The Rockets’ forward, Conner Roth was stymied by the Cougars’ defence in this game, yet in their game the previous night against the Gatineau Hull-Volant Roth scored the game winning goal in overtime and set up four others as the Rockets took the game 6-5 in overtime. The Rockets suffered a 3-2 loss to the Cougars. Moore photo

Jeff Moore

Record Staff

VANKLEEK HILL—The North Dundas Rockets played two road games this past weekend as they travelled to Gatineau on Friday night to take on the Gatineau Hull-Volant, and to Vankleek Hill on Saturday night to take on the Cougars.

Cougars 3 Rockets 2

The North Dundas Rockets travelled to the Vankleek Hill Arena on Sat., Jan. 12, to take on the Cougars in the NCJHL. The Rockets were coming off a 6-5 overtime win over the Gatineau Hull-Volant in their previous game as they moved to within three points of the first place South Grenville Rangers. The teams battled to a scoreless first period. 

The Cougars opened the scoring just 1:58 of the second period. The Rockets tied the game when Hugo Lusignan fired one to the back of the net from Brody Barkley and Zach Parent at 15:10. With time winding down in the middle frame, the Cougars retook the lead with only 1:03 remaining. The Cougars took a 2-1 lead into the second intermission. 

The Cougars took a two-goal lead at 2:18 of the third period but the Rockets answered right back at 3:23 as Justin Lefebvre snapped one to the back of the net from Jack Van Kessel and Matt Cowley. With just over a minute remaining in regulation, the Rockets pulled their goalie in favour of an extra attacker. 

The Rockets got a couple of chances to tie the game but time expired before they could find the back of the net as the Cougars took the game 3-2. Coupled with the Rangers’ win over the Morrisburg Lions, the Rockets fell to five points behind the Rangers in first. Suffering the loss in the Rockets’ goal was Reilly Tondreau.

The North Dundas Rockets added some depth to their defence acquiring defensemen, Tyler Ballantyne from the Casselman Vikings at the league’s trade deadline on Jan. 9. Ballantyne played both games this past weekend and helped bolster the Rockets’ defensive core. Moore photo

Rockets 6 Volant 5 (OT)

The North Dundas Rockets travelled to the Robert Guertin Arena in Gatineau on Fri., Jan. 11, to take on the Gatineau Hull-Volant in the NCJHL. The Rockets sat in second place in the West Division five points behind the first place South Grenville Rangers and looked to remain undefeated in the new year. 

The Volant opened the scoring just 2:48 into the first period taking a 1-0 lead. The Rockets knotted the affair when Jarrett Williams swatted one home from Dylan Robinson and Connor Roth at 3:38 but the Volant retook the lead at 4:26. 

The Volant took a two-goal lead at 7:16 and took a 3-1 lead into the first intermission. 

The Rockets got to within one at 9:25 as Brody Barkley snapped one to the back of the net from Justin Lefebvre and Roth. 

The Volant took a 3-2 lead into the second intermission. The Rockets tied the game at 2:38 as Zach Parent scored his first goal as a Rocket from Roth but the Volant retook the lead at 3:22 of the third period. 

The Volant took a two-goal lead at the nine-minute mark but the Rockets got back to within one as Matt Cowley pounded one home from Lefebvre and Roth at 11:22. The Rockets tied the game at 16:09 when Williams scored his second of the game from Lefebvre. 

Neither team was able to score the game-winner before time expired so the game headed to a five-minute three on three overtime frame. The Rockets’ goalie, Reilly Tondreau spotted a wide open Roth and he fired one to Roth on the other side of centre ice sending him on a breakaway. 

Roth made no mistake slamming the puck to the back of the net at 1:39 of the extra frame. With the win, combined with the Rangers’ loss, the Rockets moved to within three points of first place. Picking up the win in the Rockets’ goal was Tondreau.

Up next

The North Dundas Rockets travel to the Bernard Grandmâitre Aréna in Ottawa on Fri., Jan. 18, to take on the Bytown Royals at 8:15 p.m. and welcome the Morrisburg Lions to the Chesterville Arena on Sat., Jan. 19, at 7:30 p.m.