The Rockets’ Alternate Captain Shawn Simms (13) helped lead the way to their 17th win of the season with a goal and an assist. Simms had 12 goals and 17 assists for 29 points in 21 games this season with the Rockets. O’Donohue photo
Jeff Moore
Record Staff
CHESTERVILLE – The North Dundas Rockets had just a single game this past weekend. The Rockets made one move at the trade deadline acquiring goalie Reilly Tondreau from the Morrisburg Lions.
Rockets 5 Cougars 2: The Rockets travelled to the Vankleek Hill Arena to take on the Cougars on Sat., Jan. 13, in the NCJHL. The Rockets went into the game in third place, just two points behind the Gatineau Hull-Volant in second place and just three points up on the Cumberland Bandits in fourth.
The Cougars sat in seventh place five points behind the St. Isidore Eagles in sixth and just one point ahead of the Metcalfe Jets in eighth place. The Rockets opened the scoring at 6:16 of the first period as Brad Stitt banged one home from Bryden Van Kessel on the power play to make it 1-0.
The Rockets made it 2-0 when Bryden Van Kessel snapped one to the back of the net from Brodie Barkley at 6:42 also on the power play. The Rockets made it 3-0 when Justin Lefevbre slid one home from Nick Sourges at 13:45 and 4-0 at 17:20 when Shawn Simms swatted one home from Lefebvre while short-handed.
The Rockets took the 4-0 lead into the first intermission. The Cougars scored the lone goal in the second period at just 2:12. The Cougars got to within two at 14:58 of the third but the Rockets replied with just 1:33 remaining as Jack Van Kessel fired one to the back of the net from Simms and Bryden Van Kessel to close out the scoring.
The Rockets took the game 5-2 and moved into a second-place tie with the Gatineau Hull-Volant. Picking up the win in the Rockets’ goal was Jason Buma.
Up next: Sat., Jan. 20, 7:30 p.m., Rockets vs. Gatineau Hull-Volant, Chesterville Arena; Sun., Jan. 21, 1:30 p.m., Rockets vs. South Grenville Rangers, Cardinal Arena.
