By: Daniel Vazzoler
After the second period was the demise of the Carleton Place Canadians on Sunday, the Canadians used a strong middle frame to get the 4-1 win over the Kemptville 73’s on Wednesday.
The offensive chances were limited in the first period with both teams having less than 10 shots on goal in the frame and neither team could solve the goaltenders. As the game carried on, both Connor Murphy and Jarrett Fiske were challenged in their respective nets.
Fiske was the first goaltender to crack, with John Copeland giving the Canadians a 1-0 lead 4:44 into the second period. With Eastan Eckert and Cade Townend away at the World Jr A Challenge, Copeland has been moved from forward to defence in order to fill in the blue-line and it paid off on Wednesday. Zach Tupker hit Copeland with a pass to the top of the circle and Copeland wristed his shot past Fiske before the goaltender reacted to make a save.
With Ryland Mosley joining Eckert and Townend at the WJAC, a spot up front opened up for Jake Code to get called up from the CCHL2 Carleton Place Jr Canadians for his fourth game of the season with the Jr A club. Code took advantage of the opportunity, getting his first career CCHL goal by capping off the forced turnover by Ben Tupker with a one-timed shot to beat Fiske.
Jesse Dick, recently called up to the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s, was in the line-up for Kemptville and he scored the lone 73’s goal. Dick made quick work of a Kemptville power play, coming in on the rush and he cut across the crease to open Murphy’s legs before he slipped the puck through for the goal.
David Poirier restored the Canadians two-goal lead in the final minute of the second period. Poirier joined the rush led by Peyton Francis and was in the right place at the right time as Francis had the puck poked off his stick. Poirier gathered the puck and dragged it into a shooting position before snapping his shot past Fiske’s blocker in the top corner.
Jackson Sterrett ended the scoring with an empty-net goal in the final minute of the third period, shortly after Murphy made a pair of saves to keep the two-goal lead intact.
The Canadians will have Thursday to prepare for a home-and-home week-end against the Pembroke Lumber Kings beginning on Friday at the Carleton Place Arena. The two teams will then do battle in Pembroke on Sunday night.
