2001 Game Reports

Knights Out !!!

10 Aug. 2001, Scarborough Arena - The Knights were eliminated 3 straight in the Eastern Ontario Championship best of 5 series when they lost game 3 to the Scarborough Saints by a 13 - 3 score.

While the Knights stayed close for the first 30 minutes trailing only 4 - 2, they failed to score on a 5 - on - 3 advantage mid-way through the second and then gave up 4 goals in 4 minutes to seal their own fate.

Congratulations to the Eastern Champion Scarborough Saints and Good Luck at the Founder's Cup in Edmonton.

Knights On Brink

5 Aug. 2001, Merivale Arena, Ottawa - The Knights find themselves on the brink of elimination in the Eastern Ontario Championship best of 5 series after losing Game 2 to the visiting Scarborough Saints by a 9 - 7 score.

In this game the Knights dug a deep hole by falling behind 5 - 0 in the first period. Nepean replaced starting goalie Dom Frangione late in the first period while on a penalty kill. The switch to backup goalie Brad Conlon seemed to inspire the Knights defense, plus Brad's solid goaltending and pinpoint long passes ignited the Nepean offense.

While the Knights exited the first period down 5 - 1, they clawed their way back into the game and trailed only 6 - 4 going into the final period. 

After exchanging pairs of goals early in the third, Nepean could only score once more in the final 15 minutes which left them 2 goals short, and down 2 games to 0 heading to Scarborough for the remaining games.

Knights Drop Opener

4 Aug. 2001, Merivale Arena, Ottawa - The Knights lost the opening game of the best of 5 series to the visiting Scarborough Saints 14 - 11. 

The teams played an even first period with each side scoring 3 times. In the second period the Saints pulled ahead with a 3 goal spurt and maintained the lead the rest of the way taking a 9 - 7 margin to the intermission.

The third period opened with tight checking but the Knights could pull no closer than 10 -8 with 10 minutes remaining. Again the Saints put together a goal-scoring run making it 14 - 8 and only 5 minutes to play. The Knights refused to quit, scoring the final 3 goals but it was too little too late.

Knights Sweep!! 

27 July 2001, Shove Park Arena, Camillus NY - The Nepean Knights forged out another 1 goal win to sweep the Onondaga Jr. Warriors Friday night.

The Warriors came out trying to intimidate the Knights with late hits, slashes, and full court pressure, but Nepean took a 3 - 2 lead after 1 period. In the second period Onondaga threw everything at the Knights, playing their top players at every opportunity including having Peter Benedict hang-out at  centre for 5 solid minutes. The Knights responded with solid defense and more outstanding goaltending by Dom Frangione who denied Benedict a goal in the second despite having 3 clear breakaways. The game was tied 4 - 4 after 2, but the Warriors looked spent.

The Knights capitalized on a power play opportunity with Ryan Cousineau scoring the eventual series winner with 11 minutes remaining in the third. Tension mounted as time ticked ever so slowly, but Nepean killed off another penalty with 7:41 remaining. With 2 1/2 minutes left the Knights kept the Warriors hemmed in their own end, repeatedly running the shot clock down to 5 seconds, then taking a quality shot and scooping up the loose ball in order to work the clock one more time. Finally with 37 seconds on the game clock, Onondaga gained possession and called a last-chance timeout. The Nepean defense was ready and kept the Warriors on the perimeter even thought Onondaga had the goalie on the bench and an extra man on the floor. Finally the ball was moved down low and a timely defensive attack by Chris Houlahan stripped the ball giving Tim Stevenson the opportunity to snag the loosie and run out the final 13 ticks.

Special Teams: Nepean Powerplay 3 for 5, Nepean 1 Shorthanded goal. Onondaga Powerplay 1 for 4.

Nepean Scoring: Mickey Gilchrist (1,3) Ryan Cousineau (2,0) Stu McFarlane (2,0) Jason Lacroix (0,2) Tom Marwick (0,1) Brennan Sarazin (0,1) Chris Houlahan (0,1)

Nepean now awaits the winner of the Scarborough - Barrie series to play for the Eastern Ontario Championship and a berth in the National Championship Founders Cup in Edmonton.

