Kanata, Ont. —
Goaltender Sean Storr and the Rockland Nationals were the story of the showcase in Saturday’s season-opening action.
The ’98-born puckstopper turned aside all 37 shots faced en route to a 5-0 win — Rockland’s first in the franchise’s modern era — over Kanata.
Pembroke, Carleton Place, Smiths Falls, Brockville and Ottawa also began their season with wins.
Rockland 5, Kanata 0
Mathieu Blanchette scored the game-winning goal in a two-goal effort on his CCHL debut for Rockland, whose new ownership was on hand to see their team’s historic victory. Dana Engram, Benjamin Pruneau and Brady Elder also found the net in the win for the Nationals.
Storr stole the show in his CCHL debut with a number of athletic stops that drew the attention of some of the 100-plus scouts on hand at the Bell Sensplex.
Pembroke 7, Navan 4
After allowing the first goal just 2:52 into Saturday’s contest, the Pembroke Lumber Kings offence came to life en route to a 4-1 first-intermission lead and 7-4 win.
Brendan Browne and Zac Cross each had two-goal efforts in the win for Pembroke, while defenceman Jarrad Vroman chipped in with three assists from the blue line. Forward Connor Warnholtz, recently acquired from Nepean, had three points (one goal, two assists) in his Lumber Kings debut.
Navan’s Brad Estrada had two goals in the losing effort; Grads goaltender Brennan Kitchen was pulled midway through the second period after allowing six goals on 31 shots.
Carleton Place 2, Hawkesbury 1
A late push from Rick Dorval’s Hawks wasn’t enough, as the four-time defending champion Carleton Place Canadians edged a 2-1 victory to open the 2017-18 campaign.
Brothers Ben and Zach Tupker each tallied in the win for C.P., which was backstopped to the victory by a strong 27-save performance from rookie goaltender Jeremy Forget.
Matt Gasuik had the lone goal for Hawkesbury in the loss.
Smiths Falls 3, Cornwall 1
Despite forward Chris Theodore’s incredible highlight-reel goal in the third period, the Cornwall Colts dropped their season opener 3-1 to the Smiths Falls Bears.
Rookie Christophe Bohemier had the game-winning goal for Mark Grady’s Bears at the 13:18 mark of the third period, while goaltender Bradley Dobson — just back from an OHL camp — put up 31 saves in the win.
Ottawa 7, Kemptville 2
Newcomer Silas Mattawashish’s hat-trick led the way for the Jr. Sens in their (blank) victory over the feisty Kemptville 73’s.
Second-year forward Griffin McGregor added a pair of goals in the win for Ottawa, while goaltender Francis Boisvert recorded his first-career CCHL victory.
Jacob Shankar had a goal and an assist in the loss for the 73’s, who welcomed former NHLer Jason York to their bench for the first time as an assistant coach.
Brockville 3, Nepean 1
Goaltender Yaniv Perets turned aside 18 of 19 shots faced as the Brockville Braves downed the Nepean Raiders 3-1 in Saturday’s nightcap.
Joseph Crump, Nick Hawkins and James Walker had the goals in the win for Brockville, while Antoine Belisle had the lone marker for Nepean.
