Raiders sweep pre-season schedule

While getting good looks at a number of prospects, the Napanee Raiders found some success in four tune-up contests leading into the 2024-2025 Provincial Junior Hockey League schedule, defeating both the Trent Hills Thunder and Westport Rideaus twice.

In Baltimore, Aug. 29, the Raiders faced the renamed Campbellford franchise for the first time with just three returnees in the lineup.  After some tight back-and-forth play in the first half of the game, Napanee grabbed three unanswered goals late to win 6-3.  Sam McDonald paced the Raider attack with two goals, while Carter Hartwick, Cohen Smith, Luke Jarmin and Calen McArthur had singles.  Hartwick added two assists and a fight in an impactful start.  Denholm Blair made its debut in the Raider net.  The Brighton native turned aside 31 of 34 shots.

The next night, back at the Best and Bash Arena, the Raiders dressed a more experienced lineup with 13 junior vets in the lineup. It showed as much of the play was in the Trent Hills zone, however, Thunder goaltenders Nicolas Parade and Travis Reid stood tall in 40 and 20 minutes respectively.  The Raiders would outshoot the Thunder 59-15, but settled for a 2-0 win. The goals came off the sticks of Erik MacNiel and Trent Williams.  Logan Vale was good when he had to be, gaining the shutout.

A week later, Napanee turned to a rare inter-league back-to-back series with the Westport Rideaus of the National Capital Junior Hockey League. Both the Raiders and Rideaus were looking to provide their fans and players some variety with the close geographic match-up.

In a tight -checking game, Napanee’s shooters took over, establishing a 4-0 lead en route to a 5-1 final. After Spencer Cranley scored the lone goal of the first period, Napanee really took control with overagers Ben White and Alex Case finding the twine 34 seconds apart in the second period.  Matthew Airhart added another on a late second period power-play.  Robert Onion got the Rideaus on the board before the second stanza ended with a power-play goal of his own.  Airhart added icing on the cake with his second of the night with 2:23 left.

Blair turned aside 24 shots, including an almost-impossible leg save with the game still in reach in the second.

On Sunday, in Leeds County, the Raiders’ offence kept firing in a 6-0 triumph.  After a scoreless first period, Napanee managed four goals in the second and another two in the third.  Six different scorers made their mark as Andrew Carr, Connor Brooks, Michael Patrick, Airhart, Ethan Boutilier, and MacNeil had goals.

Napanee weathered some early penalty trouble early and killed three first-period penalties.  It would be the Rideaus’ turn to march to the box in the second as they took four minors. Brooks and Patrick both scored their goals with the extra man.

Vale was again perfect in a busier effort, turning aside 33 shots.

The Raiders will face the Thunder in their home opener Friday, Sept. 13 at 7:30 p.m. in their lone game of the first weekend.  They’ll be without Cranley and MacNiel, who will both be serving the final games of suspensions occurred in last year’s playoffs.