The North Dundas Rockets travelled to the Clarence Creek Arena on Sun., Feb. 23, to take on the Castors for game two of the best of seven NCJHL quarterfinals. The Rockets’ all-star forward, Justin Lefebvre (11) scored a hat trick and a pair of assists as the Rockets took the game 7-3. With the win, the Rockets tied the series at one game apiece. Moore photo

CLARENCE CREEK—The North Dundas Rockets began their quest for the NCJHL Championship as they opened up their quarterfinal matchup against the Clarence Castors with a pair of road games in Clarence Creek on Saturday and Sunday night.

Rockets 7 Castors 3

The North Dundas Rockets travelled to the Clarence Creek Arena on Sun., Feb. 23, to take on the Castors for game two of the best of seven, in the NCJHL quarter finals. The Rockets dropped game one in Clarence Creek the previous night and were looking to even the series.

The Rockets wasted little time getting on the score board as Justin Lefebvre rifled one to the back of the net from Nicholas Carroll just 39 seconds into the first period taking a 1-0 lead. The Castors tied the game at 6:34 and took their first lead of the game at 16:19. 

The Rockets tied the game just 15 seconds later as Carroll scored his first of the post-season from Lefebvre and Joel Hunt. The Rockets retook the lead when Lefebvre scored his third of the post-season and second of the game with just 1:08 showing on the clock in the opening frame from Hunt and Carroll. 

The Rockets took a two-goal lead when Carroll netted his second of the game from Drew Holmes and Lefebvre with 39 seconds remaining, taking a 4-2 lead into the first intermission. The Rockets took a 5-2 lead when Lannin sniped his first goal of the playoff from Lefebvre and Hunt on the power play at 7:20 of the second period. 

The Rockets carried the 5-2 lead into the second intermission. The Castors got to within two at 6:14 but the Rockets answered with a pair of goals at 7:49 as Lefebvre completed his hat trick from Hunt and Carroll and at 9:21 as Hunt scored his first of the post season from Evan Barrosso and Carroll. 

The Rockets’ defence was able to shut the door as they hung on for a 7-3 victory. With the win, the Rockets tied the series at one game apiece as they head back to Chesterville for game three. 

Picking up the win in the Rockets’ goal was Anthony Kerwin. 

Castors 5 Rockets 3

The North Dundas Rockets travelled to the Clarence Creek Arena on Sat., Feb. 22, to take on the Clarence Castors in game one of the NCJHL playoffs. The Rockets finished just one point behind the Castors in the regular season so the Castors were awarded home ice advantage. 

The Castors opened the scoring at 13:27 on the power play taking a 1-0 lead. The Castors carried the 1-0 lead into the first intermission. The Rockets tied the game at 6:54 of the second period as Justin Lefebvre ripped home his first of the playoffs from Brad Nash and Cameron Brown on the power play. 

The Rockets took their first lead of the game when Nash tipped a point shot home from Brown and Lefebvre again on the power play. The Castors knotted the affair at two with 3:32 remaining in the middle frame. The teams took a two-all draw into the second intermission. 

The Castors retook the lead at 4:06 of the third period and took a two-goal lead at 7:35. The Rockets got back to within one as Evan Barrosso ripped one home from the point from Lefebvre and Brett Lannin at 16:26. The Castors closed out the scoring at 16:57 

and hung on to take the game 5-3. 

With the win, the Castors took a 1-0 series lead. Suffering the loss in the Rockets’ goal was Anthony Kerwin.

Up next 

The North Dundas Rockets welcome the Clarence Castors to the Chesterville Arena on Wed., Feb. 26 for game three of the best of seven NCJHL quarter final at 8:15 p.m.; game four will be on Fri., Feb. 28 at the Chesterville Arena at 7:45 p.m. and game five will be in Clarence Creek on Sat., Feb. 29 at 7:45 p.m.