The Casselman Vikings welcomed the Winchester Hawks to the J. R. Brisson Complex on Thurs., Sept. 6, for their second preseason CCHL2 game. The Vikings’ forward, Shane Spencer cruises through the goal crease looking for a pass from the corner as Hawks’ goalie, Lucas Devries hugs the post. Spencer had a good game scoring two goals helping the Vikings to a 5-2 victory. Moore photo
Jeff Moore
Record Staff
CASSELMAN—The Casselman Vikings played three games this past week as they welcomed the Embrun Panthers on Tuesday night, the Winchester Hawks on Thursday night and travelled to Embrun on Friday night to take on the Panthers.
Vikings 8 Panthers 4
The Casselman Vikings welcomed the Embrun Panthers to the J. R. Brisson Complex on Tues., Sept. 4, in their first preseason game in the CCHL2. The Vikings were a slightly different team this year, after 11 players had graduated and moved on, so the pressure was on the rookies in their lineup. The Vikings still had eight veterans returning to help out the rookies.
The Panthers were coming off a 5-4 win over the Winchester Hawks in their previous game as they looked to extend their winning ways. The Vikings got off to a great start scoring just 24 seconds into the first period as Samuel Labre blasted one home from the blue line unassisted to take a 1-0 lead.
The Vikings took a 2-0 lead just 13 seconds later when Shane Spencer scored off a rebound from Joel Hunt. The Vikings added to their lead when Yanick Dicaire sniped one to the back of the net at 11:33 from Spencer.
The Panthers got one back at 12:18 when Aidan Whynot fired one home from Marc Brosseau to make it 3-1. Spencer potted his second goal of the game at 15:30 from Dicaire and Mathieu Talbot to give the Vikings a 4-1 lead.
The Vikings took the 4-1 lead into the first intermission. The Vikings made it 5-1 when Kyle Green slapped one to the back of the net from Jordan Croll-Stevenson just 2:27 into the second period. The Panthers answered when Robert Beaudoin slid one home from Aiden Daly on the power play at 4:38.
The Vikings took a 6-2 lead when Frederick Gagnier pounded one home from Dylan Robinson at 13:31. The Panthers had an answer for that as well, as Jarrett Ladouceur slipped one home from Frederik Lafleche at 14:21 to cut the deficit in half.
The Vikings took the 6-3 lead into the second intermission. The Vikings made it 7-3 when Gagnier scored his second of the game from Kyle Ouellette and Samuel Labre on the power play at 2:52 of the third period.
The Panthers got that one back when Brosseau ripped one home from Alan Njima at 4:54. The Vikings closed out the scoring when Brandon Lagare slid one home from Gagnier and Robinson at 10:52. The Vikings hung on for the 8-4 victory.
Playing goal for the Vikings was Corey Camirand, Braden Penberthy and Justin Lawrence. Playing goal for the Panthers was Kurtis Walsh, Kevin Lindenmann and Caleb Gervais. The Vikings outshot the Panthers 42-25.
Up next
The Casselman Vikings begin defence of the CCHL2 championship at the Nick Smith Centre in Arnprior at the CCHL2 Showcase on Sat., Sept. 15, as they take on the Perth Blue Wings at 1:30 p.m. Their second game of the showcase will be on Sun., Sept. 16, against the Carleton Place Canadians at 4:30 p.m.
