by Gord Logan
Well sports fans your Kemptville 73’s have been exposed to challenging conditions due to the COVID-19 situation. Not only do they not have an opportunity to bring back their imports and recruit potential imports from the U.S.A., but they have to establish a local bubble with Nepean Raiders and Brockville Braves.
With the help of the CCHL, an inter-squad Development Scrimmage schedule was initiated during November to play a five game romp through to December. Nepean Raiders walked away with a victory of winning three games to two to close out the first schedule.
The second session would see Brockville Braves with a 7 to 2 blow-out on February 26 in Brockville. The following night the 73’s would seek revenge on their home ice, only to be denied a 4 to 3 squeaker. Kemptville would lose another tight one by 3 to 2 when they faced Brockville on their home turf on March 5. The next night, the 73’s in their barn played a strong end to end contest to force overtime and they lost yet again to the Braves.
Back in Brockville on March 12, the 73’s suffered another 4 to 3 loss to put the Braves ahead by 5 games to zip. Kemptville was still napping during their afternoon joust on March 14 as Brockville slammed them 3 to 0 to make it 6 straight loses. There was one more loss for the 73’s when they met in Brockville on Friday night with the 7th straight win for the Braves.
Kemptville opened the first when Ethan Espisito combined with Merritt and Lynch to beat Antoine Bourdeau at 9:18. Man advantage for the Braves when Troy Bowditch PPG with helpers from Casey and Godfrey at 18:58 to equal the odds.
Second session the 73’s broke the tie at 1:16 as Whyte with Jefferies to find Jeff Taylor in the soft spot to whip it home. Brockville tied it at 3:13 when Evan Boucher connected with Godfrey and Gillespie to rifle it by William Anderson. Braves went ahead at 7:18 with helpers from Boucher and Tchor onto the stick of Ryan Gillepsie to find the back of the net. Kemptville changed up their stopper at 11:00 to try and revitalize their club.
The final twenty belonged to Brockville as Colin Elliot from Donovan drove it around Riley McCabe at 6:14 for the insurance and awarded the Braves 4 to 2 win. Kemptville outshot Brockville by 39 to 24 and still suffered another loss.
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 curse has struck the comeback attempt of 73’s games as some of the roster are from Ottawa, which are back in the troubling zones. Hopefully the vaccines and applying restrictions will compliment the ability to have your team available for your watching pleasure soon.
Please stay safe and stay well.
