Nepean Raider Nation

2008-03-28T10:03:00.000-04:00

First-round exit signals quiet end to tumultuous season
Raiders lose in six games to Brockville
Malcolm MacMillan
Less than 24 hours after their season came to an end, the Nepean Raiders met one last time as a team, cleaned out their dressing room stalls and began their off-season with snow still on the ground.
It’s the first time in almost a decade the team’s players haven’t walked away from the rink for the last time wearing short and T-shirts.
The Central Junior Hockey League team’s 2007-2008 campaign ended prematurely short of a sixth-straight championship series berth after the Raiders lost 4-3 in overtime in the deciding sixth game of their best-of-seven playoff series with Brockville on March 20.
“It’s different coming to the rink in March and having to pack our stuff up,” said captain Andrew Mather, who has graduated after five standout seasons as a Raider. “This usually happens at the end of April.”
After falling behind two games to none, then battling back to win games three and four with little resistance from a hot-and-cold Braves team, Nepean dropped game five on the road 4-3 before a goal by Brockville’s Mike Byrd only 1:25 into overtime in game six sunk them for good. Though the Raiders led 2-1 in the first after a fluky goal by Emmond Bell and a well-placed slapshot by Bryan Potts, the Braves caught up and both squads traded third-period goals before the extra frame.
Byrd’s goal that sent his squad to a second-round berth with Smiths Falls signaled as ugly an end to a season as could be possible. Raiders goalie Darren MacDonald turned aside a couple Braves shots during a goalmouth scramble, but the team couldn’t clear the rebound. As the Nepean skaters threw themselves to the ice in and around the crease, Braves shooters banged away at the puck. The puck wasn’t covered, nor was the net knocked askew. Finally, though the top half of the cage beckoned, Byrd slid the puck along the ice through a mass of bodies. Game over.
“I hope everyone remembers this [losing] feeling,” said disappointed defenceman Brad Barber who will lead a young d-corps next season. “We have some unfinished business next year.”
Though the series didn’t last the seven games that many around the league thought it might, it was close from start to finish. So close, in fact, that Nepean outscored Brockville 23-22 in six games.
“The boys competed hard over the whole series, but the breaks just didn’t come to us,” said Raiders head coach Gerard Cowie. “I told them they deserved to win [game six] but it just didn’t work out that way.”
The first-round exit is the culmination of a season that was trying at times. Cowie offered stability behind the bench, but was the third head coach of the 60-game season. Archie Mulligan was with the team less than two months before resigning for another position, and interim replacement Alex Armstrong was canned after a 10-game trial run. After Armstrong’s departure, the Raiders went a half-dozen games before inking Cowie.
“Hopefully with Gerard back next year we’ll get a better start than we did this year,” said winger David Gervais. “It was a rollercoaster year. Lots of ups and downs.”
For Mather, it’s the fact that the club still made the playoffs and competed against a tough team against the odds that’s a testament to the team’s character.
“We went through a lot of highs and lows, and a lot of people didn’t give us a chance of being a decent team,” said Mather. “We proved them wrong, and that’s something to be proud of. Not many teams could go through what we went through and still stick together.”
The Raiders posted a regular-season record of 32-23-3-2, good for just the fifth-best record in the CJHL. Those stats, however, were padded by 10 wins in the their first 15 games. After Christmas, Nepean was a .500 club, winning just 12 out of 24 games.
The struggles were a departure to Mather and centre Emmond Bell, who’ve known nothing but winning since beginning Jr. A.
“We’ve never lost in the first round since I was here,” said Bell. “This is not the best feeling, but you don’t always end up on top.” Bell and Mather were the last remaining members of Nepean’s 2003-2004 CJHL championship.
Next year, it will be up to players such as Barber and Gervais to fill the void left by the graduates. It’s an opportunity both players relish.
“A lot of quality guys are leaving, which will make it hard, but we always seem to bring in talented players,” said Barber. “We have a chance to step up and do a lot of great things.”
One of those talented imports this season was New Liskeard’s Tavis Holden, who was one of the club’s top forwards until Christmas but was hampered by ankle and knee ailments in 2008, and notched just two points in his last 11 regular-season games.
“I enjoyed my first year,” he said. “I had a quick start but slowed down. I’ll definitely be back. We have a lot of young talent and we’ll be a contender next year.”
MacDonald, who replaced departed starter Zach Grasley in November, is anxious to get a full CJHL season under his belt.
“I loved it here,” he said. “I wish I’d been here from the start. I’ll definitely be back.”
Despite the obstacles for his club this season, Cowie is proud of how the Raiders responded.
“They just kept plugging away. They’re good hockey players and good men,” he said. “And that’s important as they move forward to tomorrow.”

2008-03-24T14:35:00.002-04:00

Raiders fall in six
Club loses OT heartbreaker
Malcolm MacMillan
The Nepean Raiders 2007-2008 CJHL campaign came to a premature end Thursday night, thanks to a 4-3 overtime loss at the hands of the Brockville Braves.
After a season full of ups and downs, and an exciting opening round of the playoffs, Nepean was unable to rebound against Brockville, even after winning games three and four convincingly.
Keep checking this blog throughout the next couple weeks as I'll have stories about the season, an outlook for next season and more photos and videos.
Congratulations to the Nepean Raiders for an exciting season.

