The Casselman Vikings welcomed the Westport Rideaus to the J. R. Brisson Complex on Sat., Jan. 5, in the CCHL2. The Vikings’ affiliated player, Mikael Houle (right) celebrates scoring his third goal of the season in the first period. Helping celly were Riley MacDonald and Joel Hunt. The Vikings hung on for a 4-3 victory to ring in the new year. Moore photo
Jeff Moore
Record Staff
CASSELMAN—The Casselman Vikings played just a single game this past weekend as they welcomed the Westport Rideaus on Saturday night.
Vikings 4 Rideaus 3
The Casselman Vikings welcomed the Westport Rideaus to the J. R. Brisson Complex on Sat., Jan. 5, in the CCHL2. The Vikings got back into action after a two-week Christmas break and sat in second place in the Martin Division but trailed the Ottawa Jr. Canadians by 14 points; although the Vikings did have three games in hand on the Canadians. The Rideaus opened the scoring at 4:57 of the first period taking a 1-0 lead.
The Vikings tied the game at 5:17 when Frederick Gagnier scored his 13th goal of the season from Jason Cossette and Samuel Mattie and made it 2-1 when affiliated player, Mikael Houle scored his third of the season from Joel Hunt and Joshua Paledeau at 9:36.
The Vikings took a two-goal lead when Shawn Patterson scored his sixth of the season from Joel Hunt and Yanick Dicaire (returned from injury), at 11:04. The Vikings took a 3-1 lead into the first intermission.
The Rideaus got to within one at 5:42 into the second period but the Vikings restored their two-goal lead as Patterson scored his second of the game and seventh of the season at 7:46 from Hunt and Dicaire. The Rideaus closed the gap to one again at 16:47 but trailed 4-3 heading into the second intermission.
The Rideaus pressed for the tying goal in the third and with just over a minute remaining in regulation they pulled their goalie in favour of an extra attacker. The Vikings defence and goalie, Nick Campbell were able to hold off the Rideaus taking the game 4-3.
The Vikings outshot the Rideaus 37-31. Picking up the win in the Vikings’ goal was Campbell making 28 saves.
Up next
The Casselman Vikings welcome the Arnprior Packers to the J. R. Brisson Complex on Thurs., Jan. 10, at 8 p.m. and travel to the Palais des Sports in Embrun on Fri., Jan. 11, to take on the Panthers at 8 p.m.
