2002 Game Reports
Knights Fall Short in Comeback Bid
At Akwesasne, July 8 - The Akwesasne Lightning held off a furious third period Nepean rally to win game 3 of the best-of-5 playoff series 13-11. The win gives the Lightning the series 3 - 0 and the right to meet the Onondaga Redhawks in the next round.
Akwesasne scored just 28 seconds into the game to get the hometown crowd excited, but the game settled into solid defense for the next few minutes. The Knights went on a 5 minute power-play when a Lightning player was given a major for cross-checking a Knight from behind into the open door of the bench on a line change. The only surprise on the play was that the Akwesasne player was not ejected for intent to injure.
The Knights took their revenge by scoring 2 quick goals on the power-play, both by Chris Kirk. The teams again settled their defenses until the Lightning hit on 2 late goals to regain the lead 3-2, which is how the period ended.
The Lightning came out of the locker room with 2 quick markers, one on the power-play to open up a 5-2 bulge. Matt Cowie quickly replied for Nepean, but Akwesasne came right back to restore their 3 goal cushion, 6-3. The Lightning took another penalty but turned it into a short-handed strike, however a power-play bullet by Mickey Gilchrist brought the Knights back to within 3. Two breakaway goals for Akwesasne opened up the largest lead of the night, 9-4, but a late power-play goal on an end-to-end dash by Ryan Carisse gave the Knights a spark heading to the intermission down 9-5.
The Lightning again struck early in the period to pull ahead by 5, only to have Chris Kirk score 2 more power-play goals making the score 10-7. Less than half a minute later the Lightning went ahead 11-7 causing the Knights to replace Ian Hourston with Jonathan Lee. The Knights responded by scoring 2 goals in 2 minutes (Mickey Gilchrist and Kirk, his 5th of the game) to narrow the gap to 11-9. Akwesasne notched one back to lead by 3 with 9 minutes to play, but the Knights had more left in the tank as Brennan Sarazin scored on the power-play, and Mike King found the back of the net at even strength, stopping the clock at 4:20 remaining and the score 12-11 for the home team.
A marginal high sticking call put Nepean a man short with just over 3 minutes left, however a fine penalty kill kept the lead at one giving the Knights a final shot for the tie. With 30 seconds remaining Nepean took possession of the ball and pulled their goalie, but a blocked shot and final second goal by the Lightning clinched the series.
Congratulations to both teams for a well-played, hard fought series, and good luck to the Lightning in the next round.
Nepean Scoring:
Kirk..5,0 M.Gilchrist..2,2 B.Sarazin..1,3 Crawford..0,2 Cousineau..0,2 Carisse..1,0 Cowie..1,0 King..1,0 Chaput..0,1 Wasson..0,1 Hourston..0,1
Power Play - 7 for 9
In Goal: Ian Hourston - Up to 14:01 of 3rd
Jonathan Lee - Last 14:01 of 3rd period
Knights Come Up Short Against Lightning
By Ted Montour
Merivale Arena, July 6 - The Nepean Knights would like to change the script for this OLA Far East first-round play-off series with the Akwesasne Lightning, but they are running out of acts. After tying up Game One in the Turtledome, only to see the Lightning score three to win, the Knights hoped to turn the tables in the Merivale Arena, but the outcome, if not the score, was the same in Game Two - Lightning 7, Knights 5.
The first period was short on scoring but long on action, as both teams ran end to end and played some solid defence. The visitors took a 3 - 1 lead on goals by Jon Conners, Andrew Lazore and Brandon Francis. Mickey Gilchrist, on a power-play, replied for Nepean.
The Knights outscored the Lightning 2 - 1 in the second, after Richard Oakes bagged one just sixteen seconds in, with markers from Mike King and Chris Kirk, to make it 4 - 3 after forty minutes. Brennan Sarazin returned the favour 26 seconds into the third, to tie it at 4, but before the clock hit 1:00, goaltender Brad Conlon tangled with Akwesasne bad boy Ryan Oakes in his crease, and after the referees sorted things out, Conlon was ejected for his stick-work. Ian Hourston stepped in and promptly made several brilliant saves, as the Lightning shooters tested him immediately and regularly. Francis finally scored his second at 13:02, and though Kirk tied it up two minutes later, Phil Lazore and Francis scored the game winner and insurance, to take their team to a 2-games-to-none lead in the series.