2008-03-20T11:54:00.004-04:00

Raiders look to extend series tonight

Club faces 3-2 deficit

Malcolm MacMillan
If there's still some gas left in the Nepean Raiders tank, tonight's the night to show it.
The Raiders trail 3-2 in the best-of-seven series and though they've had their backs against the wall before, tonight will be the first game they've played while facing elimination.
Brockville outshot and outhustled Nepean 4-3 on Tuesday night, setting up a pivotal game six tonight at the Sportsplex.
The home club will have to continue its efforts at both ends of the ice just as it did in games three and four, when Nepean outscored Brockville 12-5.

Discipline will continue to play an important role in the series tonight. Nepean got out to a 1-0 lead in game five but left the Braves back in it after spending half the first period shorthanded.
The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. tonight. Come cheer on the Raiders as they look to extend the series!

2008-03-17T12:08:00.004-04:00

All tied up
Raiders even series with 4-2 win
Malcolm MacMillan
With the backs to the wall in a pivotal game four, the Nepean Raiders came out flying and shocked by Brockville Braves 4-2 in front of a vocal Sportsplex crowd.
Led by a four-goal first period, the Raiders enjoyed an early lead and didn't look back -- despite sniper Emmond Bell being handed a game misconduct less than eight minutes into a chippy first frame.
Bell picked up a checking from behind minor for a hit five minutes after Braves defenceman Brian Marks crushed Ryan Medel from behind on the end boards to the right of Clarke Saunders.
Assessed a major penalty and a game for the hit, which put Medel on the ice for a couple minutes, Marks could only watch as the Raiders scored twice on the five-minute power play, and added a pair more of scores before the first frame was in the books.
Three power-play goals elevated Nepean's efficiency with the man advantage to 25 per cent, second only to Pembroke among postseason clubs.
Ben Sexton and Bryan Potts scored 26 seconds apart during Marks' major, and Shane Bakker banged home a power-play goal from the doorstep in front of Saunders later in the period.
Medel got his own revenge from Marks' hit with his second goal of the playoffs just 31 seconds after Bakker's goal.
Though Brockville backup Scott Shackell got the nod after the score was 4-0, the Raiders couldn't beat him, and were outshot in the second two periods 32-13.
Darren MacDonald was beaten on a long shot by Marcel Alvarez and a power-play doorstep goal by Christian Long, but turned aside 37 shots in all, upping his save percentage to .901.
Though the series is even, the Raiders appear to be in the driver's seat, having outscored Brockville 12-5 in the last six periods of play.
A crucial game five goes Tuesday night in Brockville, when Nepean will aim to gain its first foothold in the best-of-seven series.
The next home game will be Thursday, March 20, at 7:30 p.m.

2008-03-17T12:06:00.000-04:00

Raiders dominate Braves in game three, earn momentum swing in series
Malcolm MacMillan
Beware, Brockville Braves: You may have woken up a sleeping giant.
In the dying seconds of game two, with the score out of reach in favour of Brockville, Braves players smirked at the Raiders and slapped their sticks on the ice as a frustrated Nepean squad mixed it up in front of the visitors’ bench.
The Raiders couldn’t do anything but watch as three of their own were given the gate with 15 seconds left. Seconds later, Brockville had a 2-0 lead in the series heading back home on March 14.
But a three-goal second period in game three, which put the score 5-1 in favour of Nepean, put life back into the sails of a Raiders club that has proved this series is a long way from being over.
In spite of a short bench on Friday night, Nepean went ahead 2-0 early and never looked back, eventually chasing Clarke Saunders from the Brockville net and trouncing the Braves 8-3.
“We’re close,” said a relieved Raiders head coach Gerard Cowie after the game. “We’ve got to continue to work hard and [the wins] will come. This was a good example.”
The Raiders dominated Brockville in just about every area – speed, offence, defence, physical play and goaltending.
Nepean also scored three goals with the man advantage and two while shorthanded.
Bryan Potts used his speed just five minutes into the first when he took a pass from Ben Sexton and broke down the wing on a rush. Though Sexton caught up and was open in the slot, Potts elected to blast a high slap shot past Saunders.
“I looked at Ben in the slot, but then just let it rip,” said Potts, who scored 20 in the regular season. “I definitely had my wheels tonight.”
Ryan Medel banged in a power-play goal six minutes later while parked in front, and the rout was on.
“We can play with these guys,” said defenceman Greg Eskedjian, who assisted on Medel’s goal. “Five on five, they can’t skate with us.”
Though Brockville’s Kyle Atkins beat Darren MacDonald with a point shot through traffic just three minutes later, the Brockville offence wouldn’t click again until the score was out of reach.
Perhaps frustrated with their slow start, the Braves crashed the net hard, and twice ran into MacDonald in the first frame, igniting the tempers that have simmered below the surface all series. The Raiders defence, however, didn’t back down when their goalie was hit.
“We’ve got a tougher team and we’re not going to take any of their liberties,” said blueliner Tyler Hinds. “That’s how you win the little battles.”
In the second period, Nepean fired 15 more shots on Saunders, beating him three times. Miles and Sexton converted on a two-on-one rush then Corey Domenico took a Potts feed on the doorstep and buried his first of the playoffs. Fourteen minutes into the period, Brad Barber carried the puck out of the Nepean zone during a penalty kill, and seeing some ice ahead of him, cruised down the ice to the blueline. When lone defender Tyler Atkins fell, Barber glided in on Saunders, deked, and slid the puck past him.
Brockville scored twice in the third period, but captain Andrew Mather notched a pair of goals and Potts added his second of the game as Brockville backup Scott Shackell didn’t fare much better than Saunders.
The final straw for Saunders was after Mather’s goal – a tally that was aided by Saunders’ clearing pass that went right onto the blade of Mather’s stick.
Mather’s goal was the dagger into the heart of the Braves, and an indicator the Raiders were back.
“We’ve got a lot of heart,” said Eskedjian. “And everyone was skating. They had trouble keeping up.”
As well as heart, the Raiders discipline was better in game three. Though each team spent 48 minutes in the penalty box, the Raiders led both previous games in infractions.
“We stayed out of the box and we got the lead, which they’d done well in games one and two,” said Cowie. “We were disciplined and smart.”
This afternoon’s game will have huge implications: It will either even the series or give the Braves a demanding lead.
Potts isn’t concerned. “For some reason, when it’s all on the line, we rise to the occasion,” he said.
There’s a lot of hockey left to be played, said Hinds.
“The series isn’t over. They only have one game on us.”

