2001 Game Reports

Knights Drop Sunday Tilt at Home

3 June 2001, Merivale Arena, Ottawa - The Knights fell 12 -8 to the first place Onondaga Warriors, but not without a fight, literally. The game was back and forth with Onondaga opening an early 3 - 1 lead, only to see the Knights run off 3 straight goals for a short lived 4 - 3 lead. A short handed marker late in the first period sent the teams to the dressing rooms knotted at 4s. The 8 penalties resulted in 3 powerplay and 1 shorthanded goals, and were an omen of things to come.

The Knights scored the first 2 goals of the second period only to see the Warriors respond 12 seconds later narrowing the gap to 6 - 5. Another powerplay goal tied the game at 6 - 6 and that's the way it would stand with 4:49 left in the period when Chris Parker of Nepean was dragged into the Onondaga bench causing a bench scuffle that involved players and coaches alike. The referees eventually settled things down and after taking an intermission, play resumed with each team missing a couple of players due to game misconducts. Onondaga scored the only other goal before the end of the 2nd to lead 7 - 6.

Nepean opened the 3rd by killing off a penalty, then scoring the tying goal, only to see the penalty parade start again. Onondaga scored 2 powerplay goals sandwiched around a Nepean shorthander to make it 9-8 for the visitors. The backbreaker was the 10th goal only 18 seconds later which gave the Warriors the confidence to run the clock out on offense, although they scored 2 more along the way to make the final 12 - 8. In all, 1/2 of the goals scored were on special teams - 8 powerplay and 2 shorthanded.

Scott Henry and Craig ORegan led the way with 2 goals each while Dom Frangione was named Nepean Player of the Game for his effort in nets.

The Knights are on the road this coming weekend visiting Halton Hills and Guelph before returning home for a game against the Akwesasne Lightning on Thursday June 14th.

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Knights Cruise to Win over Hawks

by Ted Montour

2 June 2001, Merivale Arena, Ottawa - The Nepean Knights had to be
on their guard tonight, against taking the winless Huntsville Hawks too
lightly, especially since they would not want a complacency hangover
going into their next game against the Onondaga Warriors. The Knights
played a steady game with several offensive surges, to take tonights
game 16 - 12.

After Tim Stevenson opened the scoring just seconds into the game,
Mickey Gilchrist tallied the first of his 5 goals on the night, as
Nepean chased Huntsville starter Rob Collins from the nets, and took a 
7 - 3 lead into the first intermission.

The visitors showed more life in the second period, scoring 4 to the
Knights' 5, but they could not eat into the Nepean lead, although the
Hawks' Jason Beatty did his best to inspire his 'mates with steadier
goal-tending; --- 12 - 7 Knights after two.

Huntsville actually outscored their hosts 5 - 4 in the final frame,
including the last 3, all power-play markers, of the game, but the
Knights held their ground, if not all of their composure, and the game
ended 16 - 12 in favour of the home side. Captain Stu McFarlane left the
floor late in third with a game misconduct, but, since this is the first
such infraction, the Knights will pay the $50.00 fine rather than see
Stu sit out Sunday's game against Onondaga. The Warriors won tonight, 7
- 4 in Gloucester, and have moved into first place in the OLA Jr. B Far
East, as Akwesasne lost in Elora by a score of 16 - 6. The Far East top
three are now Onondaga (8-2-1, 17 points), Akwesasne (8-3-0, 16 points),
and Nepean (7-4-1, 15 points).

Mickey Gilchrist led all scorers with 5 goals, and Tim Stevenson and
Scott Reeves added 2 each; the rest of the Knights' scoring was off
singles from Wayne Bonnet, Scott Henry, Nick Grenier, Jeff Chaput, Tom
Marwick, Stu McFarlane, and Jason Lacroix. The only action this night
for Dominic Frangione was the first-intermission Timbits shoot-out, as
Brad Conlon went the distance in the Nepean nets, collecting an assist
along the way.

Huntsville got a deuce each from Josh Stahls, Chad Francis, Kevin
Francis, and Joey O'Halloran, with 1 apiece for Bobby Zangari, Derek
Botting, Andrew Scott, and Kurt West.

The Knights face the division-leading Onondaga Warriors tomorrow,
Sunday, 3 June, 2:00 p.m. at the Merivale Arena.

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Knights Drop 2nd in a Row

The Knights lost 2 games in a row for the first time in 2 years by falling to the Akwesasne Lightning 8 - 7 at Akwesasne Thursday night.