Bright Knights Outshine Onondaga

byAndy Watson

22 July 2001, Merivale Arena, Ottawa - It took a full period of overtime but solid penalty killing and stellar goaltending helped the Nepean Knights to defeat the Onondaga Warriors in Game 2 of the Jr. B East division semi-finals.

The 15-14 victory at Merivale Arena on Sunday July 22 puts the Knights up 2-0 in the best-of-five series. Mickey Gilchrist (3 G, 3 A) scored the game winner with 15 seconds left in OT to cap off an entertaining and animosity-filled game.

After a see-saw opening period, which ended tied at 4 goals apiece, Nepean took a 9-7 lead in the second paced by a deuce from #43 Scott Henry. The second period ended with 15 seconds after Knights' goalkeeper #00 Dom Frangione was hurt. The injury occurred when Nepean's #83 Craig O'Regan ran Onondaga's #10 Pete Benedict into Frangione, after Benedict knocked O'Regan's stick out of his hands and drove to the net. O'Regan was assessed five minutes for checking from behind and Benedict a two-minute minor for goaltender interference. After the injury to Frangione (who stayed in the game) the fans behind both benches at Merivale Arena were asked to move away because of threats made to players and referees.

Nepean took several undisciplined penalties at the start of the third. This kept their penalty killers and keeper Frangione busy. But Dom and company held the fort limiting the Warriors to just a single powerplay goal in the two 5-on-3 situations. In the final seconds of the third period Onondaga's #33 Murray Stout had a near breakaway goal called back because the shot was not taken before the final horn sounded. The score was tied at 11 heading into the extra period.

Knight's #22 Tom Marwick (1 G, 1 A) opened the OT scoring beating Ross Bucktooth with a sizzler into the top right corner. Onondaga tied it at 12 on a goal from #6 Robert Shenandoah (1 G, 0 A). Then Nepean's #5 Ryan Cousineau (3 G, 0 A) came to life, scoring two beautiful goals in OT to give the Knights a 14-12 lead. One of Cousineau's goals was set up on a sensational pass from #6 Scott Reeves who slid along the arena floor to make the pass to his teammate's stick. Onondaga tied it at 14 on a goal from Murray Stout (5 G, 3 A) with 3:13 left and a sweet shorthanded marker from # 66 David Stout (2 G, 2 A) with just over one minute remaining. But with 15 seconds left in the extra period, Mickey Gilchrist scored the game winner picking up Marwick's outside shot, burying it over top of  Bucktooth for the victory.

Games 3 and 4 will be played next weekend in Onondaga (Syracuse, NY). 

GAME NOTES Most of Nepean's goals were on sub shots between the legs of Bucktooth, or on rebounds on the right crease. Onondaga used the screen and the bounce shot effectively to beat Frangione. Discipline hurt both teams, with undisciplined penalties taken far too often. Merivale Arena was about 3/4 full, a smaller crowd than in Game 1 on July  21. The game took three full hours to play.

Total penalty minutes:
Onondaga: 32
Nepean: 23

Stops by
Onondaga's #0 Ross Bucktooth: 48
Nepean's #00 Dom Frangione: 43

Referees: Ron Francis, Jeremy Morrison

Knights Win Game 1 

21 July 2001, Merivale Arena, Ottawa - Nepean held the lead only once during the opening game of their series with the Onondaga Warriors, but it was the only time that mattered ...... after 60 minutes of play.

The Knights trailed 3 - 2 after the first, and 6 - 4 after the second period, but scored twice on a 5 minute butt-ending penalty to Onondaga to take a 9 - 8 lead with 3:56 remaining in the game. Solid defense and great goaltending by Dom Frangione held on for the win.

Knights Clinch Series 

14 July 2001, Akwesasne - In front of a large crowd including a vocal group of loyal Nepean fans, the Knights won 10 - 8 on the road to take the first round 3 games to 2.