2008-03-12T13:10:00.004-04:00

Playoff breakdowns

Here's a look at the Central Junior Hockey League first-round matchups.

(Click to enlarge)

2008-03-12T10:54:00.001-04:00

Down, but not out
Raiders vow to battle back from 2-0 deficit
Malcolm MacMillan
They’ve had their backs against the wall and overcome the odds in the past.
On Friday, this Nepean Raiders team will show what character it has and what gas it has left in the tank.
The club dropped its first two games in the opening round of the Central Junior Hockey League playoffs, and will have a tough mountain to climb tonight on the road against the Brockville Braves, a team that lost just four regular-season contests at home.
But head coach Gerard Cowie isn’t ready to throw in the towel just yet.
“We’ve just got to get that first win under our belt,” he said following his squad’s 5-2 loss to the Braves in game two on March 11.
Nepean has yet to play its ‘A’ game in this series, and were beaten to pucks and knocked around by a physical and determined Brockville squad in game two.
Though the Raiders are the bigger team on paper, the Braves came out hitting early. In the opening minutes of the period, Nepean defenceman Greg Eskedjian was belted with a hard hit along the boards and needed to be helped to his feet.
As the game wore on, Nepean’s frustration in facing what looked to be a second straight loss was clear. The second and third periods were chippy, and tempers were close to boiling over with just 15 seconds left in the game. Nepean’s Brad Barber, Pat Tallis and Corey Domenico shoved and grappled with their Braves counterparts in front of the Brockville bench – the only thing that kept gloves from being dropped was the threat of a suspension for game three for fighting in the last 10 minutes of a game. But as the clock ran out, winger Shane Bakker tried to goad any Braves opponent he could into fighting him.
Keeping up that intensity, but staying disciplined, will be a key for the Raiders in game three.
“We have to be more physical,” said Cowie. “We had a good game [in Brockville] in game one and just have to get on a roll. We are determined to do it.”
Brockville’s Shayne Stockton and Kyle Atkins made the score 2-0 by the 14th minute of the first on two goals that Raiders goalie Darren MacDonald cannot be blamed for. Both came on power-play shots through traffic, and the first was deflected in front.
Unbowed, the Raiders answered back with a pair of scores before the end of the period.
Brandon Edge, who has scored in two straight playoff games, took a nice feed from Ryan Medel and fired a low shot that eluded Clarke Saunders on his stick side. Minutes later, veterans Andrew Mather and Stephen Miles connected. After Mather made a good effort to keep the puck in the Braves end, Miles outworked his attacker in the corner and fed Mather, who had skated into the slot.
Though the Raiders got a momentum boost after killing a four-minute penalty to Miles in the second, they couldn’t get on the board. In fact, both teams came up scoreless in the second frame, but the third was all Braves, who outshot Nepean 11-3.
A pair of defensive miscues resulted in Brockville’s third and fourth goals, before the Braves added an empty-netter.
“We’ve been [very] close to a win [in the first two games],” said Cowie. “We have to continue to work hard, earn our breaks and we’ll go from there.”
Regardless of Friday night's outcome, the teams will play a crucial game four at home on Sunday afternoon. Puck drop is 2:30 p.m. at the Nepean Sportsplex’s Steve Yzerman Arena.

