Adam Prudhomme
Beaver Sports
Before the games start to count in the standings, the Napanee Raiders will look to shake off the rust Friday night when they host the Gananoque Islanders for an exhibition match, starting at 7:30 p.m. at the SPC.
That game will serve as the lone practice match for the Raiders before they start playing for keeps on Sept. 15, hosting the Port Hope Panthers in a regular season tilt. Puck drop for that game is 7:30 p.m.
The Raiders last saw the Islanders in the semifinals of last year’s playoffs, which Napanee swept in four games.
Friday’s exhibition game will also be a chance for the coaching staff to make their final decisions on the opening night roster as they wind down a busy offseason.
Among those returning to the club are key pieces such as Tyler Ignazzitto, Zach Knapp-Hermer, Justynn Steven, Riley Steeves, Cullen Hinds, Griffen Conger and Devon King. They’ll be joined by new additions in Jake Campbell, Reed Kekewich and Austin Labelle.
The blueline is expected to be manned by a pair of 20-year-olds, with Chad Caskenette and Matt Scott returning along with the team’s top scoring defending in Curtis Marrison and the tall imposing figure of Riley Manion.
The Raiders also announced last week they had reached a deal with Greater Kingston Junior Frontenacs Major Midget captain Kyle Hancock, who affiliated with the Raiders last winter.
In net the Raiders will turn to Jeremy Piazzi. The Kingston native was associated with the team last year though he didn’t get into any game action. He was invited to the Ottawa 67’s training camp last week.
Goaltending was a strength for the club last year as the team allowed a combined 94 goals last season, which was second fewest in the league behind Port Hope’s 74. Picton was a distant third in that category, allowing 143 pucks to cross the goal line. Napanee will hope a strong returning defensive core will help to keep opposing offenses at bay.
The club is expected to finalize some more deals in the coming days as they await the results of some of the area Junior A training camps as their seasons getting underway.