Puck Drop cutline: Timberwolves Captain Jack Rouleau and Kings Captain Michael Karas prepare to take the puck from Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MPP John Yakabuski. Also on hand for the drop were, from left, Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MP Cheryl Gallant, MP Yakabuski, Whitewater Region Mayor Hal Johnson, Whitewater Region Councillor Chris Olmstead, CCHL Commissioner Kevin Abrams and Kings owner Dale McTavish.
by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
WHITEWATER REGION (Cobden) — The Whitewater Kings are in third place with four points as of Wednesday, Sept. 20 in the Richardson Division of the CCHL2. There are eight teams in the division.
In past week’s games, the Carleton Place Jr Canadians doubled up the Whitewater Kings 4-2 Tuesday night in Carleton Place, while the Kings edged the Renfrew Timberwolves 2-1 in overtime in an exciting home opener at the Astrolabe Arena Saturday night.
In Tuesday night’s game, the first period ended 1-1. The Jr. Canadians were on the scoreboard first with Reece Bolton twanging the twine with assists by Cameron Patton and Ryland Mosley. Scoring for the Kings was Hunter Halliday, assists by Lawson Leclaire and Keifer Levasseur.
There was no scoring in the second period, but the third period was busy.
Canadian Oliver Carrier, assists from Aiden Parnell and Carter Holmes, made it 2-1 just four minutes into the period. Seven minutes later, the Kings tied the game again, with Gage Tremblay hitting the net with assist from Peter White. But, 20 seconds later, Canadians Josh Mills scored, with assists from Reece Bolton and Ryland Mosley. With just 37 seconds left in the game, the Canadians twanged the twine for the final time, this time Patton with assists from Bolton and Mosley.
Each team had two powerplays, but there was no scoring.
Penalties were kept to a minimum with each team sitting out four minutes under four infractions. Tremblay and Jonathan Ready each sat out four minutes in the second period for the Kings while for the Canadians it was Martin Templeton in the first and Brayden Campeau in the third, each for two minutes.
Kevin Proulx was in net for the Kings, stopping 41 of 45 shots on net while Canadians goalie Jacob Lavergne stopped 13 of 15.
Home Opener
The Whitewater Kings home opener was a great game for the fans, with an overtime win for the home team.
Prior to the opening period, there was the official drop of the puck by dignitaries, including Whitewater Region Mayor Hal Johnson, Whitewater Councillor Chris Olmstead (who was instrumental in bringing the team to the Astrolabe Arena in Cobden), Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke’s top two politicians, MP Cheryl Gallant and MPP John Yakabuski and of course the team owner, Dale McTavish.
MPP Yakabuski dropped the puck to team captains, Kings Michael Karas and Timberwolves Jack Rouleau.
With fans packing the stands, along with many standing along the boards, in the canteen area and in the upstairs hall, the two teams played a great game of full-ice hockey.
When the game ended, the Whitewater Kings’ fans erupted into much applause and shouting, as they won 2-1 in overtime.
There was no scoring until the second period, when Timberwolves Evan Gillan scored just over three minutes into the period. Assists went to Jack Rouleau and Brandon Hanniman.
With three minutes left in the third period, Kings Lawson Leclaire, with assists by Reid Barber and Quinn Vanhoof, tied the game at 1-1 sending the game into overtime.
It was the Kings Gage Tremblay, with assists from Peter White and Michael Hubers, who scored the winning goal at 3:05 in overtime.
Darian McTavish stopped 28 of 29 shots on goal for the Kings while Bennett Oxborough was successful 33 out of 35 times.
Both teams were not successful scoring in the powerplays, with the Kings having 10 and the Timberwolves getting eight.
The Kings sat in the penalty box 24 minutes on 12 infractions while it was 38 minutes on 15 infractions for the Timberwolves. In the box for the Kings were Hunter Halliday, Nicholas Olmstead, Jonathan Ready, Michael Karas, Jared Campitelli, Michael Hubers, Lawson Leclaire, and Gage Tremblay. Timberwolves penalties were by Evan Gillan, Connor Fulton, Jake McGrimmon, Braden Zvonarich, Zach Moran, Luka Marinic, Nych Paquette and Ben Scheuneman.
Next Games
The Whitewater Kings play twice this weekend. They are at home in the Astrolabe Arena Saturday night, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. against the Char-Lan Rebels and then travel to Embrun for a 1:30 p.m. Sunday game against the Embrun Panthers.