In Game 4 Nepean started with 16 runners and ended up with only 14 including a call-up from the Midget team. For Game 5 the Knights had an equally short bench with only 13 of their 20 regular runners, but this time they were bolstered by 4 Midget call-ups who did a fine job filling in for the regulars at key times.

After the 15 - 5 drubbing in Game 4 everyone knew that the first 5 minutes would be key. The Knights responded to the bell by opening the game with 4 solid defensive shifts and some good saves by 'keeper Dom(inator) Frangione. Mickey Gilchrist opened the scoring just 2 minutes in, but the Lightning replied 16 seconds later. For the next 10 minutes the teams played back and forth tough, penalty free lacrosse during which time Mickey fired home 2 more goals for the natural hat-trick. A penalty to the home team failed to open the door for the Knights, but a subsequent penalty did. Although Nepean's powerplay didn't score on the second penalty, Gilchrist rocketed home his 4th of the period just as the penalized player stepped out of the box to send the Knights to the intermission leading 4 - 1.

The Lightning came out storming in the second period, hemming the Knights in their own zone for most of the first 2 minutes but failed to scored as the Dominator turned them aside time and again. Nepean successfully killed off their first penalty, but almost immediately took another one that cost them a goal narrowing the score to 4 - 2. Finally the pressure was relieved as Akwesasne was assessed a penalty. On the ensuing powerplay, not only did Nepean fail to score, but they took a penalty of their own to nullify the man advantage, and then were given another 2 minutes as the Lightning player returned to the floor. The Knights killed the 2-man disadvantage, but an errant clearing pass was intercepted and some slick passing resulted in Akwesasne's 2nd powerplay goal to narrow the lead to 1. Off the draw the Lightning struck again and with just less than half the game remaining, the score was even at 4 - 4. Having swung the momentum in their favour, the Lightning were pressing again only to take a penalty. The Knights struggled on the powerplay unable to score and Akwesasne completed the momentum shift with the go-ahead goal with just under 4 minutes remaining in the period. Despite having let in 4 consecutive goals to give up the lead, the Knights did not pack up the tent, instead a nifty cut and rip by Nick Grenier on the next shift knotted the game at 5 - 5. Before the period ended Ryan Cousineau fired a sneaky underhander to the low corner giving the Knights the lead heading to the dressing room.

Akwesasne opened the 3rd on the offensive, but a huge save by the Dominator sprung Jason Lacroix at the other end of the floor to open up a 2 goal lead. The Knights got into penalty trouble again, but some fine penalty killing and a beautiful shorthanded marker by Mickey Gilchrist gave the Knights an 8 - 5 lead with 18 minutes left in the game. Following another successful penalty kill for the Knights, the Lightning scored 2 goals in a 6 second span to get back to 8 - 7 and make it a game again. With 12 minutes remaining the Dominator made a huge save from in close, but during the play Nepean earned another 2 minute penalty. This successful penalty kill turned out to be the turning point in the game as the Lightning appeared to lose their momentum and failed to mount sustained pressure for the next 6 minutes. With 4:09 showing on the clock, Adam Thrasher sniped a long shot off the post to restore Nepean's 2 goal lead and give them some breathing room. A late penalty to Akwesasne snuffed out all hope and last minute goals by Thrasher into an empty net, and by the Lightning at the buzzer sent the Knights bench streaming onto the floor to celebrate.

Stars of the game for Nepean were goaltender Dom Frangione as he stymied Lightning shooters all night, and Mickey Gilchrist who potted 5 goals to lead the scoring parade.

Congratulations to both teams who showed excellent sportsmanship at the end of every game by shaking hands and leaving all game battles on the floor where they belong.

Knights Bombed in Game 4 

12 July 2001, Merivale Arena, Ottawa - Nepean came out meekly and were whipped   15 - 5 by the Akwesasne Lightning. This ties the best of 5 series at 2 games each, with the deciding game at Akwesasne Saturday night at 8 PM.

Knights Take Game 3 

10 July 2001, Akwesasne - Nepean eked out a 6  - 4 win to take a 2 games to 1 series lead.

Stu McFarlane broke a 4 - 4 tie 58 seconds into the 3rd period, and Jason Lacroix scored an insurance marker with 6:18 remaining.