Chris Kirk led the Knights with 2, and Mickey Gilchrist, Mike King and Brennan Sarazin each had 1 for the Knights, while Brandon Francis contributed the hat-trick for the Lightning. Game Three of the best-of-five series goes Monday night, 8 July in Akwesasne, with Game Four set for Wednesday, 10 July back at the Merivale Arena.
Nepean Scoring:
B.Sarazin..1,2 M.Gilchrist..1,2 Kirk..2,0 Wasson..0,2 King..1,0 Cowie..0,1 Cousineau..0,1
In Goal: Brad Conlon - 1st and 2nd periods
Ian Hourston - 3rd period
Knights Drop Playoff Opener
At Akwesasne, July 4 - The Akwesasne Lightning scored 3 late 3rd period goals to turn back the Nepean Knights 8 - 5 in the opening game of the best-of-5 playoff series.
Nepean started strong with Ryan Cousineau scoring just a minute into the contest. Near the midway mark Mickey Gilchrist and Matt Cowie each scored on pick-and-rolls while being set up by the other. A late Lightning marker gave the home team some life heading into the dressing rooms.
The Knights were on the powerplay to open the second, but the Lightning scored a short-handed goal to close within one at 3-2 Nepean. Chris Kirk scored on a nice feed from Cousineau who was camped out behind the net to make it 4-2 by the midway point of the game. With less than 7 minutes remaining in the period, Nepean received a 5 minute high-sticking penalty on which the Lighting capitalized to make it 4-3. Another Knights penalty put them 2 men short and the Lightning struck again to knot the game at 4-4. Nepean killed off the last 1 minute 45 of the penalty to finish the period with the tie.
Akwesasne scored 6 minutes into the final period to take their first lead of the game, but a powerplay goal by Mickey Gilchrist at the 10 minute mark tied the game again, 5-5. Three quick goals at 7:52, 5:01 and 4:34 sealed the game for the Lightning, sending the teams back to Nepean for game 2 Saturday night.
Nepean Scoring:
M.Gilchrist..2,2 Cowie..1,2 Cousineau..1,0 Kirk..1,0 King..0,1
In Goal: Brad Conlon
Knights and Redhawks Stage Another Spirited Contest
By Ted Montour
Merivale Arena, June 30 - Since the Onondaga Redhawks entered the OLA several seasons ago, they have always had close games with the Knights, and this afternoon was no exception. Although the Redhawks have clinched first place in the Far East, and the Knights are solidly in third, both teams played hard in oppressive heat. They gave Fan Appreciation Day as special a flavour as the barbecued 'burgs and 'dogs being served up outside the doors of the Merivale Arena.
The firstperiod ended 3 - 3, as both sides took some time to find their legs after tough games the night before. Mike Abrams, Brett Bucktooth and Adam George opened the scoring for Onondaga, and Mike MacDonald with 2, and Mickey Gilchrist countered for Nepean.
The Redhawks seized control of the middle frame and the game with 7 goals, including the last 5 straight, against only one reply from the Knights' Kevin Draper --- 10 - 4 Redhawks after forty minutes.
The Knights, far from being dispirited, lifted their game in the third, scoring 3 in the opening minute, 4 in a row in all, to close to within 2, but the visitors turned up the wick once again with a 4-goal flourish to wrap up the game. Final score, Redhawks 15, Knights 9.
Player of the Game Mike MacDonald had 3 goals for Nepean, Mickey Gilchrist and Ryan Cousineau 2 each, with 1 from Draper and 1 from Evan Sarazen.
The Knights open the 2002 play-offs against the Akwesasne Lightning, possibly as early as this week. Stay tuned for details.
Nepean Scoring:
MacDonald..3,0 B.Sarazin..0,4 Cousineau..2,1 M.Gilchrist..2,1 E.Sarazen..1,0 Bradford..0,1 Chaput..0,1 Draper..0,1 Mutch..0,1
In Goal: Brad Conlon
Nepean Player of the Game - Mike MacDonald
Knights Rebound From Gloucester Loss
By Ted Montour
Merivale Arena, June 29 - With two games remaining in their 2002 regular season, and a third place finish in the Far East assured, the Nepean Knights recovered from an embarrassing loss Wednesday night to the Gloucester Griffins, to defeat the visiting Barrie Tornado 15 - 4.
