The Vikings traded for the Panthers’ 20-year-old forward, Joey Larcher (20). Larcher picked up an assist versus his old team; helping the Vikings to a 4-2 victory. Moore photo
Jeff Moore
Record Staff
EMBRUN—The Casselman Vikings played two games this past weekend as they welcomed the Arnprior Packers on Thursday night and travelled to Embrun on Friday night to take on the Panthers.
Vikings 4 Panthers 2
The Casselman Vikings travelled to the Palais des Sports in Embrun on Fri., Jan. 11, to take on the Panthers in the CCHL2. The Vikings came into the game in second place in the Martin Division, nine points out of the top spot held by the Ottawa Jr. Canadians.
The Panthers went into the game in sixth place, three points ahead of the Winchester Hawks and four points behind the Char-Lan Rebels for the final playoff spot. The Panthers opened the scoring when Connor Drost scored his 11th goal of the season from Robert Beaudoin and Nathan Brown on the power play at the five-minute mark of the first period taking a 1-0 lead.
The Vikings evened the scoring when Gabriel Rousselle scored his eighth of the season from Yanick Dicaire and Joel Hunt on the power play with just one second remaining in the opening frame. The teams took a one-all draw into the first intermission.
The Vikings took their first lead of the game as Dicaire scored his fifth of the season from Jason Cossette and newcomer Joey Larcher at 4:40 of the second period. The Vikings took a two-goal lead when Frederick Gagnier scored his 15th of the season from Brandon Legare with just 24 seconds remaining in the sandwich frame. The Vikings took a 3-1 lead into the second intermission.
The Panthers got to within one as Marc Brosseau scored his ninth of the season from Jason Lamont and Matthieu Brennan at 3:36 of the third period.
The Panthers tried to even the score and with just over a minute remaining they pulled their goalie in favour of an extra attacker. The Vikings took advantage as Cossette scored his 11th of the season into an abandoned cage from Louis Chabot with 53 seconds remaining in the game.
The Vikings took the game 6-2 but were outshot by the Panthers 34-30. Picking up the win in the Vikings’ goal was Mathieu Chenier making 32 saves and suffering the loss in the Panthers goal was Cody MacEachern making 26 saves.
The Casselman Vikings picked up Evan Landry to help bolster their defence from the Winchester Hawks. The 20-year-old defenseman adds some experience to the Vikings’ blue line. Moore photo
Vikings 6 Packers 2
The Casselman Vikings welcomed the Arnprior Packers to the J. R. Brisson Complex on Thurs., Jan. 10, in the CCHL2. The Vikings went into the game in second place in the Martin Division, 11 points behind the Ottawa Jr. Canadians in first place.
The Vikings opened the scoring at 8:08 of the first period as Frederick Gagnier scored his 14th goal of the season from Brandon Legare taking a 1-0 lead. The Vikings took the 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
The Vikings made it 2-0 when Shawn Patterson scored his eighth of the season from Pierce Britton and Yanick Dicaire just 1:26 into the second period. The Vikings made it 3-0 when Samuel Mattie scored his 11th of the season from Mikael Bissonnette and Jason Cossette at 3:40 and 4-0 at 5:30 as Joel Hunt scored his 21st of the season from Patterson and Dicaire on the power play at 5:30.
The Packers finally got on the scoreboard at 8:42 but with just 10 seconds remaining in the middle frame, the Vikings took a four-goal lead as Hunt scored his second of the game and 22nd of the season from Gabriel Russell and Samuel Labre. The Vikings took a 5-1 lead into the second intermission.
The Packers made it 5-2 just 1:52 into the third period but the Vikings got that one back with just four seconds showing on the clock, as Rousselle scored his seventh of the season from Joshua Paledeau into an empty goal while shorthanded.
The Vikings took the game 6-2 moving to within nine points of the Canadians for first place. The Vikings outshot the Packers 33-25 and picking up the win in goal was Nick Campbell making 23 saves.
Up next
The Casselman Vikings welcome the Ottawa West Golden Knights to the J. R. Brisson Complex on Thurs., Jan. 17, at 7:30 p.m. and travel to the Joel Steele Community Centre in Winchester on Fri., Jan. 18, to take on the Hawks at 8:15 p.m. The Vikings close out the weekend as they welcome the Perth Blue Wings on Sun., Jan. 20, at 2:30 p.m.
