The Casselman Vikings travelled to the Palais des Sports in Embrun on Wed., Sept. 11, to take on the Panthers in CCHL2 preseason action. The Vikings added another veteran forward this season, Nicolas Chartrand who played for the Rockland Nationals of the CCHL. Chartrand scored a goal and a helper in the Vikings’ 6-4 victory. Moore photo

WILLIAMSTOWN—The Casselman Vikings capped off the preseason with a pair of games as they travelled to Embrun on Tuesday night to take on the Panthers and to Williamstown on Saturday night to take on the Char-Lan Rebels.

Rebels 4 Vikings 1

The Casselman Vikings travelled to the Char-Lan Recreation Centre in Williamstown to take on the Rebels on Sat., Sept. 14, in their last pre-season game before they begin the regular season Thursday night. The Vikings went into the game with a 3-0 pre-season record and looked to remain perfect, and the Rebels looked to even their preseason as they headed into the game with a 1-2 record. 

The Rebels opened the scoring at 13:58 of the first period and took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. The Rebels took a 2-0 lead at 11:19 of the second period and took a three-goal lead at 11:54. The Rebels took a 3-0 lead into the second intermission and outshot the Vikings 19-18 through two periods. 

The Rebels made it 4-0 at 8:37 of the third period. The Vikings spoiled the Rebels’ shutout attempt with just 2:03 remaining in regulation as Jason Cossette snapped one home from Shane Dickie and Isaac Landry but it wasn’t enough as the Rebels surprised the Vikings with a 4-1 victory. The Vikings dropped to 3-1 in the preseason while the Rebels improved to 2-2.

The Rebels outshot the Vikings 30-28. Suffering the loss in the Vikings’ goal was Nicholas Campbell making 26 saves.

Vikings 6 Panthers 4

The Casselman Vikings travelled to the Palais des Sports in Embrun on Tues., Sept. 11, to take on the Panthers in CCHL2 preseason action. The Vikings took the first meeting of the two teams by a score of 4-2 after falling behind early in that game. 

The Panthers jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Tristan Taillefer walked through the Vikings defence and slid one home just 1:26 into the first period from Mathieu Brennan. The Panthers made it 2-0 when Marshall Drevniok tapped one home from Jarrett Ladouceur and Aidan Whynot at 2:07. 

The Vikings got one back when Mikael House snapped one to the back of the net from Shawn Patterson at 14:11. The Panthers took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission. 

The Vikings tied the game at 2:21 of the second period when Patterson found himself on a breakaway while shorthanded and made no mistake pounding the puck to the back of the net unassisted. The Vikings took their first lead of the game when Antonio Silenu pounded one home from Maxime Desjardins at 17:07. 

With time running down in the middle frame, the Vikings took a two-goal lead as Nicholas Chartrand sniped one with just 10 seconds remaining from Adam Paquette and Samuel Labre. The Vikings took a 4-2 lead into the second intermission. 

The Vikings took a 5-2 lead when Labre powered one home from Chartrand at 8:22 of the third period. The Vikings made it 6-2 as Desjardins scored from Zachary Power and Francois Drouin on the power play at 15:31. 

The Panthers got one back when Cayden Martin ripped one to the back of the net from Taillefer and Brennan at 16:26. The Panthers got to within two as Jonathon Paquette swatted one home unassisted at 17:04. 

That was as close as the Panthers could get as the Vikings took the game 6-4. With the win, the Vikings improved to 3-0 in the preseason and the Panthers dropped to 0-3. Picking up the win in the Vikings’ goal were Nicholas Campbell making 25 saves on 27 shots and Zachary Racine making eight saves on 10 shots and suffering the loss in the Panthers’ goal were Josh Paradis, making 14 saves on 15 shots, Tyler Lalonde made six saves on nine shots and Joshua Ivanski making 11 saves on 13 shots.

Up next

The Casselman Vikings open their regular season on Thurs., Sept. 19, as they welcome the Richmond Royals to the J. R. Brisson Complex at 7:30 p.m. and travel to Westport on Fri., Sept. 20 to take on the Rideaus at 8 p.m.