The Casselman Vikings welcomed the Ottawa Canadians to the J. R. Brisson Complex on Thurs., Dec. 14, for a first-place showdown in the CCHL2. The Vikings’ Captain Sebastien Plante (12) led the way with a goal and two helpers as they downed the Canadians 8-2 taking sole possession of first place in the Martin Division. Plante leads the CCHL2 in scoring with 25 goals and 30 assists for 55 points and was named CCM player of the month for November.     Courtesy Lauwers photo

Jeff Moore
Villager Staff
CASSELMAN – The Casselman Vikings played two home games this past weekend.

Vikings 4 Rideaus 3: The Vikings welcomed the Westport Rideaus to the J. R. Brisson Complex on Sun., Dec. 17, in the CCHL2. The Vikings went into the game in a first-place tie with the Ottawa Canadians but held a game in hand. The Rideaus were tied with the Athens Aeros for second place in the Richardson Division but the Aeros held a game in hand. Both teams trailed the Carleton Place Canadians in first place by eight points.

The Vikings opened the scoring when Olivier Brunet snapped one home at 4:59 of the first period from Ryan Sabourin and Ethan Wensink to take a 1-0 lead. The Vikings pounded 18 shots on goal in the first but were only able to get the one to the back of the net and took the 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

The Rideaus tied the game at 7:07 of the second period but the Vikings replied with a goal by Sebastien Plante at 11:27 from Brendan Doherty and Joel Hunt. The Rideaus tied the game again with 2:34 remaining in the middle frame short-handed.

The teams took a two-all draw into the second intermission. The Vikings retook the lead when Sabourin slid one home from Brunet and Gabriel Rousselle at 10:11 of the third period to make it 3-2.

The Vikings made it 4-2 when Sabourin netted his second of the game from Wensink and Brunet on the power play. The Rideaus added a late goal at 18:16 but it was too little too late as the Vikings took the game 4-3 moving into sole possession of first place. Picking up the win in the Vikings’ goal was Zachary Paputsakis making 24 saves on 27 shots.

Vikings 8 Canadians 2: The Vikings welcomed the Ottawa Canadians to the J. R. Brisson Complex on Thurs., Dec. 14, in the CCHL2. This was a very important game for the two teams as they both sat tied for first at the top of the Martin Division with identical 22-6 records so the winner would steal sole possession of first.

The Vikings opened the scoring when Danik Drouin smacked a one-timer from Isaac Lavallee and Francois Drouin at 6:59 of the first period to take a 1-0 lead. The Vikings made it 2-0 when Ryan Sabourin slapped one to the back of the net from Ethan Wensink and Carter Malette at 7:58 and 3-0 when Carter lit the lamp on a power play at 13:03 from Wensink and Brady Cloutier.

The Canadians got on the board at 17:35 but the Vikings fought to get that one back before the period ended as Jonathan Yaremko cashed one from Danik Drouin and Francois Drouin with just 1:50 remaining. The Vikings took the 4-1 lead into the first intermission.

The Vikings owned the second period despite being shorthanded for most of it. Brendan Doherty scored a short-handed goal to start the period at the four-minute mark from Sebastien Plante to give the Vikings a 5-1 lead.

The Vikings made it 6-1 just 49 seconds later when Joel Hunt snapped one home from Francois Drouin and Sebastien Plante. The Vikings found themselves on a power play and they took advantage as Plante pounded one home from the blue line at 10:22 from Doherty and Sabourin. The Vikings took a commanding 7-1 lead into the second intermission.

The Canadians got to within five just 2:32 into the third period but the Vikings had an answer for that as well when Wensink sniped one from Carter and Sabourin at 5:25 to make it 8-2. The Vikings’ defence held and they took the game 8-2 taking over sole possession of first place in the Martin Division after two months of coming close.

Picking up the win in the Vikings’ goal was Nick Campbell making 23 saves on 25 shots. The Vikings outshot the Canadians 42-25.

Up next: Thurs., Dec. 21, 8 p.m., Vikings vs. Perth Blue Wings, J. R. Brisson Complex, Casselman.