against the Amherstview Jets.
Justynn Steven, Logan White and Nic Case each had a goal for Napanee in the second half of the first period to give the visitors a 3-0 advantage at the first intermission.
Hunter Chapman got the Jets on the board 1:10 into the second, only to see Napanee’s Devon King respond just under three minutes later to restore the three goal cushion. That would prove to be the game winner as Amherstview’s Aidan Harris and Jaydon Wood each scored in a less-than-two-minute span to cut the lead to 4-3 late in the second.
Amherstvew continued to pour it on in the third, out-shooting Napanee 18-8 over the final 20 minutes but just couldn’t find the equalizer. Bailey Maracle shut the door, finishing the night with 37 saves for Napanee.
Amherstview’s Brady Sarazin settled in after the first, finishing with 34 saves in the losing effort. Both teams had three power-play opportunities but neither could convert.
Sunday’s game was the only action for the Raiders last week, as Saturday’s scheduled tilt in Lakefield was postponed due to weather.
Napanee will welcome the Clarington Eagles on Friday for a 7:30 p.m. puck drop at the SPC. On Saturday they’re scheduled to visit North Kawartha for their final game of 2019.
Saturday’s game will mark the start of an extended road swing for Napanee, who will go almost a month between home games, returning to the SPC on Jan. 17 to host North Kawartha. Prior to that they’ll play five times on the road, including a Jan. 4 match against Port Hope in their first action following the Christmas break.