2008-03-11T12:51:00.001-04:00

It's game night!
Puck drops at 7:30 p.m.
Looking for something to do on a cold Nepean Tuesday night?
There's nothing better than checking out the Raiders in game two of the Central Junior Hockey League's opening round of playoffs.
Fresh off their OT win in game one, the Brockville Braves roll into town to face the Raiders tonight. Though it's too early to call tonight a do-or-die game, the Raiders don't want to trail 2-0 going back to Brockville on Friday night, and will do everything in their power to even the series tonight.
Come cheer on the home team!

2008-03-06T15:12:00.003-05:00

Raiders lock up fifth as playoffs loom
Club will face Brockville
Malcolm MacMillan
With their 4-1 win over the Kemptville 73’s on Tuesday night, the Nepean Raiders locked up fifth place in the Central Junior Hockey League standings.
Now they've learned they'll face the Brockville Braves in the opening round of the playoffs, which begin on Sunday.
Because they’ll finish fifth out of eight playoff-bound teams, the Raiders will not enjoy home-ice advantage – but that’s OK for the club that’s had just as good a road record this season.
Regardless, the Raiders will head into the postseason on a high note, with a win and a tie in their last pair of games.
“We’ll take it and carry it into the playoffs,” said head coach Gerard Cowie.
In perhaps a late-season push for NCAA scholarships, the Raiders top line of graduating players Emmond Bell, Andrew Mather and Stephen Miles has been on fire of late, having scored six of the team’s last seven goals.
“They’ve been our most consistent guys over the last month, and they’re going to have to continue to perform in the playoffs,” said Cowie.
Mather chipped in with a pair of goals and an assist against the 73’s, and Bell and Jeff Christison provided the other offence. Goaltender Darren MacDonald has shown top playoff form in the last week, and turned aside 24 of 25 Kemptville shots.
Two days earlier, the Bell scored a natural hat trick in the first period, but the Raiders could only salvage a 3-3 tie against the Bears. In that tie, MacDonald again was sharp, turning aside 38 shots.

TOUGHER
Though the Raiders have made it to the CJHL finals five straight years, the only knock on the club is that it hasn’t been big enough and tough enough for the postseason grind.
That shouldn’t be a problem this year.
Mid-season pickups Shane Bakker and Ryan Medel, both veteran power forwards, are back in the lineup after battling injuries and the team’s physical play has been augmented by the duo.
Against Kemptville, after Dan Frawley boarded Bakker away from the puck, Medel and Brad Barber were quick to jump to their teammate’s defence.
A game earlier, Medel and Barber were in the think of things again, following a cheapshot on Medel by Smiths Falls’ Jonathan Milley. The club doesn’t want to take reckless penalties when the season hangs in the balance, but it certainly won’t allow itself to be pushed around, either.
Though outshot in the Smiths Falls game, the Raiders defence has been exhibiting playoff-style hockey – responsible in its own zone before worrying about generating offence.
Shots are being blocked, and pucks sent out of precarious zones on the ice.
“We’re trying to limit the shots on our goalies,” said d-man Jordan Gallea. “We’ve got to keep the puck out of our end before we can score goals.”

PLAYOFFS
Though not every playoff pairing is decided, the first-place Pembroke Lumber Kings will meet the Kanata Stallions in the first round. Second-place Cumberland will face off against the always-tough Hawkesbury Hawks, and because Nepean plays Brockville, Smiths Falls will face Royal Bank Cup host Cornwall.
MacDonald is ready to ready to go. “We’re ready for anyone," he said.
The Raiders will kick off the 2007-2008 postseason on Sunday on the road. Their first home game, game two of the series, will be played Tuesday, March 11, at the Nepean Sportsplex’s Steve Yzerman Arena. The puck will be dropped at 7:30 p.m.

2008-03-03T12:09:00.005-05:00

Raiders 3, Bears 3
Bell hat trick paces Nepean to tie with SF
Here are a couple video clips from yesterday afternoon's 3-3 tie with Smiths Falls. Raiders centreman Emmond Bell scored a natural hat trick in the first period, and goalie Darren MacDonald was solid with 38 saves.

Some action in the Raiders end

Big save by Darren MacDonald

2008-02-25T10:27:00.010-05:00

Bell, Mather ceremony a success

Yesterday's pre-game, centre-ice ceremony to honour five-year Raiders Emmond Bell and Andrew Mather went off without a hitch, and saw a boisterous hometown crowd cheer on these two Nepean stars.

Both players were honoured by the Raiders with plaques that will hang on the wall at the Nepean end of the ice, and were given watches from owner Gord Black. MP Pierre Poilievre and MPP Lisa MacLeod helped unveil the plaques and dropped ceremonial pucks for the occasion.

If you need a photo, but weren't able to snap one yesterday, take a look below. Simply click on any of the photos so that the original, full-size image appears, then download it to your computer. Best of all, it's free!

Congratulations to Bell and Mather, and also the Raiders, for a job well done.

2008-02-22T11:43:00.004-05:00

Here's a clip of Nepean's Stephen Miles fighting Alex Vidoni during the Raiders 7-3 win last night in Orleans.

