The Rockets’ forward, Kyle Collette (26) was able to slide one through the wickets of the Castors’ goalie, Corey Camirand to give the Rockets a 2-1 lead into the second period. The Rockets’ captain, Brad Stitt (16) prepares for a loose puck in front of the net as Castors’ defenseman, Raphael Payant stands guard. Moore photo
CLARENCE CREEK—The North Dundas Rockets played three playoff games this past weekend as they travelled to Clarence Creek on Friday night to take on the Castors for game one of the NCJHL semifinal, welcomed the Castors on Saturday night for game two and were back in Clarence Creek for game three.
Castors 4 Rockets 2
The North Dundas Rockets travelled to the Clarence Creek Arena on Sun, March 10, to take on the Clarence Castors for game three of the best of seven NCJHL semifinal. The Castors took their first game at home by a score of 3-2 to take a 1-0 series lead but the Rockets knotted the series the previous night with a convincing 6-2 victory.
The Rockets opened the scoring when Kyle Collette slid one home from Brad Stitt and Justin Lefebvre at 10:01 of the first period to take a 1-0 lead. The Castors tied the game when Aidan Cannell scored from Raphael Payant and Vincent Martel with just 1:38 remaining in the opening frame.
The Rockets retook the lead at 7:48 of the second period as Jarrett Williams scored on a breakaway unassisted. The Rockets took a 2-1 lead into the second intermission.
The Rockets seemed to be on cruise control but at 14:10 of the third period the Castors tied the game as Zack Lugli scored from Tyler Baker and Thomas Lowry. The Castors took their first lead of the game as Nathan Melee scored from Mikey George and Sam Paquette just 38 seconds later.
With time winding down in the third period the Rockets pulled their goalie in favour of an extra attacker; with just over a minute remaining they had a couple of good scoring chances but it was the Castors who found the empty goal as Lugli scored his second of the game from Payant and Martel, with just 32 seconds remaining in regulation.
The Castors took the game 4-2 and took a 2-1 series lead. Picking up the win in the Castors’ goal was Corey Camirand and suffering the loss in the Rockets’ goal was Reilly Tondreau.
The Rockets’ forward, Jarrett Williams scored the Rockets’ second goal of the game on a breakaway beating the Castors’ goalie, Corey Camirand and his defender Etienne Agues-Pease. The Rockets took a 2-1 lead into the third period but lost the game 4-2 in the last five minutes. Moore photo
Rockets 6 Castors 2
The North Dundas Rockets welcomed the Clarence Castors to the Chesterville Arena on Sat., March 9, for game two of the best of seven NCJHL semifinal. The Castors struck first blood taking the first game 3-1 and a 1-0 series lead.
The Castors opened the scoring when Etienne Aguis-Pease and Vincent Martel at 5:08 of the first period taking a 1-0 lead. The Rockets answered right back as Connor Roth pounded one home from Tanner Barnett and Jack Van Kessel just 13 seconds later. The teams took a one-all draw into the first intermission.
The Rockets took their first lead of the game when Kyle Collette snapped one to the back of the net from Justin Lefebvre and Jarrett Williams at 3:53 of the second period.
The Rockets took a two-goal lead when Collette scored his second of the game from Cameron Brown and Roth at 8:49. The Castors got back to within one as Samuel Gaudet scored from Raphael Payant and Nathan Melee at 17:12 but the Rockets regained the two-goal lead as Brown scored from the top of the circles from Brad Nash and Roth with just 1:06 remaining in the middle frame. The Rockets took a 4-2 lead into the second intermission.
The Rockets made it 5-2 at 7:32 of the third period as Lefebvre riffled one home from Matt Cowley and Brad Stitt and 6-2 at 15:17 as McKay Balaton rung one off the crossbar into the net from the top of the right circle from Williams and Hugo Lusignan.
The Rockets hung on for a 6-2 victory. With the win, the Rockets evened the series at one game apiece. The Rockets outshot the Castors 36-34. Picking up the win in the Rockets’ goal was Reilly Tondreau making 34 saves and suffering the loss in the Castors’ goal was Corey Camirand making 28 saves.
The Rockets’ forwards, Justin Lefebvre (11) and Brad Stitt try to deflect a shot from the point on the Castors’ goalie, Corey Camirand in game three. The Castors’ defenseman, Raphael Payant (21) tries to get back to help out his tender. The Rockets suffered a loss to the Castors 4-2. Moore photo
Castors 3 Rockets 1
The North Dundas Rockets travelled to the Clarence Creek Arena on Fri., March 8, to take on the Clarence Castors for game one of the best of seven of the NCJHL semifinal. The Rockets were coming off a four games to one series over the St. Isidore Eagles and the Castors knocked out the Gatineau Hull-Volant in four straight games. The Castors opened the scoring when Kyle Green slid one home from Patrick Lemay and Nathan Melee at 11:21 taking a 1-0 lead. The Castors made it a two-goal lead when Vincent Martel scored from Lemay at 17:46 and took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. The Castors made it 3-0 when Zack Lugli scored from Sam Paquette at 6:13 of the second period. The Rockets cut the deficit when Kyle Collette roofed one from Justin Lefebvre and Cameron Brown at 11:50. The Castors took a 3-1 lead into the second intermission. The Rockets controlled most of the play in the third period but were unable to close the gap on the Castors. The Castors went on to take game one by a score of 3-1 taking a 1-0 series lead. Picking up the win in the Castors’ goal was Corey Camirand and suffering the loss in the Rockets’ goal was Reilly Tondreau.
Up next
The North Dundas Rockets welcome the Clarence Castors to the Chesterville Arena on Thurs., March 14, for game four of the NCJHL semifinal at 8 p.m. and travel to the Clarence Creek Arena to take on the Castors in game five at 8 p.m. The Rockets host the Castors for game six on Sat., March 16, at 7:30 p.m., if necessary, and travel back to Clarence Creek for game seven on Sun., March 17, at 2:15 p.m.
