The North Dundas Senior Rockets are champs for the third time in four seasons as they defeated the Smiths Falls Rideaus 7-6. Seen above are Rockets captain Derek Froats accepts the championship trophy from Eastern Ontario Super Hockey League owner Josh Rowlands. Courtesy Photo
SMITHS FALLS – The North Dundas Senior Rockets are Eastern Ontario Senior Hockey League Champions for the third time in four seasons as they defeated the Smiths Falls Rideaus 7-6 to take their best of five series three games to one.
The two teams split the opening weekend (March 29-30) with each team winning their home game, although it took overtime on Sunday for Smiths Falls to win game two 5-4.
Play resumed on Sat., April 5 with game three played in Chesterville.
The Rockets came out strong and completely owned the first period, scoring their first goal just 2:22 in with Erik Locke capitalizing on a power play and finishing off a passing play with Michael Mcnamee and Fabian Walsh.
At 4:01 the Rockets added their second goal with Marco Azzano teaming up with Mike Byrd and Shane Bakker.
At 15:04 Tanner Williams scored his first of two goals with Jack Nevins picking up the lone assist. He added his second goal with just 23 seconds remaining in the first period with Derek Froats and Mcnamee getting the assists.
A four-goal lead after one period is a pretty good start in any league, but against a team with an explosive offence, the Rockets knew they had to stay out of the box and concentrate on hockey, and for the most part they did so. The Rideaus had only eight shots in the first period, and in the second only managed four. They did manage to put one past Matt Jenkins however, an even strength marker by Andrew Sprague at 9:03 with assists going to Kyle Dowdall and Andrew Mckenney.
The third period was a good example of how well the Rockets can play defensive hockey, when need be, as they allowed the Rideaus nine shots, but most from the outside, all which Jenkins handled easily. The Rockets wrapped up the scoring on the powerplay at 18:23 when Kevin Lough walked the line and fired a shot which beat Dallas Slack low to his right.
The Rockets outshot the Rideaus 45-21. Matt Jenkins stopped 20 of 21 shots in getting the win, while Dallas Slack stopped 40 of 45 shots in taking the loss.
Tanner Williams with two goals was the first star. Adam Beveridge earned second star honours while Andrew Mckenney picked up the third star for Smiths Falls.
Final score North Dundas 5, Smiths Falls 1. The Rockets led the best of five series two games to one, with the series switching to Smiths Falls for a Sunday evening game four.
On Sunday, with their season on the line, the Rideaus knew they had to come out skating, and they did, with Spenser Cobbold scoring the opening goal unassisted just 43 seconds into the game. The Rockets would come back though, with Captain Derek Froats scoring at 5:58 to tie things up with Marco Azzano and Michael Mcnamee picking up the assists.
The Rockets would briefly take the lead at 13:34 with Mcnamee scoring from Azzano and Froats. The Rideaus would tie things up before the end of the period on the powerplay with Andrew Sprague scoring from Spenser Cobbold and David Bennett.
The second period was all Rockets with North Dundas scoring three times. Fabian Walsh got things started at 5:16 with Mcnamee and Cody Caron assisting. Chris Kushneriuk increased the lead to two, scoring on the powerplay at 8:52 with assists going to Walsh and Mcnamee. Walsh would add his second of the game at 17:26 with Mcnamee and Shawn Moors assisting.
The Rockets added their sixth of the game early in the third period when Mcnamee scoring his second of the game at 2:29 with Azzano picking up the lone assist.
It might have seemed that the outcome was all but secured at that point, but Smiths Falls had other ideas. Tate Leeson scored at 5:23 with Brett Costello and Ben Beasley assisting. Theo Todd pulled the Rideaus to within two at 6:35 with Reid Russett and Andrew McKenney assisting. Then, at 7:56 while on the powerplay Todd scored his second of the game with Costello and Andrew McKenney assisting.
Perhaps thinking that things were a little too close, the Rockets managed to squeeze one more past goaltender Dallas Slack at 14:31 with Kyle Ward scoring from Jack Nevins and Moors.
Smiths Falls made one final attempt to stretch their season out, with Bennett scoring at 18:59 on the powerplay to pull within one. Eric Witzel and Costello picked up the assists.
There was one last scramble in front of the Rocket’s net as the clock wound down, but Jenkins pounced on the puck to secure the win, and the championship for the Rockets.
Final score, North Dundas 7, Smiths Falls 6.
The Rockets outshot the Rideaus 32-24. Jenkins stopped 18 of the 24 shots he faced in picking up the win while Slack stopped 25 of the 32 shots he faced in taking the loss.
Penalties were fairly even with the Rideaus receiving four minor penalties for a total of eight minutes while the Rockets had five minors for a total of ten minutes.
Michael Mcnamee was awarded first star for his two goal, four assist effort. Theo Todd earned second star for his two goals for the Rideaus. Fabian Walsh with two goals and an assist was third star.
For the Rockets, the win serves as a bit of redemption for losing last year’s championship to Gananoque in five games. For the Rideaus, the loss may be the incentive to fight their way back next year.
It’s going to be a great season!
Terry Tinkess is a professional photographer, educator and journalist. He has been making a living with a camera and keyboard since 1999 and has been featured in such publications as The Ottawa Citizen, Cornwall Standard Freeholder, The Globe and Mail, The Miami Herald, Ottawa Construction News, The Ontario Construction Report, Ontario Home Builder Magazine, Reed Construction Data, Canadian Potato Business and most recently, The Record and Eastern Ontario AgriNews. Terry lives in Ingleside, Ontario with his wife Brenda, Mia the anxious Pittie and cats Wally and Chubbers.