And here's a very short clip of Andrew Mather's goal, his 26th of the season, scored in the second period.

2008-02-21T09:20:00.001-05:00

Raiders drop Braves as playoffs loom
Clubs could meet in postseason
Malcolm MacMillan
Less than a month from their first playoff game, the Nepean Raiders gave themselves a vote of confidence with a weekend win over a possible opening-round opponent.
And that vote of confidence was resounding, as Nepean dominated the Brockville Braves in each period to win 6-1, the team’s fourth win in a five-game stretch.
“It was a huge win,” said centre Emmond Bell, who scored the game-winning goal in the first period and added a pair of assists.
Though Nepean has had its share of ups and downs this season, the Feb. 17 win was a throwback to the squad of past seasons – one that showed when it was on its game, it was a tough team to beat.
“We’ve been hot and cold all season, but when we have all four lines rolling, we’re very hard to beat,” said Bell.
Though each line played well, it was the club’s big line of Bell, captain Andrew Mather and power forward Stephen Miles that led the way offensively. The trio scored four goals and totaled eight points.
After the Raiders fell behind 1-0 just five minutes into the first frame, their offence woke up, and the only question to be answered was how many goals the team would score.
Miles got Nepean on the board with a pair of first period goals by going hard to the net. On his first, he redirected a pass from Bell past Brockville’s Clarke Saunders, who allowed six goals on 31 shots. After Bell converted a rebound off a shot by defenceman Tyler Hinds, Miles scored his 13th of the season by tipping a Jordan Gallea point shot.
Leading 3-1 after just 16 minutes of play, the second period continued to be all Nepean, which converted on two of 17 shots in the frame.
Mather scored his 25th of the season on a shorthanded, two-on-none breakaway early in the period, and rookie Ben Sexton finished a pass from Tavis Holden just four minutes later.
“This was a big confidence-builder,” said Raiders GM Rob Black. “I think Brockville took us a little lightly, and the game exposed some of their weaknesses.”
Clearly frustrated with coming out of the gates slowly, the second-place Braves scrummed with the Raiders after most whistles, but were unable to beat netminder Darren MacDonald, who turned aside 34 shots to up his save percentage to .900.
In many cases, those scrums turned into minor penalties – referee Chad White handed out 144 penalty minutes – and in other cases, tempers boiled over. After a shoving match along the side boards in the second period, Nepean’s Tyler Hinds broke free with Cody Ayers, and the two had a spirited scrap before being separated.
Three minutes into the third, an obviously frustrated Kyle Cromie of Brockville bear-hugged Sexton behind the play, then delivered a quick upper-cut before a mob of players – led by Holden, who earned a third-man in game misconduct for his enthusiasm – arrived on the scene.
The animosity-filled, one-sided affair, which saw Stephen Mele add a third-period goal, sets up an exciting rematch between the two teams tonight in Brockville.

LOOKING AHEAD
While the Central Junior Hockey League playoff matchups won’t be finalized until the regular season wraps up following the first week of March, there’s a good chance Nepean will face Brockville in the first round.
Faring well against the Braves on Sunday gives the Raiders a psychological advantage if that pairing happens, and Mather said it’s important to head into the postseason on a winning note.
“You can’t just flip a switch on for the playoffs,” he said. “You have to go in confident, but not too confident. We’ll take on anyone – it’s just a matter of being prepared for whoever we meet.”
Five days before the Brockville win, the Raiders had their biggest boost of the season in the form of their first win over rival Pembroke in six tries. After falling behind early, and battling back to push overtime, rookie blueliner Scott Dawson scored his first goal of the season in the extra frame to give Nepean a 4-3 win.
“The last week has shown we can compete with anyone in this league,” said Black.

WELL DESERVED
This Sunday’s game against the Ottawa Jr. Senators will have a special pre-game ceremony to honour two five-year Raiders.
Mather and Bell, the last two members of the team’s Fred Page Cup Eastern Canadian championship-winning squad, will have their numbers raised to the Raiders wall of honour. They’ll join just three others – goalie Mark Byrne, defenceman Jeff Smith and defenceman Matt Cowie – on the wall over the home end of the ice. Mather and Bell lead Nepean with 62 and 57 points, respectively, and have seven game-winning goals between them.
Game time is 2:30 p.m. at the Nepean Sportsplex’s Steve Yzerman Arena, with the ceremony taking place just before puck drop.

2008-02-19T10:24:00.002-05:00

Raider Nation

Feb. 17, 2008

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2008-02-19T10:02:00.004-05:00

Raider Nation

Feb. 3, 2008
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2008-01-25T13:49:00.000-05:00

MacDonald, Galley to hit RN cover Sunday
Malcolm MacMillan
This Sunday's Raider Nation will tell the story of Nepean's two-goalie approach, led by Darren MacDonald and Wyatt Galley.
The goalies will talk about the unique roads they took to Nepean: MacDonald from junior hockey in Boston and Galley through last year's draft and via the Jr. B Carleton Place Kings.
Don't forget to pick up your copy!
The Raiders play Sunday against the Kanata Stallions. Game time is 2:30 p.m. at the Steve Yzerman Arena.

