Smiths Falls, Ont. — Friday night’s 5-4 come-from-behind shootout victory felt like a breath of fresh air for the Kemptville 73’s.
Marooned at the bottom of the CCHL standings after a difficult first third, Jeff Jordan’s team stormed back from a 4-1 third-period deficit to take both points off the struggling Smiths Falls Bears.
If there was a TSN turning point to be had in Kemptville’s first 21 games, it was Nick Domitrovic’s natural hat-trick on Friday to force overtime.
The skilled forward put up 30 goals with CCHL-2 Ottawa-West last season, but was dealt by Nepean on Oct. 20 — a move he has embraced.
“I was happy, I think I needed a fresh start,” Domitrovic told TheCCHL.ca following Friday’s win. “I wasn’t playing a lot in Nepean, and I just wanted to be in a position where I could develop as a player — in Kemptville I’d get that opportunity and that’s all I could ask for.”
The 5-foot-9 forward has instantly become an impact player with the 73’s, and believes the team is capable of clawing its way out of the basement.
“I feel as if the team is on the up right now, (and) we just need to find a way to come out strong and play a full 60 minutes,” explained the Nepean, Ont. native. “That just really starts with finding our own confidence and believing that we are just as good as any team in the league.”
Domitrovic’s move to Kemptville was made easier by a pre-existing relationship with head coach Jeff Jordan, who coached him with Nepean’s U18 AAA squad in 2015-16.
“This isn’t my first time being coached by Jeff, and for that reason I feel some familiarity and the adjustment period wasn’t hard at all,” said the 18 year-old. “I felt comfortable going in and it really helped me settle in (Kemptville).”
With 11 points separating the 73’s from eighth-place Kanata, there’s no doubt Domitrovic and co. have work to do.
“Team-wise, I’d like to become a team that will constantly give 100 per cent for each other every shift,” said the newest 73. “I believe I can help with that, as I try to be the hardest worker on the ice every day.”
There’s work to be done in Kemptville, and the new-look 73’s — featuring a changed head coach, leadership core and PP-1 unit from opening day — finally have some momentum to build on.
