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.”
Friday, March 28, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
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.
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.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
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.
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!
The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. tonight. Come cheer on the Raiders as they look to extend the series!
Monday, March 17, 2008
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.
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.
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.”
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.”
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