2008-01-25T13:47:00.001-05:00

Former Raider featured in The Hockey News

2008-01-08T13:52:00.000-05:00

Raiders add veteran Medel
Gallant moved to Ottawa Jr. Sens
Malcolm MacMillan
The Raiders got a little more experience up front last night, adding rugged winger Ryan Medel from the Ottawa Jr. Senators in exchange for rookie power forward Mitchell Gallant.
In Medel, Nepean gets a 1987-born veteran who is smart defensively and can also play the blue line. In 38 games with the Jr. Sens this season, Medel scored 10 goals and added 19 assists. He also accumulated 70 penalty minutes, including fights with tough guys Sean Crozier of Pembroke and and Alexander Norman of Hawkesbury.
"We hope he can have an immediate impact," says Nepean GM Rob Black, who pulled the trigger on the deal prior to a league meeting on Jan. 7. "Ryan's a kid who can play defence for us as well, which is something we need to build up for the playoff run."
Black says Medel's, grit, heart and work ethic are among his strengths.
"We hope he can help us make a sixth straight run to the finals," said Black.
Losing Gallant means losing a prospect who had enjoyed a decent rookie season. The physical Gallant, also with a pair of fights under his belt this season, had 12 points through 36 games as a Raider.
"It's tough to move a guy like Mitch," Black acknowledged.
Yesterday's trade is another example of Nepean favouring experience over youth this season -- an indication that anything short of another berth in the league final will be a disappointing campaign. Since November, Nepean has added veterans Shane Bakker and Jeff Christison in trades, and dealing up-and-comers Nick Duhn, Scott Farrell and Michael Webley.
With the trade deadline just days away, this blog will have any trade news as it breaks.

2008-01-07T13:19:00.000-05:00

Raider Nation

Jan. 6, 2008
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2008-01-06T10:57:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!
After some time off for the holidays, the Raider Nation blog will be back in business this week. Please check the site out regularly as the Raiders make a big push in their remaining 23 games before the playoffs.

2007-12-14T14:47:00.000-05:00

Galley joins Nepean ranks
Second stint for rookie netminder
Malcolm MacMillan
Fresh off a successful stintwith the Jr. B Carleton Place Kings, goaltender Wyatt Galley was signed by the Raiders late this week. He'll replace Morgan Barr, who was sent to Carleton Place, as the backup for Darren MacDonald.
Galley played three games for the Raiders earlier in the season, posting a record of 0-1-1 with a 3.59 goals-against-average and a .900 save percentage.
To read more about the transaction, please see this Sunday's Raider Nation program which will also feature the in-depth story about new head coach Gerard Cowie.

2007-12-13T09:19:00.000-05:00

Overtime heartbreaker for Raiders
Club gives up late tying goal, loses in extra frame
Malcolm MacMillan
A day before they named a new head coach for the remainder of the 2007-2008 season, the Nepean Raiders showed that a shake-up was needed, dropping a 5-4 decision in overtime on Dec. 9.
The Robinson Division-leading Cumberland Grads handed Nepean its second overtime loss of the season, dropping the club’s record to 19-10-2-2.
And though the Raiders record has them just six points behind the league-leading Pembroke Lumber Kings, the next couple weeks will do a lot to dictate in which direction the team is heading.
The Raiders play Pembroke twice before Christmas, and also square off against 22-8-2-0 Brockville and 15-14-1-0 Hawkesbury before the holiday break.
“We just have to continue to stay positive and support each other,” said assistant coach Peter Howes.
Nepean surrendered leads three times against the Grads, who pushed overtime after a late timeout call by head coach Mark Grady. The coach’s set plan caught the Raiders on their heels, and Grads leading scorer Jason Akeson buried a shot between Nepean’s Darren MacDonald and the post on the short side.
Thirteen seconds into overtime, Akeson’s line clicked again. Eric O’Dell fired a shot along the ice that eluded MacDonald and beat the goalie through the legs.
“They’re a good team,” Howes said of Cumberland, “but I thought we deserved a better fate for the way we competed.”
At times, the Raiders execution was flawless: finishing checks, capitalizing on chances around Grads goalie Matt Fiander and firing from all angles. Other times, Nepean failed to get the puck out of its own end and left Cumberland attackers alone in the slot.
The Grads first and second goals came as a result of Nepean players letting Grads shooters get open. The last three goals were shots that MacDonald probably would want to have back.
Things weren’t helped from the get-go, as the Raiders dressed only 10 forwards and five defencemen. Each of the team’s affiliated players had games with their regular teams and could not dress for Nepean.
The bench got even shorter midway through the first period when winger Stephen Miles was forced out of the game after re-aggravating an upper-body injury.
Forwards Shane Bakker and Ben Sexton, as well as defencemen Greg Eskedjian and Scott Dawson were all sidelined with a variety of long- and short-term ailments.
“The injuries are to some of our energy players who help put us over the top,” said Howes.
As is the case most of the time, the Nepean offence was clicking.
Stephen Miles picked up his seventh goal of the season, a hard-working score, by swiping at a loose puck to the right of Fiander. After Cumberland tied the score, Nepean’s Stephen Mele banged home the puck from point-blank range. And later, with the score 3-2 in favour of the Grads, the Raiders responded twice in a six-minute span.
Captain Andrew Mather won a battle on the side boards and blasted a shot past Fiander, then after Mather got knocked off the puck, Emmond Bell pounced on the disc and beat Fiander from the circle.