Barrie came into this game with a 13 - 5 - 1 record, tied for the Near East Division lead with the Clarington Green Gaels, but any hope of a 4-point week-end in Ottawa ended for the Tornado in the first period, as the Knights put up 5 unanswered goals, including 2 on the power play and 1 short-handed. Player of the Game Ian Hourston shut out the visitors for more than 25 minutes, and looked unbeatable until he took an ill-advised run at a breaking Barrie player, who dodged the check and dumped it into the net from well out. The Knights responded, however with 3 more, making it 8 - 1 at the end of two periods.
The visitors had already gone from cocky to well past chippy, frustrated with their inability to score, with Ian and the Knights' defence, even with the officials, and had begun a parade to the penalty box that would cost them 5 power goals, as well as 2 short-handed. With the Barrie coaching staff pulling their 'tender in favour of a sixth attacker for most of the final frame, and Nepean Coaches Eugene Zywicki and Dan Leduc responding with a tight zone defence, the third period saw 2 empty-met Knight markers, and 7 more all told.
Captain Ryan Cousineau and Assistant Captain Brennan Sarazin led the Knights' scorers with 3 goals each, Matt Cowie had 2, and Mickey Gilchrist, Chris Kirk, Evan Sarazen, Mike MacDonald, Ian Crawford, Reid Thrasher and Simon Bradford 1 apiece.
Nepean Scoring:
Cousineau..3,2 B.Sarazin..3,1 M.Gilchrist..1,3 Cowie..2,0 Kirk..1,1 E.Sarazen..1,1 Bradford..1,1 Wasson..0,2 Chaput..0,2 Crawford..1,0 Thrasher..1,0 MacDonald..1,0 King..0,1 Hughboy..0,1 Parker..0,1 Hourston..0,1
In Goal: Ian Hourston
Nepean Player of the Game - Ian Hourston
Knights Return Home with 1 Out of 4 Points
The Nepean Knights Junior B Lacrosse team had a strong showing in this weekend's games despite only collecting 1 out of a possible 4 points. They lost 9 to 7 to the Scarborough Saints (9-8 record), in a game that could have gone either way and had some exciting action from both teams. Unfortunately, the Knights were never able to overcome a defensive breakdown late in the second that led to four goals in two minutes. The Sunday afternoon game against the Clarington Green Gaels (13-4 record) was a much more intense game, and very entertaining for the fans. In a game that seesawed back and forth, the Knights came back from behind with 51 seconds left in the third to send them to overtime, and then rebounded from a three-goal deficit in the overtime period, scoring a power play goal with 24 seconds left to tie the game at 14-14.
At Scarborough Saints Saturday June 22: Scarborough and Nepean were fairly evenly matched. Matt Cowie opened up the scoring at about the six-minute mark, followed by Mickey Gilchrist at 13:30. Scarborough got on the scoreboard when the Knights were two men down and got caught changing the defenders. It was 2 - 1 going into the second.
Scarborough started out the second period with 2 quick goals, answered by two goals by Mike King that put the Knights ahead by one. Unfortunately,late in the second, the Knights had a defensive breakdown that led to four goals in under two minutes. Another goal late in the period was answered by Nepean, making the score 8 - 5 for Scarborough going into the third.
Chris Kirk scored early in the third, but this was answered by a Scarborough power play goal. Mike King scored his third of the game at 15:57 making it 9 - 7. The game was relatively penalty-free, although the Knights nullified a couple of power play opportunities. Brad Conlon played strongly in net.
Nepean Scoring:
King..3,2 M.Gilchrist..1,2 Kirk..1,0 Cowie..1,0 Carisse..1,0 Bradford..0,1 B.Sarazin..0,1 Conlon..0,1 Cousineau..0,1
In Goal: Brad Conlon
Nepean Player of the Game - Mickey Gilchrist
At Clarington Green Gaels Sunday June 23: It was hot and humid in the brightly lit arena in Bowmanville. Mickey Gilchrist scored a very quick goal, that was answered at the 1.09 mark by a Gaels power play goal. The teams then settled into a hard-fought battle that saw the score go back and forth many times. Mickey, Mark Egan and Chris Parker scored to put the Knights ahead, then the Gaels answered with a pair to make it 4-3 for the Knights going into the second
Mickey Gilchrist scored his third goal of the game at the 52 second mark of the second period. The Gaels then scored a flurry of goals, taking them ahead 8 -5 by 8:55. But the Knights wouldn't give up, and Brennan Sarazin and Matt Cowie narrowed the gap. The Gaels got one more, which was answered by Brennan's second goal with 44 seconds left in the period. The Gaels led 9 - 8 going into the third.
