Ottawa ON –
Friday night featured four must-see games in the Central. Two clubs collectively turning the heads early this year met in Brockville with the 5-0-0-0 Hawks visiting the 4-1-0-0 Braves. The Grads and Lasers were both in action playing their 2nd game in as many nights. Carleton Place traveled to CIHA Arena in Rockland for a date with the Nationals.
Carleton Place 1 Rockland Nationals 2
In a tight checking affair Friday night Rockland was able to squeeze out a narrow 2-1 home win against the visiting Canadians. Following a scoreless first period, Rockland’s Benjamin Pruneau broke the dead lock 13:10 into the second frame, his 1st of the season. The Nationals powerplay went to work to begin the 3rd and successfully converted as Josh Norman’s 3rd put the Nats up by a couple. Carleton Place made a push for overtime as Ryland Mosley got the Canadians to within a goal with under three minutes to play. National’s net minder Joe Giacobbo held the fort turning aside 26 shots for the win.
Three Stars
1- Joseph Giacobbo 26 saves
2- David Lafrance 1 Assist
3- Ryland Mosley 1 Goal
Pembroke Lumber Kings 7 Navan Grads 4
It was a wild shootout in Navan Friday with 11 goals between the Lumber Kings and Grads. It was the second game in as many nights for Navan and they were able to remain resiliant in front of the home crowd. Pembroke stormed out to a 3-0 lead in the 1st with even strength goals from Dempsey, Douglas and Brady Egan. In the opening half of the 2nd Corson Searles and Calvin Moise kept the Grads close cutting the lead to 3-2. Pembroke’s Noah Maika recaptured some insurance for PLK 10:02 into the 2nd and finally Brendan Brazeau added to the shootout, his 1st made it 4-3 Lumber Kings after two. Navan completed the come back early in the 3rd with Brazeau finding the scoresheet and suddenly it was tied 4-4. The Lumber Kings went into another gear offensively with three unanswered (Collins, Browne and Dempsey) to make it 7-4. Calvin Moise scored his 2nd late and the final was 7-5.
Three Stars
1- Jacob Collins (1G, 1A)
2- Brendan Brazeau (2G)
3- Brendan Dempsey (2G)
Hawkesbury Hawks 1 Brockville Braves 4
The CCM Player of the Week Liam Souliere wasn’t tested very often but was able to stand tall when it mattered and helped put an end to Hawkesbury’s unbeaten streak. Jeremy Cote got the opening periods only goal giving the Hawks a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. Fred Allaire’s 2nd on the season evened the score and these two were heading to the third period tied at one. Nicholas Hawkins made good on a powerplay goal early in the 3rd and Brockville never looked back and scored two more times (Gilmour, Hawkins) and get a big home win to improve to 5-1-0-0.
Three Stars
1- Philippe Gilmour (1G, 1A)
2- Liam Souliere (15 Saves)
3- Jeremie Cote (1G)
Kanata Lasers 1 Smith’s Falls Bears 5
The shot count was 33 a piece between the Bears and Lasers but the discrepancy on the score board heavily favored Smith’s Falls. The Bears scored 4:04 into the 1st, Alex Dicarlo’s 5th. Under two minutes into the 2nd Bruce Coltart pushed the lead to 2-0. Kanata’s Connor Sleeth scored on the man advantage and the Lasers were right back in it down 2-1. The Bears then exploded for three straight goals in the 3rd (Dicarlo, Warywoda and Bygrave) launching Smith’s Falls to a dominating 5-1 win over Kanata. Bradley Dobson was rock solid posting 32 saves in the win.
Three Stars
1- Alex Dicarlo (2G, 1A)
2- Joey Warywoda (1G, 2A)
3- Connor Sleeth (1G)