SMITHS FALLS — The Smiths Falls Bears faced a challenging week, starting with a 3–2 loss to the Cornwall Colts on the road Thursday, followed by another narrow 3–2 defeat on home ice Friday night against the Ottawa Junior Senators. The Friday matchup could have gone either way, ending in a shootout to decide the outcome.
It quickly became clear to spectators that both teams were evenly matched. Ottawa’s Hunter Robitaille opened the scoring early, finding the back of the net at 2:40 in the first period. The Bears responded with a shorthanded goal from Peyton Veltkamp, assisted by Gus Rabe, at 13:48 to tie the game.
Neither team managed to score in the second period.
In the third, the Junior Senators regained the lead with a goal by Henry Brady at 10:09. Refusing to back down, the Bears tied it once again when Carter Beauchesne scored unassisted at 18:11, sending the game into overtime.
After a scoreless extra frame, the game was decided in a shootout. Ottawa’s Wynston Iserhoff and Deklyn Campbell both scored against Bears goaltender Ayo Ogini, while only Jacob Smith managed to get one past Ottawa’s Josh Scully. Attempts by Marc-Antoine Riopel and Tyson Parker were stopped.
Ottawa claimed the 3–2 win, outshooting the Bears 39–29.
The three stars of the game were Wynston Iserhoff (OTT), Peyton Veltkamp (SF), and Hunter Robitaille (OTT).
Sunday night’s game at Pembroke marked a turnaround for the Bears. Gus Rabe and Sam Glover scored in the first period, followed by three more goals in the second from D.J. Ott, Carter Beauchesne, and Tyson Parker. Marc-Antoine Riopel added a final goal in the third period to secure a 6–2 victory over the Pembroke Lumber Kings.
The Bears’ standings remain largely unchanged, sitting second in the Robinson Division with 20 points and sixth overall in the league.
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