The North Dundas Rockets scored a big acquisition this fall when they signed former Embrun Panther Connor Roth (17). Roth has only played in four games with the Rockets, scoring three goals and picking up nine assists, including four in this game against the Clarence Castors at the Chesterville Arena on Sat., Oct. 28. The Rockets went on to take the game 6-3.      Sawyer Helmer photo

Jeff Moore
Record Staff
CHESTERVILLE – The North Dundas Rockets had two games this past weekend, in Gatineau on Friday and then at home on Saturday.

Rockets 6 Castors 3: The Rockets welcomed the Clarence Castors to the Chesterville Arena on Sat., Oct. 28, in the NCJHL. The Rockets moved into a first-place tie with the Papineau Vikings after beating the Gatineau Hull-Volant the previous night while the Castors sat in a fifth-place tie with eight points but have only played six games.

The Castors opened the scoring at the 10-minute mark of the first period to take a 1-0 lead. The Rockets tied the game when Landon Veenstra snapped one to the back of the net unassisted. The teams took a one-all draw into the first intermission.

The Rockets took their first lead of the game when Bryden Van Kessel fired one home from Connor Roth and Brad Stitt on the power play at 3:46 of the second period. The Rockets outshot the Castors in the second period 12-9 but neither team was able to find the back of the net as the Rockets took a 2-1 lead into the second intermission.

The Rockets made it a 3-1 game when Van Kessel scored his second of the game from Roth while killing off a penalty just 1:36 into the third period. The Castors got to within one at 3:04 but the Rockets regained their two-goal lead when Stitt blasted one from Justin Lefebvre and Chris Marchant at 11:16.

The Rockets made it 5-2 when Van Kessel completed his hat trick at 12:36 from Roth and Shawn Simms. The Castors added a late one with just 1:31 remaining in regulation but the Rockets had an answer for that as Veenstra scored his second of the game at 1:05 from Roth and Simms.

The Rockets hung on for the 6-3 victory temporarily moving into sole possession of first place. Picking up the win in the Rockets’ goal was Jason Buma.

Rockets 6 Volant 5: The Rockets travelled to the Robert Guertin Arena in Gatineau to take on the Gatinau Hull-Volant on Fri., Oct. 27, in the NCJHL. The Rockets went into the game tied for second place with Volant, just two points behind the Papineau Vikings, so this was a four-pointer for both teams.

The Volant opened the scoring at 14:13 of the first period to take a 1-0 lead on the power play. The Rockets were unable to answer before the first intermission. The Volant made it 2-0 on the power play at 6:03 of the second period and took a 3-0 lead at 12:27 at even strength.

The Volant scored their third power-play goal of the game at 16:31 to take a 4-0 lead. The Rockets finally got on the scoreboard with 2:26 remaining in the second as McKay Balaton batted one home from Jack Van Kessel and Bryden Van Kessel but trailed 4-1 heading into the second intermission.

The Rockets got to within two when Justin Lefebvre scored a power-play goal just 1:51 into the third period from Landon Veenstra. The Rockets made it a 4-3 game at 2:55 when Chris Marchand scored an unassisted goal on the power play and tied the game at 4:06 as Brodie Barkley blasted one to the back of the net from Lefebvre and Bryden Van Kessel on the power play.

The Volant retook the lead at 6:08 but the Rockets knotted the affair at 14:43 as Bryden Van Kessel scored on their fourth straight power play from Connor Roth. The Rockets took their first lead of the game at 15:29 as Marchand scored his second of the game from Dylan Nixon.

The Volant pulled their goalie in favour of an extra attacker with around a minute remaining in regulation but the Rockets’ defence held as they took the game 6-5 moving into a first-place tie with the Papineau Vikings. Picking up the win in the Rockets’ goal was Jason Buma.

Up next: Sat., Nov. 4, 7:30 p.m., Rockets vs. Vankleek Hill Cougars, Chesterville Arena.