The third period started out slowly, with the first goal scored at the 9 minute mark by the Gaels. The Knights came back again, with goals by Ryan Cousineau and Mike Macdonald, tying the game. The Gaels went ahead with 3:08 left in the game, but Mike scored his second tying goal with 51 seconds left making it 11 - 11. We were headed for overtime.
The Gaels opened up the overtime period with three goals, one on a power play. With just over two minutes left in the game, the Knights started pressing. Ryan Cousineau and then Simon Bradford scored with blasts from the outside. With 24 seconds left in the game, Raj Wasson popped one in from the crease on a power play to tie the game.
The game was relatively penalty-free, although fairly chippy. Ian Hourston made many great saves in nets as the Knights were outshot 64 - 56.
Nepean Scoring:
M.Gilchrist..3,4 MacDonald..2,3 Cousineau..2,1 B.Sarazin..2,1 Wasson..1,2 Cowie..1,2 Parker..1,0 Bradford..1,0 Egan..1,0 Kirk..0,1 Draper..0,1 Carisse..0,1
In Goal: Ian Hourston
Nepean Player of the Game: Mickey Gilchrist
Knights Drop 3rd in a Row
Merivale Arena, June 12: The Nepean Knights record dropped to 7 wins and 10 losses following a 15-8 setback at home against the Akwesasne Lightning.
The visitors took a 6-1 lead in the first with all goals coming at even strength. In the second the Knights broke out of their scoring slump and fired home 6 goals, but could not close the gap as the Lightning tallied 6 of their own including 3 shorthanded markers. In the third period Nepean could only muster a single goal despite being on the powerplay for almost 8 straight minutes.
Nepean Scoring:
M.Gilchrist..2,1 Kirk..1,1 King..1,1 MacDonald..1,1 Cowie..0,2 Crawford..0,2 B.Sarazin..1,0 Egan..1,0 Cousineau..1,0 Chaput..0,1 N.Gilchrist..0,1
In Goal: Brad Conlon
Nepean Player of the Game - Mike MacDonald
Knights Follow Up Pair of Wins with a Pair of Stinkers
Merivale Arena, June 1: After putting together their first back-to-back wins of the season, the Knights were thoroughly outhustled, out-defensed and outscored by the visiting Orangeville Northmen 13-5.
From the opening whistle the Knights were perfect hosts, barely laying a stick on any Northmen, and rarely contesting any loose balls. All the while the Orangeville players were hustling as if their lives depended upon it, and cruised to an 8-2 lead by the first intermission. Ian Hourston faced 22 shots, most were from directly in front, and uncontested.
Nepean started the second period with Brad Conlon in nets and played better through the first 10 minutes, giving up only 1 goal. Three consecutive penalties to the Knights resulted in 2 Northmen powerplay goals to put the game out of reach, but a late powerplay marker by the Knight's Mickey Gilchrist seemed to give Nepean a bit of spark heading into the final frame.
In the third period the Knights played very tough defense holding Orangeville to a single goal on the powerplay. At the offensive end Nepean scored twice to make the final score 13-5 for the Northmen. Final shots on net: Orangeville 61, Nepean 45.
Nepean Scoring:
M.Gilchrist..3,0 B.Sarazin..2,0 Conlon..0,2 Kirk..0,1 Draper..0,1 N.Gilchrist..0,1
In Goal: Ian Hourston 1st period - Brad Conlon finished.
Nepean Player of the Game - Kevin Draper
Merivale Arena, June 2: The Knights were humiliated on Sunday afternoon by the Oakville Buzz 18-3 in front of a disappointed crowd.
That's all that needs to be reported about this game.
Nepean Scoring:
M.Gilchrist..1,1 B.Sarazin..1,0 MacDonald..1,0 King..0,1 Wasson..0,1 N.Gilchrist..0,1
In Goal: Brad Conlon 1st & 2nd periods - Ian Hourston finished.
Nepean Player of the Game - Mike MacDonald
Knights Cruel to Griffins on 'Humane Society Night'
Merivale Arena, May 29: On a night dedicated to support the Humane Society of Ottawa Carleton, the referees and Nepean Knights were most unkind to the visiting Gloucester Griffins. Gloucester picked up 38 minutes in penalties compared to only 7 for Nepean, while the home team fired 74 shots at Griffin goalie Pat Richard en route to a 13-5 win.
