Coming off the confidence of a strong showing against the Kemptville 73’s, the Nats travelled to the North Grenville Arena to take on the Hawks for their fourth match up of the season on Tuesday, Jan. 14, the Nats leading the Hawks 2-1 on the season. The Hawks took the game under control immediately, setting themselves up with 3-0 lead heading into the third period.
Xavier Laurent gave the Nats a short-handed goal to steal away the shutout, but the point was soon negated by the Hawks giving the away team the 4-1 win.
A home game the following Saturday did not prove any easier for the Nats as they welcomed the Smith Falls Bears at home, the number one team in the Robinson division.
The Bears quickly showed why the sit at the top of table, setting the tone with three unanswered goals in the first period and adding a fourth in the second before the Nats were able to find the back of the net with a Jonathan Swyer’s fifth of the season. Before the end of the second, however, the Bears were able to sneak another past Hadyn Gould.
Seemingly refreshed by the intermission, the Nats popped two in thanks to Patrick Lanthier and Jordan Prepszl. The flame didn’t last long before it was doused by two Bears goals within 20 second of each other to end the game 7-3 for Smith Falls.
Unfortunately, the schedule ahead won’t give the Nats much of a break. A double header against the Robinson divisions second ranked Renfrew Wolves Friday and Saturday, Jan. 20 and 21.
Rockland continues to stick to the middle of the table, 25 points off the top. The Cornwall Colts, behind the Nats in fifth place in the Yzerman division, are knocking on the door just three points behind the Nats’ 32, threatening to push them down to the bottom of the standings.