NEWS AND NOTES
* Winger Brandon Edge returned to action last week with a full cage after being cut for more than a dozen stitches in a game against Kanata. Edge suffered a high stick that clipped him under the eye and on the eyelid. The infraction went uncalled.
* Newly acquired forward Jeff Christison brought plenty of energy to the ice on Sunday, throwing a thunderous, open-ice body check early in the game to set a physical tone for Nepean. Corey Domenico was again one of the Raiders top hitters in the contest.

2007-12-11T09:30:00.000-05:00

New Raiders head coach Gerard Cowie gets caught up with

captain Andrew Mather during practice on Monday afternoon.

Another Cowie joins Raiders
Gerard named new head coach
Malcolm MacMillan
Gerard Cowie was named the Nepean Raiders third head coach of the season on Monday afternoon, and team management hopes he'll be the piece of the puzzle that will bring another championship to town.

Cowie, whose sons Matt, Scott and Craig have each played with the Raiders after coming up through the Nepean Minor Hockey Association, will be counted on for his calming influence and experience behind the bench.

Cowie has won several championships in his nine seasons as a head coach in Nepean minor hockey.
Matt, who was a two-time captain in Nepean and has had his number retired, is playing NCAA hockey on a scholarship. Scott is currently with the OHL's Ottawa 67's and Craig is an affiliated Raider who's played two games with the big club this season.

"We needed a structured, calming and intelligent leader after all that's gone on and Gerard fits that description," says Raiders GM Rob Black.

Cowie is looking forward to getting started.

"I like what I've seen out there," he says. "A little more effort on everybody's part, and we'll have a good run."

For the whole story, please pick up Raider Nation at Sunday's game.

2007-12-10T13:15:00.001-05:00

Big announcement this afternoon
Malcolm MacMillan
A day after dropping a heartbreaker in overtime to the Cumberland Grads, the Raiders will make a major announcement this afternoon regarding a new head coach.
Check back tomorrow to find out what went down and who will lead the Raiders through the remainder of the 2007-2008 CJHL season.

2007-12-10T11:09:00.000-05:00

Raider Nation

Dec. 9, 2007

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2007-12-07T14:09:00.000-05:00

Mele on RN cover
New York import Stephen Mele will have his story told in Raider Nation this Sunday. In his first year with the Raiders, Mele has impressed with his great speed, scoring touch and smart hockey sense.
Just how does a kid from The Bronx, where baseball and basketball are the sports of choice, end up playing Jr. A hockey in Nepean?
And why has he taken just two minor penalties this season?
It's all in this Sunday's Raider Nation.

2007-12-07T12:18:00.000-05:00

Cross clicking
Has found a home in Cornwall
Malcolm MacMillan
Nepean native Damian Cross' goal for Cornwall last night in a 5-3 upset over Brockville is his fourth in four games with the Colts, who acquired Cross for former Raider Nathan Slack a couple weeks ago.
Cross, who began his CJHL career with the Raiders, was traded to Ottawa late last season and put up 17 points in as many games with the Jr. Sens this season. After being traded, and subsequently refusing to report to Kanata, Cross was dealt to Cornwall.
He's played well there, also adding three assists for seven points. Slack, meanwhile, played one of his best games all season in his Kanata Stallions debut. The centre scored a shorthanded goal and added an assist in a 5-4 loss to the Raiders.

2007-12-06T10:55:00.000-05:00

Webley finds groove
Centreman has three goals in three games
Malcolm MacMillan
Former Raiders centre Michael Webley is fitting in well with the Ottawa Jr. Senators.
After being traded across town in late November for veteran Jeff Christison, Webley has scored three times in three games with the Jr. Sens. He's benefitting from plenty of ice time - something he didn't see in Nepean, given the Raiders depth at forward.
Webley scored one goal in a 5-3 win over the Kemptville 73's on Nov. 30, his first game with Ottawa, and provided all the offence with two more last night in a 5-2 loss to Pembroke.
In 18 games with Nepean, he managed just one goal.
All the best to Webley in the remainder of the season in Ottawa.

