The North Dundas Rockets travelled to Clarence Creek Arena on Sun., March 1, to take on the Clarence Castors in game five of the best-of-seven NCJHL quarterfinals. The Rockets’ forward, Nicholas Carroll (15) tips the puck past the Castors’ goalie, Andrew Lariviere tying the game at two. Carroll also scored the game-winning goal in double overtime giving the Rockets a 3-2 series lead. Moore photo
CLARENCE CREEK—The North Dundas Rockets played three playoff games this past weekend as they welcomed the Clarence Castors on Friday and Saturday nights for games three and four and travelled to Clarence Creek on Sunday for game five.
Rockets 4 Castors 3 (2OT)
The North Dundas Rockets travelled to Clarence Creek Arena on Sun., March 1, to take on the Clarence Castors in game five of the best-of-seven NCJHL quarterfinals. The teams went into the game with the series knotted at two games apiece; the winner would take a stranglehold on the series.
The Rockets opened the scoring when Nicholas Carroll ripped one home from Cameron Brown and Joel Hunt at 7:08 of the first period taking a 1-0 lead. The Castors tied the game at 10:39 on the power play and took their first lead of the game at 17:03.
The Rockets tied the game again with just 1:53 remaining in the opening frame as Brett Lannin blasted one home from the point, from Drew Holmes and Justin Lefebvre on the power play. The Castors retook the lead with just 15 seconds showing on the clock and took a 3-2 lead into the first intermission.
The teams put up zeros in the second period with the Castors carrying the lead into the second intermission. The Rockets got to even when Lefebvre slapped one home from Hunt and Carroll at 14:20 of their third period.
Neither team was able to score before time expired in the third period so the game headed to a ten-minute sudden-death overtime period. The teams battled to a scoreless first overtime so the game headed to a 20-minute double overtime.
The Rockets took the game when Carroll sniped his biggest goal as a Rocket at 5:35 of double overtime unassisted taking the game 4-3. With the win, the Rockets take a 3-2 series lead heading back to Chesterville.
Picking up the win in the Rockets’ goal was Anthony Kerwin.
Castors 4 Rockets 1
The North Dundas Rockets welcomed the Clarence Castors to the Chesterville Arena on Sat., Feb. 29, for game four of the best-of-seven NCJHL quarterfinals. The Castors took game one only to see the Rockets tie the series at one in game two and the Rockets took game three at home the previous night.
The Castors opened the scoring at 11:22 on a Rockets’ defensive gaffe, taking a 1-0 lead. The Castors took the 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
The Castors made it 2-0 just 1:16 into the second period to which the Rockets had no answer. The Castors took a 2-0 lead into the second intermission.
The Castors made it 3-0 at 4:36 of the third period. The Rockets finally got on the score sheet at 14:35 when Joel Hunt ripped one home from Justin Lefebvre to get to within two.
The Rockets pulled their goalie in favour of an extra attacker with about two minutes remaining in regulation and controlled the play for more than one minute, pinning the Castors in their own end, but with the just nine seconds showing on the clock, the Castors shot the puck the distance finding the abandoned cage.
The Castors took the game 4-1, tying the series at two games each. The Rockets outshot the Castors 46-40. Suffering the loss in the Rockets’ goal was Anthony Kerwin, making 37 saves.
Rockets 4 Castors 2
The North Dundas Rockets welcomed the Clarence Castors to the Chesterville Arena on Fri., Feb. 28, for game three of the best-of-seven NCJHL quarterfinals. The Rockets and the Castors headed into game three with the series tied at one game apiece. The Castors took game one but the Rockets won decisively in game two.
The Rockets opened the scoring when Jarrett Williams roofed one on a partial breakaway at 4:54 of the first period unassisted, taking a 1-0 lead. The Rockets carried the 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
The Castors tied the game at 8:52 of the second period but the Rockets retook the lead at 10:48 as Matt Pietrkiewicz scored on a breakaway from Williams. The Rockets took a slim 2-1 lead into the second intermission.
The Rockets took a two-goal lead when Brett Lannin snapped one to the back of the net on the power play from Justin Lefebvre and Williams at 4:56 of the third period. With time winding down, the Castors pulled their goalie in favour of an extra attacker and it paid off as they scored with 47 seconds remaining in regulation.
The Castors put their goalie back into the net for the face-off at centre ice but pulled him again just seconds later as they brought the puck up the ice. The Castors had a good scoring chance but it was the Rockets’ Nicholas Carroll who was sprung on a breakaway on an empty net by Cameron Brown and made no mistake burying it with just 25 seconds remaining.
The Rockets hung on for a 4-2 victory, taking a 2-1 series lead. The Rockets outshot the Castors 43-30. Picking up the win in the Rockets’ goal was Anthony Kerwin, making 28 saves.
Up next
The North Dundas Rockets welcome the Clarence Castors to the Chesterville Arena tonight, Wed., March 4, for game six of the best-of-seven NCJHL quarterfinals at 7:45 p.m and if necessary, they will travel to the Clarence Creek Arena on Thurs., March 5 for game seven at 9:20 p.m.