The first period opened with the Knights taking it right to the Griffins, but goalie Pat Richard started his player of the game performance by turning aside all comers. A 5 minute penalty for boarding to Gloucester gave Nepean what should have been a huge opportunity to take the lead, but some determined ragging from several Griffins killed off most of the penalty. Only a breakaway marker by Chris Kirk prevented the teams from heading to intermission tied at goose-eggs.
The Griffins took an early penalty in the second allowing Matt Cowie to ring up another powerplay goal to make it 2-0. Gloucester answered back quickly but Nolan Gilchrist launched a rocket on the next possession to restore the Knight's 2 goal lead. Two more Griffin's penalties resulted in powerplay goals by Cowie and Cousineau making it 5-1 by the half-way mark in the game. Gloucester wasn't about to give up and narrowed the gap to 3, but Kevin Draper scored right off the face-off to make it 6-2, and Ian Crawford nailed a 40 footer 28 seconds later to make the lead 5 goals. Gloucester scored a late period goal to finish the frame 7-3 for the home side, but not before the refs dished out another pair of penalties to the Griffins in the dying seconds.
Nepean failed to capitalize on the 2 man advantage at the start of the 3rd, but another Griffin penalty resulted in a goal just as the player came out of the box. Chris Kirk was the recipient of a bang-bang passing play from Cowie and King, and only had to keep his toes out of the crease as he popped the ball into the empty net. Sloppy loose ball work at Nepean's end resulted in a Griffin goal with Conlon trying to scramble back into the net, but the cushion was restored with yet another power-play goal by Chris Kirk as he scooped up a Mike King rebound and fired it home. A pair of laser shot goals by MacDonald and Crawford sandwiched around a Gloucester shorthanded marker made the score 11-5. A final pair of last minute goals by Mickey Gilchrist and Mike King capped the scoring.
Brad Conlon faced 41 shots and picked up a pair of assists while his Gloucester counterpart Pat Richard stopped 61 of the 74 shots he faced, most of which were of the high quality variety.
Nepean Scoring:
M.Gilchrist..1,5 Kirk..3,0 Cowie..2,1 King..1,2 Crawford..2,0 Draper..1,1 E.Sarazen..0,2 Conlon..0,2 MacDonald.. 1,0 N.Gilchrist..1,0 Cousineau..1,0 Wasson..0,1
In Goal: Brad Conlon
Nepean Player of the Game - Chris Kirk
Knights Split Weekend Games, Again
At Milton, May 25: The Knights twice came back from behind to tie the game, but eventually fell to Milton 12 - 10 Saturday night.
Mike King opened the scoring for Nepean, but Milton counted the next 4 by the midway mark. A power-play goal followed by 3 even strength makers gave the Knights a short-lived lead as Milton scored with 5 seconds left in the period to tie the game at 5-5.
The teams traded goals twice to bring the score to 7-7 before Milton reeled off 3 straight to lead 10 - 7. With 7.8 seconds showing on the clock and Milton having just taken 2 minor penalties, a local thunderstorm knocked out the power sending the teams to the dressing room for an early break while the lights came back on.
When play resumed, the Knights used the power-play and 8 seconds remaining to close the gap to 2 goals on a pretty fake and shot by Chris Kirk. The opening 5 minutes of the third were scoreless until Nepean took a penalty. While a man short Matt Cowie drove one home to bring the Knights within one. Just before the halfway mark Mickey Gilchrist capped off his hat-trick to tie the game at 10 - 10. Unfortunately for the Knights, Milton scored 2 within a 30 second span to take a lead they would not give up.
Nepean Scoring:
M.Gilchrist..3,3 B.Sarazin..1,3 King..1,2 Cowie..1,1 Kirk..1,1 MacDonald.. 1,1 Bonnet..1,0 Bradford..1,0 E.Sarazen..0,1 Draper..0,1 Chaput..0,1 N.Gilchrist..0,1 Conlon..0,1
In Goal: Brad Conlon
Nepean Player of the Game - Brennan Sarazin
At Onondaga, May 26: In a back and forth game, Brennan Sarazin completed his hat trick with 15 ticks left in the game to lead the Knights to a 10 -9 victory over the Onondaga Red Hawks.