2007-12-05T12:21:00.000-05:00

Raider Nation

Dec. 2, 2007

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Raider Nation

Nov. 18, 2007

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Raider Nation

Nov. 11, 2007

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Raider Nation

Nov. 4, 2007

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Raider Nation

Oct. 28, 2007

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Raider Nation

Oct. 21, 2007
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Oct. 14, 2007
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Raider Nation
Sept. 30, 2007

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Raider Nation
Sept. 23, 2007
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2007-12-05T10:41:00.000-05:00

Mr. Automatic
Barber setting offensive career highs
Malcolm MacMillan
Going into the season, Nepean's Brad Barber would most likely be described as a stay-at-home defenceman.
Reliable and physical on the blue line, Barber hadn't been the type to take offensive chances going into this, his third year in the league. He went goalless in 2005-2006 and 2006-2007. One goal in last year's playoffs was the sole time Barber had lit the red light in his CJHL career.
But Mr. Stay-at-Home has quickly evolved in Mr. Offence.
He scored twice in two 2007-2008 preseason games, and that offence was a sure sign of things to come.
After denting the twine in just the second game of the season, Barber went through a dry spell before exploding in late November. In the last six games, Barber has six goals - including a pair scored Dec. 4 in Kanata. Four of his tallies have come on the power play, and the 1988-born Nepeanite leads the team's defencemen in scoring by a mile.
There's no question that Barber is enjoying his best stretch of hockey in the CJHL, and it's the Raiders who are reaping the rewards.

2007-12-04T15:18:00.000-05:00

Power play nets five in Raiders win
Club bounces back after 10-4 drubbing
Malcolm MacMillan
The Nepean Raiders rebounded into the win column on a snowy Dec. 2, beating up on the Kemptville 73’s 7-3 two days after an embarrassing 10-4 defeat at the hands of the Smiths Falls Bears.
Though the Raiders performance was far from flawless – their execution Sunday wouldn’t have allowed them to beat any of the top teams in the league – it delivered a win against the 7-18-1-3 73’s squad.
Still, the two-point performance keeps Nepean on pace five points behind league leaders Pembroke and Brockville, which each won on Sunday.
The Raiders, at 18-10-2-1, have put up good numbers in the face of myriad off-ice developments this season. Since opening day, the club has said goodbye to two head coaches. Eight players off that inaugural roster are no longer with the club.
“We’ve gone through some shaky times but the team is coming together,” said defenceman Tyler Hinds, who notched a pair of second-period goals against Kemptville.
Hinds scored on the power play and at even strength – the latter the only non-special teams goal scored by Nepean during the game.
Nepean scored three power-play goals by the 11-minute mark of the first, and later added a couple more markers with the man advantage. Emmond Bell supplemented the scoring with a shorthanded tally late in the second frame.
“I expected to win, but before we get ahead of ourselves, we have to execute,” said coach Peter Howes. “It comes down to making plays … and we’re still tired and banged up.”
But Nepean’s power play, which has struggled at only a 17 per cent efficiency this season, was a force on Sunday.
Greg Eskedjian picked up his first goal of the season on a blast from the point early in the first, and after Kemptville’s James Craig was assessed a five-minute major and game misconduct for an elbow to the head of David Gervais, the Raiders capitalized twice more on the power play.
Blueliner Brad Barber, enjoying his best offensive weeks of his Jr. A career, scored his third goal in as many games on a slap shot from the top of the circle, then Stephen Miles one-timed a pass behind former teammate Alexandre Beaudry from the edge of the crease. Both goals were scored during the major to Craig.
Winger Miles said the team is relaxed under Howes.
“You know if you make a mistake he’s not going to sit you for the whole game,” said Miles. “He’s a guy who tells you what’s wrong and lets you go out and try to fix it.”
Miles, a skilled and tough player, was obviously confident on the ice, adding two assists and jawing at Kemptville players after whistles.
Though the 73’s scored single goals in each period – the first on a pass to Tim Hennessey alone in the slot, the second a deflection off a skate in front and the third a point shot through traffic – Raiders goalie Darren MacDonald held the fort with 24 saves.
The game’s story, however, was the Nepean offence, which kept clicking.
Hinds’ pair of second-period scores helped put the game out of reach.
“One the first [goal], I saw Bell in front and I just buried my head and ripped it,” explained Hinds, whose second goal was just as pretty.
“I saw an opening, snuck into the slot and let a wrister go.”
Captain Andrew Mather topped off Nepean’s scoring with a power-play goal in the third period. Taking a pass from Eskedjian, Mather circled into the slot and ripped a quick wrist shot past Beaudry.
Nepean’s previously struggling power play went five-for-six, and their hot penalty kill shut the door on the 73’s. But staying out of the penalty box, especially against better teams, will be paramount for the Raiders this season.
“Penalties are still our Achilles,” said Howes. “We can play on the edge, but we have to be more composed.”
Nepean is second in the league with 223 times shorthanded. League leader Cumberland has been shorthanded just 146 times.

OUTLOOK
Heading into the second half of the season, the Raiders feel the upheaval in the first half will only make them a better team.
The club is still searching for a new head coach, but has gone a respectable 2-2 under Howes and general manager Rob Black, who is filling in on the bench.
“It’s time for us to pick it up,” said Hinds. “We need some wins going into Christmas and have a good streak in the new year that will carry us into the playoffs.”
Miles’ prediction is bolder: “I think we’re going to pick it up and be in the championship for sure.”
Howes says attitude is the key.
“We can’t be overconfident. We just have to be mentally tough,” he said.