Fingler scores two hat tricks for the Rockets in first two games

The North Dundas Rockets welcomed the first-place Gatineau Hull-Volant to the Chesterville Arena on Sat., Nov. 25, in the NCJHL. The Rockets were coming off a three game skid and were eager to turn the corner and looked to their Captain, Bryden Van Kessel (24), for leadership. Van Kessel delivered, scoring a goal and picking up a helper as the Rockets blasted the Volant 8-2.   Sawyer Helmer photo

Jeff Moore
Record Staff
PRESCOTT – The North Dundas Rockets had two games this past weekend.

Rockets 8 Rangers 4: The North Dundas Rockets travelled to the Leo Boivin Arena in Prescott on Sun., Nov. 26, to take on the South Grenville Rangers in the NCJHL. The Rockets went into the game with a huge 8-2 victory over the first-place Gatineau Hull Volant the previous night and moved into sole possession of fourth place.

The Rangers were coming off a three-all tie against the Vankleeek Hill Cougars and sat in a two-way tie for 10th. The Rangers opened the scoring at 2:10 of the first period taking a 1-0 lead. The Rockets answered when Shawn Simms powered one to the back of the net from Bryden Van Kessel at 4:24 to tie the game at one.

The Rangers made it 2-1 at 14:39 and 3-1 at 16:29 and took that lead into the first intermission. The Rangers took a 4-1 lead at 5:51 of the second period but the Rockets came back with a vengeance scoring at 8:41 when Tom Fingler snapped one home from Tanner Barnet and Landon Veenstra making it 4-2.

The Rockets got to within one when Fingler scored his second of the game from Veenstra at 14:47 and Fingler completed his hat trick at 14:56 from Brad Stitt tying the game at four. The teams took a four-all draw into the second intermission. The Rockets took their first lead of the game as Veenstra lit the lamp at 3:28 of the third period.

The Rockets made it 6-4 at 5:17 as Justin Lefebvre pounded one home from Jace Legue and Van Kessel and 7-4 with just 1:22 remaining as Lefebvre scored his second of the game from Fingler and Simms.

The Rockets added another goal before the final buzzer when Stitt scored from Van Kessel with just 1:03 remaining and took the game 8-4 moving into sole possession of fourth place. Picking up the win in the Rockets’ goal was Jason Buma.

Rockets 8 Volant 2: The North Dundas Rockets welcomed the Gatineau Hull-Volant to the Chesterville Arena on Sat., Nov. 25, in the NCJHL. The Rockets went into the game on a three-game skid but still sat in fourth place with 16 points but only two points ahead of four other teams in fifth and two points behind the Cumberland Bandits in third.

The Volant went into the game in sole possession of first place and were coming off a 7-3 win over the St. Isidore Eagles the previous night. The Rockets opened the scoring when Brodie Barkley lit the lamp at 10:25 of the first period from Justin Lefebvre and Landon Veenstra on the power play to take a 1-0 lead.

The Rockets made it 2-0 when Lefebvre snapped one to the back of the cage from Jack Van Kessel and Nick Sourges at 12:02. The Rockets took the 2-0 lead into the first intermission.

The Rockets made it 3-0 just one minute into the second period as newly acquired Tom Fingler pounded one home from Ryan Carbonette and Brad Stitt. The Rockets kept the pressure on and were rewarded at 10:56 as Connor Roth scored an unassisted goal. The Rockets took a 4-0 lead into the second intermission.

The Rockets scored another early period goal when Bryden Van Kessel hammered one home from Roth and Shawn Simms just 1:22 into the third period. The Rockets made it 6-0 when Lefebvre scored his second of the game from Bryden Van Kessel and Veenstra at 4:51.

The Volant finally got on the score sheet at 5:43 and then later made it a 6-2 game but the Rockets answered when Fingler scored his second of the game unassisted. The Rockets made it 8-2 when Fingler completed his hat trick with 2:42 remaining in the game from Sourges and Veenstra.

The Rockets took the game 8-2 and annihilated the Volant on the shot clock 71-28. Picking up the win in the Rockets’ goal was Jason Buma making 26 saves on 28 shots.

Up next: Fri., Dec. 1, 8:30 p.m., Rockets vs. Bytown Royals, Bernard-Grandmaitre Arena, Ottawa; Sat., Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m., Rockets vs. Morrisburg Lions, Chesterville Arena.