The Rockland Nationals secured two more points last weekend, defeating the Navan Grads after losing 3-0 to the Ottawa Junior Senators.
The Nats started off their weekend of games welcoming Ottawa to Rockland, the second time the two faced off this season (Rockland defeated the Junior Senators 2-0 in September). Largely a defensive session, both teams were held to under 30 shots on net, with Ottawa having a slight edge with 27 over Rockland’s 21. But it was the Junior Senators whose shots found the back of the net, once in the first period and two more in the second.
Unable to answer and get the puck over the goal line, Rockland was handed its fifth loss of the season (including two in overtime).
Sunday, however, was a different story for the Nats. With a total of 42 shots on net, the visitors put up three points in the first period (Anthony Hall, Kyle Leonard and Anthony Hall again) against the Navan Grads, who responded with just two of their own.
The Grads found an equalizer in the second period to tie up the game heading into the third, followed by another in the fourth minute of the third period, giving the home team the edge late into the period.
Thanks to a 19th-minute effort from Samuel Dumont, the Nats brought the team to parity, forcing the game into what would be a scoreless overtime.
In penalties, the Nats’ and the Grads both missed their first shot, but Samuel Dumont and Jaden Davis buried their efforts. The Grads missed their second shot, giving the Nats an away victory.
The Nats remain in the third place in the Yzerman Division with 16 points, one point behind the Grads and two behind division leader the Cornwall Colts.
Wednesday, October 25 (after this edition of the Vision was published), the Nats head to Kemptville to take on the 73’s for the first time this season. Kemptville sits in third position in the Robinson Division on 14 points and a 6-5-1-1 record.
Rockland then plays Nepean at home on Friday, October 27, followed by an away game against the Carleton Place Canadians on Tuesday, October 31.
