Rockets remember
The North Dundas Rockets organization would also like to start this week by thanking Steve Grubb for representing the Legion and dropping the ceremonial puck as part of Remembrance Day. It’s important to remember that those who served, and serve our Country in the Armed Forces are the reason we get to enjoy hockey in Chesterville on a Saturday night, as well as the other freedoms we enjoy every day. Thank you to those who serve our country to keep us safe.   Courtesy Sadler photo

Jeff Moore
Record Staff
CHESTERVILLE – The North Dundas Rockets had just a single game again this week on Saturday night.

Royals 4 Rockets 3 (OT) The North Dundas Rockets welcomed the Bytown Royals to the Chesterville Arena on Sat., Nov. 11, in the NCJHL. The Rockets suffered their third loss of the season last week against the Vankleek Hill Cougars and looked to get back on the winning side of the ledger. The Rockets sat in a two-way tie for second place while the Royals sat at the other end of the standings with no wins and nine losses.

The Royals opened the scoring at 8:25 of the first period taking a 1-0 lead. The Rockets outshot the Royals 14-7 but trailed 1-0 heading into the first intermission. The Rockets tied the game just 1:25 into the second period when Brodie Barkley blasted one home from the point from Bryden Van Kessel and Justin Lefebvre on the power play.

The Royals retook the lead at 12:48 but with under a minute showing on the clock in the middle frame the Rockets tied the game as Brad Stitt bulged the twine from Connor Roth and Barkley. It looked like the game was headed to the second intermission tied at two but the Rockets’ Landon Veenstra pounded one to the back of the net from Van Kessel with just five seconds remaining.

The Rockets took a 3-2 lead into the second intermission. The Royals tied the game again at 10:37 of the third period. With the game tied at three, the two teams battled to score the potential game winner but neither were able to do so. The game headed to a four-minute four-on-four overtime period.

With just seven seconds remaining in the first overtime, the Rockets’ Stitt was charged with a delay of game penalty resulting in a penalty shot for the Royals. The Royals’ shooter Nathan Gonyou made no mistake burying the puck in the back of the net taking the game 4-3, handing the Rockets their fourth loss of the season.

With the loss, the Rockets dropped to a third-place tie with the surging Cumberland Bandits. The Rockets outshot the Royals 48-23. Suffering the loss in the Rockets’ goal was Max Eves making 23 saves.

Up next: Sat., Nov. 18, 7:30 p.m., Rockets vs. Papineau Vikings, Chesterville Arena; Sun., Nov. 12, 7:30 p.m., Rockets vs. Eagles, St. Isidore.