Chris Parker scored just a minute into the game to set the tone for the Knights who hustled all afternoon much to the dismay of the hometown Red Hawks. A power-play marker by Mike King staked Nepean to a 2-0 lead before Onondaga scored their only goal of the period. Shots were almost even at 14-13 for Onondaga.
The Red Hawks opened with 2 quick scores to take a brief lead, but the Knights were not about to lie down as Brennan Sarazin evened the scored at 3-3. Onondaga quickly took the lead again, but Ryan Carisse's first goal of his Jr career tied it at 4-4. The Red Hawks fired the next 3 straight before late markers by Brennan Sarazin, shorthanded, and Ryan Cousineau with only 4 seconds remaining sent the teams to the dressing room with Onondaga leading 7-6. Ian Hourston kept the score close as Nepean was outshot 26-21.
Mike King on a breakaway goal, and Nick Hughboy on a one-timer put Nepean in front 8-7. Things looked good as Onondaga took a penalty, however from the face-off the Red Hawks scooped up the ball and tied the game short-handed. Mike MacDonald restored Nepean's lead on a leaping one timer of a rebound off the back boards, only to have Onondaga tie the game with 3 minutes remaining. Just as it looked like the teams were headed to overtime, Brennan Sarazin rifled a side-arm shot from in front to give the Knights a much deserved win. The Knights outshot the Red Hawks 16-14 in the final frame, but were outshot 54-50 overall.
Nepean Scoring:
B.Sarazin..3,0 King..2,1 Cousineau..1,2 M.Gilchrist..0,3 Cowie..0,3 Chaput..0,2 MacDonald..1,1 Carisse..1,1 Parker..1,0 Hughboy..1,0 Wasson..0,1 Bonnet..0,1 N.Gilchrist..0,1 E.Sarazen..0,1 Hourston..0,1
In Goal: Ian Hourston
Nepean Player of the Game - Brennan Sarazin
Knights Split Weekend Games
At Owen Sound, May 18: The Knights record dropped to 4 and 6 following a 10 - 6 loss to the hometown Owen Sound Flying Dutchmen Saturday night.
Nepean trailed 2-1 after the first, 7-3 after the second, closing to within 2 goals twice in the final period before running into a string of late penalties.
Nepean Scoring:
M.Gilchrist..1,2 Cousineau..2,0 B.Sarazin..0,2 Bonnet..1,0 Crawford..1,0 E.Sarazen..1,0 Draper..0,1
In Goal: Hourston and Conlon split the loss
Nepean Player of the Game - Mickey Gilchrist
At Huntsville, May 19: In a Sunday afternoon tilt the Knights held on for a 10 - 9 victory after squandering a large third period lead.
The Knights held period leads of 3-1 and 9-3. At the midway mark of the 3rd Nepean was in front 9-5. A 3 goal outburst by the Hawks made it 9-8 before Raj Wasson scored what proved to be the winner with 7 1/2 minutes left in the game.
Nepean Scoring:
M.Gilchrist..3,0 B.Sarazin..0,3 King..0,3 Kirk..2,0 Cowie..2,0 Chaput..0,2 E.Sarazen..0,2 MacDonald..1,0 Parker..1,0 Wasson..1,0 Crawford..0,1 Draper..0,1 Conlon..0,1
In Goal: Brad Conlon
Nepean Player of the Game - Ian Crawford
Knights Crowned 18-8
At Akwesasne, May 15: The Knights played solid lacrosse for the opening 20 minutes and were rewarded with a 3-1 lead heading to intermission thanks in large part to netminder Ian Hourston who stopped 21 of 22 shots on goal.
The wheels fell off in the second as the hometown Lighting struck for 4 goals in the first 5 minutes to take the lead before Nolan Gilchrist scored to close within 1. The Knights could not hold any momentum as the Lightning scored 5 goals in the next 5 minutes compared to a single marker by Nick Hughboy for Nepean. Akwesasne held a 12-6 lead going into the final frame.
Nepean opened the 3rd with 2 goals in the first 5 minutes to narrow the gap to 12-8, but again could not build on the momentum. After a scoreless 3 minutes Akwesasne started their final 6 goal run to ice the win 18-8.
Overall Akwesasne peppered the Nepean net with 84 shots, the majority on keeper Ian Hourston who finished up with an 81% save percentage.
