ROCKLAND — The Smiths Falls Jr. A Bears ropped both ends of a home-and-home series to the undefeated Rockland Nationals this weekend in Central Canada Hockey League play.
After falling 5-3 at home Friday night, the Bears came up short again Saturday, Oct. 11 losing 6-4 before 575 fans at the Rockland Arena. The Nationals jumped out to a commanding 4-1 lead in the first period and never trailed.
Joshua Penney scored twice in the opening frame, including one on the power play, while Gabriel Le Houillier added a pair of goals and an assist to lead Rockland’s attack. Reid Harper and Dylan Allie also scored for the Nationals.
The Bears battled back with goals from Peyton Veltkamp, D.J. Ott, Caeden Heins and Kade Hockenhull but couldn’t close the gap. Ott earned third star honours with a goal and two assists, while Rafael Tremblay faced 43 shots in net for Smiths Falls.
Rockland went 2-for-5 on the power play; Smiths Falls was 0-for-3. The Nationals fired 43 shots to the Bears’ 35.
Eight games into the season, Tyson Parker continues to lead the CCHL in scoring with 19 points, 16 of them assists. That playmaking total underscores his strength as a setup man and key contributor to the Bears’ offence.
Despite the losses, Smiths Falls remains tied atop the Robinson Division standings with Kemptville and Brockville.
Roundup
Rockland 5, Smiths Falls 3
Oct. 10: The Rockland Nationals made the most of their chances, skating away with a 5-3 win at the Smiths Falls Memorial Centre in front of 334 fans. Rockland opened the scoring late in the first when Danel Myloserdnyy buried his first of the season. The Bears replied early in the second as Gus Rabe netted his first, assisted by Peyton Veltkamp and Travis Ouellette. Rockland retook the lead when Taylor Laframboise scored at 8:59, and Myloserdnyy added his second on the power play to make it 3-1 after two. In the third, assistant captain Joshua Penney scored on the man advantage at 6:32. Rabe notched his second midway through the frame, but Gabriel Le Houillier hit the empty net late to seal it. Caeden Heins added a last-minute goal for the Bears. Smiths Falls outshot Rockland 41-29 but went 0-for-5 on the power play, while the Nationals capitalized twice on five chances. Rockland goaltender Lincoln Molind earned first star honours with 38 saves. Rabe was named second star, and Myloserdnyy took third with two goals.
Kemptville 2, Smiths Falls 1
Oct. 8: The Bears struck first but couldn’t hold the lead as Kemptville came back for a 2-1 win at the North Grenville Municipal Centre. Peyton Veltkamp opened the scoring late in the first, assisted by Jack Paquette and Travis Ouellette. The 73’s answered in the second with goals from Will Mullins and Cooper Grant. Rylan Donovan stopped 23 of 24 shots for Kemptville; Ayo Ogini made 23 saves for Smiths Falls. Attendance: 123.
Smiths Falls 4, Kemptville 3 (OT)
Oct. 5: Andrea Blais scored 1:24 into overtime to complete a comeback win for Smiths Falls. Carter Beauchesne and Tyson Parker each scored in the second to erase a 3-1 deficit. Caeden Heins opened the scoring for the Smiths Falls Bears. Ogini made 25 saves in the win. Attendance: 147.
Smiths Falls 4, Renfrew 2
Oct. 3: D.J. Ott scored twice, including the winner, as the Bears erased a 2-1 deficit with three goals in the third. Tyson Parker added three assists, lifting his early-season totals. Attendance: 315.
Kemptville 7, Smiths Falls 5
Oct. 1: The Smiths Falls Bears traded goals all night in a 7-5 road loss. Travis Ouellette scored twice; Beauchesne, Marc-Antoine Riopel and Maxwell Richler had singles. Parker picked up three more assists. Attendance: 148.
Smiths Falls 2, Kemptville 1
Sept. 26: The Bears earned their first win of the season before 717 fans at home. Jackson Heron and William Sasseville scored, and Ogini was the first star with 23 saves.
Hawkesbury 7, Smiths Falls 6 (OT)
Sept. 20: The Bears fell 7-6 in overtime. Andrea Blais scored twice; Riopel, Heron, Beauchesne and Parker each tallied once. Attendance: 240.
Smiths Falls 9, Pembroke 2
Sept. 19: The Smiths Falls Bears opened the season with a 9-2 thrashing of Pembroke. Jackson Heron scored four times, while Tyson Parker had a six-point night (1 G, 5 A). Smiths Falls fired 60 shots to Pembroke’s 21.
Next up:
The Smiths Falls Bears will host their next three games.
Oct. 17: Nepean at Smiths Falls, 7:30 p.m., Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre
Oct. 19: Cornwall at Smiths Falls, 4 p.m., Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre
Oct. 24: Navan at Smiths Falls, 7:30 p.m., Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre
Stay tuned for more coverage of the Smiths Falls Bears.
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