The North Dundas Rockets welcomed the South Grenville Rangers to the Chesterville Arena on Sat., Nov. 17, in the NCJHL. The Rockets’ forwards, Brad Nash (12) and Will Watson battle for a loose puck as the Rangers’ goalie, Lee Spurgeon scrambles to cover up the puck. The Rockets took a 3-2 lead into the third period but they couldn’t hold on as Spurgeon and the Rangers took the game 5-3 taking sole possession of first place in the East Division.        Moore photo

Jeff Moore
Record Staff
CHESTERVILLE—The North Dundas Rockets played a single game over the weekend as they welcomed the South Grenville Rangers on Saturday night.

Rangers 5 Rockets 3
The North Dundas Rockets welcomed the South Grenville Rangers to the Chesterville Arena on Sat., Nov. 17, in the NCJHL. The Rockets were tied for first place with the Rangers and it was a battle for sole possession of the top seed.

The Rangers opened the scoring at 13:44 as Jack Finnerty scored from Zach Hotte taking a 1-0 lead but the Rockets answered as Justin Lefebvre pounded one home from the slot at 15:34 from Brad Stitt and Cameron Brown tying the game at one.

The Rockets made it 2-1 when McKay Balaton scored on a rebound from Jack Van Kessel and Carter Tait at 17:42. The Rockets took a two-goal lead when Lefebvre netted his second of the game from Matt Cowley and Stitt with just 1:40 remaining in the opening frame.

The Rockets took a 3-1 lead into the first intermission. The two teams battled to a scoreless second period with the Rangers outshooting the Rockets 16-7. The Rangers got to within one as Jordan Dodge scored from Brayden Forrestell and Brody Ranger just 2:50 into the third period.

The Rangers tied the game as Ranger scored from Dodge and Cole Edgley on the power play at 9:28. The Rangers retook the lead when Cam Dillon scored from Finnerty and Tristan Loomis at 13:41.

With time winding down, the Rockets pulled their goalie in favour of an extra attacker and had a couple of chances but the Rangers’ Jordan Poulin stripped the defence of the puck and delivered it to the back of the net with just five seconds remaining, unassisted.

The Rangers took the game 5-3 and moved two points ahead of the Rockets in first place. Picking up the win in the Rangers’ goal was Lee Spurgeon making 34 saves on 37 shots and suffering the loss in the Rockets’ goal was Reilly Tondreau making 47 saves on 51 shots.

Up next
The North Dundas Rockets welcome the West Carleton Inferno to the Chesterville Arena on Sat., Nov. 24, at 7:30 p.m. and travel to the Morrisburg Arena on Sun., Nov. 25, to take on the Lions at 1:15 p.m.