Nepean Scoring:
Hughboy..1,2 MacDonald..3,0 Draper..1,1 M.Gilchrist..0,2 Cowie..1,0 N.Gilchrist..1,0 Parker..1,0 B.Sarazin..0,1 Chaput..0,1 Carisse..0,1 King..0,1
Nepean Player of the Game - Mike MacDonald
KNIGHTS Go T0 .500 Over 3-Game Weekend
By Ted Montour
Merivale Arena, Ottawa, 10 - 12 May 2002
The Nepean Knights opened this demanding week-end series Friday night against the Onondaga Red Hawks, a team with which they have become all too familiar since Onondaga joined the OLA Jr. B League several seasons back.
The Onondaga squad lost about a half-dozen of last year's members overage, including new Head Coach Murray Stout. However, several familiar faces, notably Drew Bucktooth, Pete Benedict (the current #1 and #2 Jr. B scorers) and goalie Jamie Phillips, return, and they and their team-mates spoiled the Knights' 2002 television debut (courtesy of Rogers Television 22) with a 19 - 5 win.
The victory kept the Red Hawks in first place in the Far East, and dropped the Knights' winning percentage to .500 .
Saturday night, Nepean's defence was challenged, and their offence thwarted, by the Halton Hills Bulldogs.
The Mid West-leading 'Dogs' veteran line-up features the No. 1 2002 Jr. A draft pick, Daryl Veltman, nephew of Toronto Rock Captain Jim Veltman, as well as their leading goal-scorer from last year (with 38), Mike Dubé. The Mid West leaders kept their perfect (5 - 0) record intact with a 14 - 4 victory.
Although the Knights' Matt Cowie opened the scoring on a power-play, the Bulldogs responded with 7 straight before taking a high-sticking major in the last minute of the first period. Cowie scored his second of the game from the top of the power-play set, with just :35 remaining.
Cowie completed his natural hat trick to open the second, as the Knights' PP took maximum advantage of the 5-minute penalty, but the Bulldogs went on another run, 5 goals this time, to close out the second with a 12 - 3 edge.
The visitors opened the final frame with 2 power-play markers of their own, then eased back on the throttle and emptied their bench. The Knights' special teams accounted for all of their scoring, as Simon Bradford added the final tally of the evening on another Bulldog penalty - Halton Hills 14, Nepean 4.
This afternoon, the Guelph Royal Regals, coming off a 9 - 7 win over Gloucester on Saturday night, provided the opposition. They entered this week-end in third place in the Mid West standings, with 3 wins and 2 losses.
The Knights got off to a crisper start, with a 3-goal lead in the first, courtesy of Brennan Sarazin, Mike King and Matt Cowie, before Guelph could respond with 2 of their own. Nepean's Mike MacDonald, and King with his 2nd, closed out the period. Starting goal-tender Brad Conlon would have a strong outing on this afternoon.
The Regals counted first in the middle stanza, but Ian Crawford, putting on a penalty-killing clinic all game, replied with a solo short-hander, setting of a four-goal run that would be carried on by 3 consecutive power-play markers, from Cowie, Sarazin and Mickey Gilchrist. Guelph got their 4th and 5th, sandwiched around Cowie's 3rd .
The final period was somewhat anti-climactic, as the Knights score 3 more to the Regals' 1, with Nick Hughboy, Player of the Game Crawford, and Chris Kirk closed things out. Cowie with 3, Crawford, King and Sarazin with 2, and MacDonald, Gilchrist, Hughboy and Kirk with singles, accounted for Nepean's scoring, as they evened their record to 4-and-4. They travel to Akwesasne this coming Wednesday night for their game against the Lightning at the "Turtle Dome".
Knights Split Weekend Road Trip
The Knights lost to Elora Saturday night 13-4, but came back to defeat Markham 10-4 Sunday afternoon putting their season record at 3 wins and 2 losses.
The Knights stayed close to the high-flying Elora Mohawks for a little over half a period thanks to superb goaltending from Brad Conlon, but a string of questionable penalties resulted in an Elora 5 goal run giving the home team a 6-0 lead heading to the first intermission. The second and third periods were more evenly played with Nepean losing those 2 periods by a combined score of 7-4. Ian Hourston came in to tend nets in the final frame making several great stops.
Highlight of the night was a game misconduct to assistant coach Dan Leduc in the third period for asking referee McCauley if he was a Leaf's fan, nothing more!!! (absolutely true).