The game see-sawed throughout with the first period ending 2 - 2, the second period ending 5 - 5, and the teams tied at 6's with less than 10 minutes remaining in the game. The Lightning tallied twice to take an 8 - 6 lead into the final 2 minutes but the Knights fought back to within one on a goal by captain Stu McFarlane with 1:33 showing on the clock. The Knights had one final chance as they gained possession with 20 seconds remaining and called a time-out to set up a play with goalie Dom Frangione on the bench. Unfortunately the Lightning defense came up big and denied the last second shot to hold on for the victory.

Player of the game was Wayne Bonnet who notched 2 goals and 3 assists.

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Knights Drop 1st Home Game to Elora

27 May 2001, Merivale Arena, Ottawa - The Nepean Knights dug
themselves a hole in the first period of today's game, and were unable
to climb out, going down 13 - 7 to the Mid West Division-leading Elora
Mohawks.

Elora built a 5 - 0 lead in the opening frame, off 2 by Jamie Rooney,
and singles from Kasey Beirnes, Danny Booker, and Jordan Bosomworth,
before Stu McFarlane provided the only reply --- 5 - 1 Elora after one
period.

The visitors continued their dominant play in the second, rocking the
Knights back on their heels with 5 straight goals, including 2 more from
Rooney, in the first 5:20. Brad Conlon replaced Dominic Frangione in
goal, and the Knights steadied in front of his strong play,coming back
with 4 in a row of their own, the last from McFarlane again, with just
one second left on the clock, to make it 10 - 5 with one period to play.

Elora opened the final frame with 2 goals from Dustin Janssen, followed
by 2 more from the Knights' Adam Thrasher and Scott Reeves, before
Beirnes closed out the scoring with just over six minutes remaining. The
Mohawks seemed content to run out the clock after that, while the
Knights continued to struggle to find their scoring touch.

Jamie Rooney paced Elora with 4 goals, and Kasey Beirnes and Dustin
Janssen added 2 each, while singles went to Booker, Bosomworth, Shafer,
Weadick, and Boys.

Captain Stu McFarlane and Adam Thrasher scored 2 goals each for the
Knights, and Evan Sarazen, Ryan Cousineau, and Scott Reeves contributed
1 apiece.

The Knights are at home again next week-end, as they entertain the
Huntsville Hawks Saturday night, 2 June at 8:00 p.m. at the Merivale
Arena, and then Far East rivals, the Onondaga Warriors, Sunday 3 June at
2:00 p.m.

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Knights no Dutch Treat for Owen Sound

26 May 2001, Merivale Arena, Ottawa - The Nepean Knights opened their
week-end home stand tonight, with a couple of season firsts, and a 15 - 5
win over the Owen Sound Flying Dutchmen.

The Knights unveiled their new logo design (by Jay Sobel) and jerseys,
and Jeff Zywicki returned to the line-up, following his first year at the
University of Massachusetts. The visitors got a rough reception from the
Knights, who again got balanced production from up and down their
roster sheet.

Nepean got off to a slow start, with a 2 - 1 first period on 2 goals by
Ryan Cousineau, after Owen Sound's Mark Cameron had opened the game with
a power-play marker.

The Flying Dutchmen took what would be their only lead of the game early
in the second, with 2 goals in 1:25. The Knights responded with 3 in a
row, from Stu McFarlane, Craig O'Regan, and Adam Thrasher. After Brad
Conlon took over from Dominic Frangione in goal, the Dutchmen
interrupted the Knights' run with another power-play goal from Andrew
Green, before 3 more Knights got on the score sheet. Mickey Gilchrist
scored the first of his 2 short-handed goals on a solo dash, then Owen
Sound's Brad Slater fumbled a rebound into the net for an "own goal"
awarded to Tom Marwick. Slater took a roughing penalty for his
frustration, and Jeff Zywicki cashed in with his first of the night.

The third period again saw the Knights make a couple of surges,
bracketed around Owen Sound's last point of the evening. Zywicki and
Gilchrist both scored short-handed and Zywicki struck again at even
strength, before Eric Hopkins replied for the Flying Dutchmen. Marwick,
Gilchrist, McFarlane, and Cousineau all scored on man-advantage
situations, to decisively end the game for the dispirited visitors.

Owen Sound got single goals from Mark Cameron, Brandon Playter, Adam
Barfoot, Andrew Green, and Eric Hopkins.

Mickey Gilchrist was named the Knights' Player of the Game for his
3-goal, 5-assist effort, while Jeff Zywicki and Ryan Cousineau also
scored hat-tricks. Tom Marwick and Stu McFarlane added 2 apiece, and
Craig O'Regan and Adam Thrasher chipped in 1 each. The Knights had a
total of 9 special-teams goals, including 3 short-handed. Dominic
Frangione allowed 3 goals, and Brad Conlon played the second half of the
game, allowing but 2 more.

