Three periods of regulation and an overtime session were not enough to settle matters as the Nepean Raiders defeated the Kemptville 73s in a shootout 6-5 (2-1 SO).
The two teams needed eight turns to complete the shootout. Kemptville's shootout goal was scored by Matt Tugnutt. Nepean also got a shootout goal from Nicolas Vlahos.
Vlahos had two goals to lead the Raiders to victory. Vlahos found the back of the net 2:24 into the first period to make the score 1-0 Nepean and again while 3:19 into the third to make the score 5-4 Nepean.
Nepean pulled out the victory even though it was hit with 19 penalty minutes.
Referees had their hands full with a major incident at 8:35 into the third period. Three fighting penalties were dished out along with two game misconducts.
The Raiders forced 73s' netminders to work between the pipes, taking 33 shots and forcing 27 saves. Nicholas Hodgins made 26 stops and Jacob Tugnutt made one. Nepean bested its season scoring average. The Raiders average 3.6 goals per game.
Nepean also had goals scored by Cameron Cook, Rory Garlasco, and William White, who scored one goal each. Other players who recorded assists for Nepean were Josh Zizek, Brandon Watt, Dakota Ford, and Adel Zivojevic, who each chipped in one and Felix Page and Brandon Belding, who contributed two each.
The 73s forced Nepean goalie Francis Marotte to work between the pipes, taking 48 shots.
Kemptville was helped by Shawn Cameron, who finished with one goal and one assist. Cameron scored 16:16 into the first period to make the score 3-1 Nepean. Quinn Wichers picked up the assist. Kemptville also got points from Cody Hendsbee, who also grabbed one goal and one assist and Tugnutt, who also had one goal and one assist. Others who scored for Kemptville included Kaelan OFlynn and Aaron Hickie, who each put in one. More assists for Kemptville came via Jason Tackett, who had two and Dean Galasso, Brandon Cole, and Erik Brown, who each chipped in one.
Marotte rejected 43 shots on goal for the Raiders. Nepean registered zero goals on two power play opportunities. The Raiders ran into serious disciplinary problems during the contest, and White was ejected from the game. The 73s totaled 11 minutes in penalty time with three minors and one major and went 1-for-6 on the power play. For Kemptville, Tyson Kirkby was ejected from the game.