Dom Frangione had another outstanding game in the nets, holding Akwesasne to only 4 goals with 2 coming on the powerplay.

Knights Drop Game 2 

8 July 2001, Merivale Arena, Ottawa - Nepean lost 7 - 6 to the visiting Akwesasne Lightning Sunday afternoon to even the best of 5 series at 1 game apiece.

The Knights opened a 4-2 lead in the first period, but failed to score on 5 powerplay opportunities in the second period to trail 5 - 4 going into the final frame. Despite numerous scoring opportunities the Knights could get no closer than 1 goal.

Knights Win Opener in Overtime Thriller

Nepean edged the hometown Akwesasne Lightning 7 - 6 in double overtime to take a 1 game lead in the best of 5 series.

The game was a clean, tight-checking and hard fought affair with neither team willing to giving an inch, nor able to go on a goal-scoring run. Goaltending dominated as Dom (the Dominator) Frangione for the Knights and his Lightning counterpart Dylan Adams were outstanding.

The Knights controlled the opening 12 minutes but only captain Stu McFarlane could beat Adams. A Lightning penalty appeared to give Nepean a chance to open up a bit of breathing room, but a bobbled pass gave Akwesasne a short-handed breakaway on which they capitalized to knot the game at 1-1. Soon afterwards the Knights found themselves a man down and the Lightning quickly scored to take the teams into the intermission with the score 2-1 for the home side.

The Knights started the second period on the man-up and scored early to tie the game at 2-2. After several scoreless minutes the Lightning regained the lead but Nepean's Darren Denyes 'wristed' a hockey shot into the cage while tip-toeing around the crease to bring the Knights even at 3-3. On the next shift Nepean took another penalty and were being hemmed in their own end when they opted for a timeout while short-handed and having the ball start from their own crease. Starting from his own end Mickey Gilchrist did a nice give-and-go with Tom Marwick to spring Mickey for a breakaway opportunity. Mickey made no mistake and gave the Knights yet another short-lived lead. The Lightning counted the final goal of the period to once again even the score .... 4-4.

The third period would see more of the same tough lacrosse with Nepean scoring first, but Akwesasne tying the game at 5-5 by the midway mark. The game continued back and forth until Jason Lacroix picked up a loose rebound in front the Lightning net and fired a shot through the surprised goalies wickets to give Nepean the lead with 2:08 remaining in the period. Playing solid defense the Knights appeared headed for victory when a defensive miscue gave the Lightning an odd man rush and the tying goal with 30 seconds remaining. The Knights gained possession with 19 seconds remaining and called their final timeout, however some solid defense by Akwesasne forced the game into overtime.

The first period of overtime was scheduled for 10 minutes of play, and was not sudden-death. With no penalties and few whistles the period took less than 15 minutes to play, however there were ample scoring opportunities for both sides that could have ended the game. In the last 30 seconds the Knights stormed the Lightning net and thought they had scored the winning goal only to discover the ball lodged under the goalie tantalizingly close to the goal-line. A sudden whistle to re-start play caught the Nepean players out of position and a long pass from the crease to a wide open Jon Tarbell in the Nepean zone with 10 seconds remaining seemed to spell disaster for the visitors. After several fakes Tarbell shot the ball into the Dominator's waiting stick sending the game into sudden death.

The Lightning had a couple of early chances in overtime #2, but the Nepean defense and the Dominator held firm. The Knights mounted two consecutive rushes before a rebound at the edge of the crease gave Mickey Gilchrist the opportunity to be the hero. Mickey made no mistake scooping up the loosie, reaching around a surprised Adams and finding nothing but net causing a swarm of ecstatic Knights to leap the boards and celebrate on the floor.

An outstanding game that will be remembered for quite some time!!!! The next game should be equally as intense as the visiting Akwesasne Lightning will look to rebound from the Game 1 loss, while the hometown Knights will try to put a stranglehold on the series with a win. Come to the Merivale Arena on Sunday to see for yourself....