Nepean Scoring:
M Gilchrist..1,1 Cowie..1,1 B.Sarazin..1,1 King..0,2 Kirk..1,0 Egan..0,1
On Sunday the Knights were determined to get revenge for a loss to the first season Markham Ironheads just one week before at the Merivale Arena. In keeping with earlier losses, Nepean fell behind early and also got into penalty trouble throughout the first period as they were shorthanded 4 times compared to a single powerplay advantage.
Despite this handicap the Knights took a 4-2 lead into the first break thanks to great work by the penalty kill and rag teams, plus a short handed goal by Mickey Gilchrist after Ian Crawford killed almost a full minute ragging the ball.
Nepean spent most of the first half of the second period shorthanded as well, but scored once on the man-down while allowing only 2 powerplay goals on 5 opportunties, both while 2 men short. After the mid-way point the penalty calls went the other way and the Knights took advantage scoring 3 times on the man-up to take an 8-4 lead after 2 periods.
The final frame was all Nepean as they outscored Markham 2-0 and killed off 3 more penalties. Brad Conlon went the distance in the nets playing yet another solid game.
Nepean Scoring:
M. Gilchrist..3,2 Cousineau..3,1 Cowie..2,1 Draper..0,2 King..1,0 Hughboy..1,0 Bradford..0,1 Carisse..0,1 MacDonald..0,1 Egan..0,1 Crawford..0,1 Conlon..0,1
Knights Rebound on the Road
Playing on the road and on TV for the first time this season, the Knights rebounded from their 1st loss with a comfortable 13-6 win over the Gloucester Griffins.
The Knights opened the scoring just over a minute into the game when Mickey Gilchrist and Matt Cowie executed a perfect 2 man game to spring Gilchrist free for the first of his 3 goals on the evening.
After extending their lead to 7-3 by the 1st intermission, the Knights continued to pour it on in the 2nd period, highlighted by a short-handed marker on a tic-tac-toe passing play from Sarazen to Sarazin to Mickey Gilchrist. Not to be outdone, brother Nolan Gilchrist later went the distance and stuffed home the final goal of the 2nd period making it 11-4.
The final period passed quietly with both teams netting a pair.
Nepean Scoring:
M Gilchrist..3,3 E Sarazen..2,4 Cousineau..4,0 Cowie..1,3 N.Gilchrist..1,1 B Sarazin..0,2 Parker..1,0 Bradford..1,0 Chaput..0,1 MacDonald..0,1 Egan..0,1 Crawford..0,1
Game 2 Letdown
In a Sunday afternoon game, the home team came up short, losing 9-5 to the first year Markham Ironheads. The Knights dug a hole early, falling behind 4-0 before putting their first goal on the board.
In the second period Markham bagged an early pair on powerplays to extend their lead to 6-1 before the Knights went on a 3-0 run to climb back within 2 goals entering the final frame.
The Ironheads scored the next 3 goals to ice the game and only a late marker by Nepean made the score respectable.
Top shooters for the Knights were: Mickey Gilchrist with 3 goals + 2 assists, and Brennan Sarazin with 2 goals.
Knights Win Home Opener
April 27, 2002: Saturday night the Knights defeated Mimico 10 - 3 in front of a large crowd. After an opening goal by the visitors 4 minutes into the game, the Knights scoring came to life for 3 goals in a little over a minute to take a lead they would never give up. Leading the way for Nepean were Mickey Gilchrist with 4 goals, 2 assists, Ryan Cousineau with a hat trick, Matt Cowie with 4 assists and Evan Sarazen with 1 goal and 3 assists. Goalie Brad Conlon kept the Mimico shooters at bay all night and picked up an assist along the way as well.
Exhibition Game Result
April 20, 2002: The Nepean Knights defeated cross-town rival Gloucester Griffins 15-9 in an exhibition game Saturday night at Merivale Arena.
Playing with a full bench and using all 24 players the Knights scoring was spread around nicely.
Cowie 0,6 MGilchrist 2,3 Cousineau 4,0 Chaput 1,2 Carisse 2,0 Kirk 2,0 Rackley 1,1 Bradford 0,2 Wasson 0,2 Crawford 1,0 Draper 1,0 Egan 1,0 Hughboy 0,1 Sample 0,1 Sarazin 0,1 Lee (G) 0,1