The Rockets went up 5-1 after Cody Caron banked this second period goal off the far post with Andrew Radjenovic standing by in case there was a rebound. Tinkess Photo

CHESTERVILLE – The North Dundas Rockets continue to pick up speed as the season approaches the Christmas break and recently enjoyed a weekend where they defeated the Akwesasne Wild 10-1 and followed that up the next day by defeating the South Grenville Rangers 10-2. It was the fourth time in ten games in which the Rockets had scored ten goals or more.

On Sat., Dec. 13, the Rockets welcomed the Akwesasne Wild to the Chesterville arena, their first visit of the season. The Rockets wasted no time, with Kevin Dominique opening the scoring at 1:42 with Mitchell Gibson and Brock Higgs adding the assists.

The Captain, Derek Froats chipped in at the 3:20 mark with Tanner Williams and Kevin Lough assisting. This was followed at 5:19 by Gibson with Adam Barkley notching the only assist. Gibson then added his second of the game on the powerplay at 9:36 with Dominique earning the only assist.

The Wild scored their lone goal of the game at 17:50 when Greg Gibson combined with Brayden Bowen and Evan Huntley to hit the back of the net.

The second period was strangely quiet with only one goal and no penalties. Cody Caron made it 5-1 for the Rockets with Fabian Walsh assisting.

In the third period the Rockets turned it on again, scoring five unanswered goals. Gibson got the hattrick at 2:12 with Jacob Sweeney and Adam Beveridge assisting. Williams then added two goals, the first at 5:46 with Shawn Moors and Shane Bakker assisting and the second at 6:26 with Sweeney and Froats picking up the assists.

Ben Blasko made it 9-1 at 17:20 with Higgs and Dominique assisting, while Caron, with his second of the game wrapped up the scoring at 18:42 with Lough and Walsh getting the assists.

There were only 20 minutes in penalties assessed, 8 minutes (four minors) to North Dundas and 12 minutes (two minors, two double minors) to Akwesasne.

Adam Courchaine picked up the win for the Rockets, stopping 31 of 32 shots, while Jazzy Labelle stopped 2 of the 3 shots faced, before being relieved by Romain Fredric who arrived late before stopping 31 of the 40 shots he faced.

Mitchell Gibson with three goals and an assist was the first star, while Rockets goaltender Adam Courchaine was second and Greg Gibson with the Wild’s only goal was third.

On Sunday, December 14 the Rockets headed west to play the South Grenville Rangers in what would be a chippy game. As they had the day before, the Rockets scored four times in the first period. Tanner Williams opened the scoring just 34 seconds in with Eric Locke and Adam Beveridge assisting. Locke then added his own goal at 8:46 with Jacob Sweeney and Kevin Dominique assisting.

The Rockets added their third goal at 14:13 when Mitchell Gibson combined with Chris Kushneriuk and Fabian Walsh. They made it 4-0 at 14:50 when Dean Byvelds teamed up with Williams and Shane Bakker.

The Rangers came out strong in the second period, with Spencer Gallant scoring their first goal at 1:49 with Kristian Knapp assisting. They made it 4-2 at 10:48 when Zach White combined with Brandon Gilmour and Bobby Dempster.

The Rockets then once again took control, scoring three before the end of the period, the first at 13:03 by Ben Blasko with Derek Froats and Glenden Bakker assisting. They made it 6-2 at 17:49 when Brock Higgs teamed up with Sweeney, and 7-2 at 18:48 when Shawn Moors scored with Locke and Gibson assisting.

The Rockets continued the onslaught in the third, making it 8-2 just 24 seconds in when Williams scored his second of the game with Gibson and Sweeney assisting. It was shortly after that that the frustration boiled over for the Rangers, who took a total of 35 minutes in penalties in a period of a minute and ten seconds. The Rockets were assessed 16 minutes during the skirmish.

The Rockets went on to add two more goals to their total, making it 9-2 at 13:17 with Dominique scoring from Sweeney and Higgs, and 10-2 at 16:25 when Glenden Bakker teamed up with Byvelds and Walsh.

All twelve goals scored were even strength, despite the penalties. South Grenville were assessed a total of 41 minutes in penalties while North Dundas were assessed 20 minutes.

Adam Courchaine picked up his second consecutive win stopping 24 of 26 shots while Jordan Provost took the loss, stopping 52 of the 62 shots he faced.

Tanner Williams with two goals and an assist was the first star, Jordan Provost was second while Erik Locke was third.

The Rockets travel to Shawville for a 7:45 game against the Pontiacs. They return home to Chesterville on Sat., Dec. 20 for a 2:00 p.m. game against South Stormont.