The North Dundas Rockets travelled to the Robert Guertin Arena in Gatineau for the NCJHL Showcase on Sat., Sept. 22, as the Bytown Royals. The Rockets entered the season with anticipation of a great season with all of their new found talent and rookies.     Moore photo 

The North Dundas Rockets travelled to the St. Isidore Arena on Sun., Sept. 23, for their second game of the season as they took on the Eagles in the NCJHL. The Rockets’ captain, Brad Stitt pounced on a rebound here to make it a 2-1 game in favour of the Eagles. The Rockets’ Landon Veenstra (left) and Will Watson (14) celebrate the goal as defenseman, Brodie Barkley (18) picked up the helper on the play. The Rockets eventually tied the game before falling to the Eagles late in the third period. Moore photo

ST. ISIDORE—The North Dundas Rockets kicked off their 2018-19 NCJHL regular season on Saturday night at the NCJHL Showcase in Gatineau against the Bytown Royals. The Rockets then travelled to St. Isidore on Sunday night to take on the Eagles.

Eagles 4 Rockets 3
The North Dundas Rockets travelled to the St. Isidore Arena on Sun., Sept. 23, to take on the Eagles in the NCJHL. The Rockets were coming off a tough overtime loss to the Bytown Royals in their previous game at the NCJHL Showcase the previous day. The Rockets only had 15 players dressed with five veterans out of the lineup.

The Eagles opened the scoring at 2:56 of the first period taking a 1-0 lead. With time winding down in the opening frame, the Eagles sent a buzzer beater to the back of the net with just one second showing on the clock.

The Eagles took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. The Rockets cut the deficit in half when captain Brad State scored a rebound close in at 6:26 from Brodie Barkley but the Eagles got that one back at 8:08 restoring a two-goal lead.

The Eagles took a 3-1 lead into the second intermission despite being outshot 15-9 in the middle frame. The Rockets made it 3-2 just 1:51 into the third period as Barkley snapped one home from Brad Nash and tied the game at three as Matt Cowley snuck around the Eagles defence at 4:03 from Justin Lefebvre and Nash.

The Rockets pressed the eagles in their own end but got too deep as an Eagle was sprung on a breakaway and he roofed with just 1:29 remaining in regulation. The Rockets had a hard time trying to get their goalie, Reilly Tondreau to the bench in favour of an extra attacker and finally did with about 20 seconds remaining and had two great scoring chances but were able to tie the game as the Eagles picked up their second win of the season 4-3.

With the loss, the Rockets begin the season 0-2. The Rockets outshot the Eagles 44-35. Suffering the loss in the Rockets’ goal was Tondreau making 40 saves on 44 shots.

Royals 4 Hawks 3 (OT)
The Rockets took a 1-0 lead when Justin Lefebvre fired one to the back of the net from the top of the left circle at 7:42 from Brodie Barkley. The Rockets took the 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

The Rockets made it 2-0 when Lefebvre scored his second of the game as he dove across the goal crease chipping the puck up and over the Royals’ goal tender at 4:43 of the second period. The Rockets took a 3-0 lead when Connor Roth scored on a partial breakaway at 8:06 from Logan Leonard.

The Rockets looked to be on cruise control but the Royals were able to punch one home at 16:16 to make it 3-1. The Rockets took the 3-1 lead into the second intermission. The Royals battled back to get to within one at the nine-minute mark of the third period and tied the game on the power play at 9:26.

Neither team was able to find the back of the net for the remainder of regulation so the game headed to a five-minute three-on-three overtime frame. Just 1:29 into the extra frame it was the Royals who snapped the deadlock taking the game 4-3.

Suffering the loss in the Rockets’ goal was Reilly Tondreau despite making several monster saves to keep the game close.

Up next
The North Dundas Rockets travel to the Morrisburg Arena on Sat., Sept. 29, to take on the Lions at 7:30 p.m.