The Knights face the perennial Junior B West power house Elora Mohawks
tomorrow, Sunday 27 May, starting at 2:00 p.m. at the Merivale Arena.
The Mohawks are coming off tonight's 17 - 4 win over the Gloucester
Griffins.

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May 19 / 20 Weekend Re-cap

The Knights opened this weekend's action with a 13 - 8 victory over the visiting
Scarborough Saints in a chippy affair. Scott Reeves took player of the game
honours with a fine defensive outing in addition to tallying a goal and 2 assists.
Stu McFarlane and goalie Brad Conlon led the scoring parade with 4 points apiece.

On Sunday the Knights traveled to Kahnawake and were upset 14 - 8. The Knights
dug themselves into an early hole, falling behind 5-0 by the halfway mark of the
opening period, and were never able to get closer than a 3 goal differential.

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May 12 / 13 Weekend Re-cap

The Knights were on the road this weekend and suffered their
1st loss of the season on Saturday, falling 8-7 to Mimico.
Mickey Gilchrist captured player of the game honours with a hat trick
and an assist. Dom Frangione took the loss in nets.

On Sunday the Knights came from behind to nip Oakville 14-13
on a late goal by Jeff Chaput. Stu McFarlane topped all scorers with
5 goals and was Nepean's player of the game. Goalie Brad Conlon
earned his second victory of the season.

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KNIGHTS TAKE JOUST WITH GAELS

5 May 2001, Merivale Arena, Ottawa - A week-end of stalwart goal-tending
extended the Nepean Knights unbeaten opening to their 2001 season, with
a 10 - 5 victory over the Green Gaels. Following on Brad Conlon's strong
performance in the previous night's win against the Gloucester Griffins,
veteran Dom Frangione frustrated the Gaels' shooters, and backstopped a
strong team effort by the Knights against the 2000 Founders Cup
champions from Clarington.

The Gaels opened the scoring with a short-handed goal by Casey Logeman
at 3:40 of the first period, for the only lead the visitors would have
in this game. The Knights opened with back-to-back power-play markers
from Mickey Gilchrist and Jason Lacroix. Another goal with a man
advantage from the Gaels' James Barton, and an even-strength reply from
Tom Marwick made the score 3 - 2 after one.

The Knights surged in the second period, outscoring the Gaels 5 - 1, as
Gilchrist and Lacroix each notched their second, while Craig O'Regan,
Scott Reeves, and rookie Chris Parker with his first goal in OLA Junior
action, added to the tally. The lone Gaels response came from Aaron
Lowes.

After two Gaels' shots from the high slot got past him in the first five
minutes of the final frame, Frangione came to the bench for a quick
"consult" with the coaching staff, while Brad Conlon warmed up in the
Nepean net. Dom returned at the next stoppage in play, and shut out the
poor-shooting guests the rest of the way. Adam Thrasher, on a short
break from his strong defensive game, and Marwick with his second,
finished the Nepean scoring.

Dom Frangione received well-deserved Player of the Game honours, Mickey
Gilchrist, Jason Lacroix, and Tom Marwick each scored a pair, and Chris
Parker, Craig O'Regan, Adam Thrasher, and Scott Reeves had singles. For
the Green Gaels, Logeman, Barton, Lowes, Harris, and Greenen were the
only ones to find a way to beat 'The Dominator'.

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KNIGHTS WIN FIRST ROUND OF BATTLE OF OTTAWA

4 May 2001, Merivale Arena, Ottawa - The Nepean Knights have gone three games
into their OLA Jr. B East Division 2001 schedule without a loss, with a
9 - 6 victory over the Gloucester Griffins. The Knights survived a slow
start by both teams in the first period, which ended 2 - 2, to post
their second victory of the year on their home floor, to go with a
12 - 12 overtime tie last Saturday at Onondaga.

A second-period natural hat-trick by Mickey Gilchrist, along with Evan
Sarazen's period opener at 9:33, opened up a 7 - 3 Knights lead going
into the final frame.

The Griffins went on a run of their own in the first nine minutes of the
third, however, to draw within a goal, but Knights' rookie goal-tender
Brad Conlon shut them down with several key saves, and Gilchrist's fouth
goal of the game, along with another by brother Nolan, salted away the
win.

Mickey Gilchrist's 4 goals led all scorers, while Nepean's Tom Marwick,
who has already formed a formidable one - two punch with Mick, added 2.
Josh Tataryn's 2 goals paced the Griffins.

The Knights host the 2000 Founders Cup champion Clarington Green Gaels
tonight, Saturday, 5 May, at 8:00 p.m. at the Merivale Arena.

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