The Rockets’ defensemen, Matt Cowley tries to kick the puck up to his stick as he closed in on the Eagles’ goalie, Dawson Irving during the second period. The Eagles got back in the series with a 4-2 victory but the Rockets lead the series 2-1. Moore photo

ST. ISIDORE—The North Dundas Rockets opened their NCJHL quarterfinal with three games this past weekend as they travelled to St. Isidore on Friday night to take on the Eagles for game one, welcomed the Eagles for game two on Saturday night and travelled back to St. Isidore for game three.

Eagles 4 Rockets 2

The North Dundas Rockets travelled to the St. Isidore Arena on Sun., Feb. 24, to take on the Eagles for game three of the best of seven NCJHL quarterfinal. The Rockets went into the game with a 2-0 series lead after picking up a pair of 4-3 overtime wins, and looked to take total control of the series with a victory. 

The Eagles opened the scoring for the third time in the series as Kevin Howson scored from Daniel Scott at 13:06 of the first period and took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. The Eagles made it 2-0 at 9:55 of the second period as Howson scored his second of the game unassisted. 

With time winding down in the middle frame, the Rockets finally broke the ice as Connor Roth blasted one home from the point on a power play from Justin Lefebvre with just three seconds remaining in the middle frame. The Eagles took a 2-1 lead into the second intermission. 

The Rockets knotted the affair at two when Roth scored his second of the game from Jack Van Kessel at 4:36 of the third period. The Eagles retook the lead when former Rocket, Sebastien Roy scored from Jakob Brunette at 11:50. 

With time winding down in the third period the Rockets pulled their goalie in favour of an extra attacker but that didn’t have the desired effect as the Eagles were able to score in the empty cage as Xavier Leclerc slid one home from Ryan Wells with just 1:30 remaining in the game. 

The Eagles took the game 4-2 but still trail in the series two games to one. Picking up the win in the Eagles’ goal was Dawson Irving and suffering the loss in the Rockets’ goal was Reilly Tondreau. 

Rockets 4 Eagles 3 (OT)

The North Dundas Rockets welcomed the St. Isidore Eagles to the Chesterville Arena on Sat., Feb. 23, for game two of their best of seven NCJHL quarterfinal. The Rockets stole home ice advantage after beating the Eagles on their ice the previous night and looked to take a 2-0 series lead. 

The Eagles opened the scoring at 15:52 as Ryan Wells scored from Mathieu Grandmont taking a 1-0 lead. The Rockets tied the game with just 1:12 remaining in the opening frame as Justin Lefebvre snapped one home from Jarrett Williams and Brad Nash. The teams took a one-all draw into the first intermission. 

The Eagles made it 2-1 when Zachary Bougie scored from Kevin Howson and Fred Lefleche at 5:38 on the power play. The Eagles took a two-goal lead when Jakob Brunette scored from Tyler Druce and Bougie at 17:55. 

The Rockets cut the Eagles’ lead to one when Kyle Collette roofed one from Matt Cowley and Williams with just 1:29 remaining in period two. The Rockets tied the game when Connor Roth fired one to the back of the net from Williams with 1:08 remaining. 

The teams took a three-all draw into the second intermission. Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the third period as both team played it cautious. For the second time in two games, the game headed to overtime. 

The Rockets ended the game when Hugo Lusignan tapped one home from Dylan Robinson and Tom Fingler just 1:47 into the first overtime, as the Rockets took the game 4-3. With the win, the Rockets take a 2-0 series lead heading into game three. 

The Eagles outshot the Rockets 44-26. Picking up the win in the Rockets’ goal was Reilly Tondreau making 41 saves and suffering the loss in the Eagles’ goal was Dawson Irving making 22 saves.

The Rockets’ captain, Brad Stitt goes to the net hard during the first period and gets shoved into the Eagles’ goalie, Dawson Irving. The Rockets’ Brad Nash tries to corral the puck but it was too late as the net was knocked ajar. The Rockets went on to take the game in overtime 4-3. Moore photo

Rockets 4 Eagles 3 (2OT)

The North Dundas Rockets travelled to the St. Isidore Arena on Fri., Feb. 22, to take on the Eagles in game one of the best-of seven NCJHL quarterfinal. The Eagles claimed home ice advantage after defeating the Rockets at the NCJHL Showcase the previous weekend, finishing one point ahead of the Rockets for fourth place. 

The teams just felt each other out in the first period and battled to a scoreless draw. The Eagles opened the scoring when Ryan Well scored from Francis Laviolette and former Rocket, Sebastien Roy at 3:30 of the second period taking a 1-0 lead. 

The Eagles took the 1-0 lead into the second intermission. The Rockets knotted the affair just 2:47 into the third period as Jarrett Williams roofed one from Matt Cowley and Justin Lefebvre on the power play. 

The Eagles retook the lead when Wells scored on a breakaway from Fred Lefleche at 3:35. The Rockets got into some penalty trouble in the middle of the frame and the Eagles took advantage scoring on a five-on-three as Kevin Howson scored from Jacob Brunette at 4:46. 

The Rockets got to within one as Tom Fingler slapped one home from the right side on a rebound from Williams, on the power play at 10:16. The Rockets tied the game for a second time at 14:46 as captain, Brad Stitt cut through the goal crease beating the Eagles’ goalie, Dawson Irving from Cameron Brown. 

Neither team was able to score the game winner before the end of regulation, so the game headed to a 10-minute sudden death overtime frame. Both teams took a cautious outlook in the overtime and neither team was able to establish pressure. 

The first overtime ended with no winner so the game went into a second overtime frame. The Rockets ended the game as Williams scored his second to become the overtime hero at 4:14 of the double overtime from Fingler and Will Watson. 

With the win, the Rockets steal home ice advantage from the Eagles as they headed home for game two. Picking up the win in the Rockets’ goal was Reilly Tondreau making some great saves to keep the Rockets in the game early.

Up next

The North Dundas Rockets travel to the St. Isidore Arena on Thurs., Feb. 28, for game four of the best of seven series at 8:15 p.m. and welcome the Eagles for game five and six at the Chesterville Arena on Fri., March 1, at 8:15 p.m. and Sat., March 2, at 1:15 p.m., if necessary, and travel to St. Isidore if necessary on Sun., March 3, at 7:30 p.m.