NATS LOSING STREAK EXTENDS TO FIVE
The Rockland Nationals endured yet another difficult week on the ice, falling 4-1 to the Cornwall Colts followed by a hard-faught shoot-out loss to the higherranked Carleton Place Canadians, stretching their losing streak to five games and having only won just two of their last 10 games.
Earlier in the season, the Nats would have felt confident in securing two points from the Colts at home, but a recent loss of form has put the boys in blue on the backfoot.
Having already lost in overtime to the Colts at home on Sunday, January 29, the Nats were looking for redemption Friday night, February 3, as the colts returned to the Rockland Arena.
The score was kept at 1-1 until the final period thanks to a Kellen Dostaler goal in the first, but a scoreless second would lead to frustration third for the home side. The Colts got ahead and kept widening the gap, scoring three goals in the third period and shutting out the Nats, despite having almost three times the number of shots on goal for the period.
Overall the Nats had 36 shots on target, compared to the Colts’ 19, but only converted the one finishing game with a final score of 4-1 for the visitors.
Playing the second place Canadians the following Sunday was sure to be another test for Rockland, but the Nats arrived in Carleton Place ready to play.
Exchanging goals in the first period, Carleton Place opened up the scoring in the fourth minute and the Nats’ Jordan Prepszl equalized three minutes later, but the Canadians responded before heading into the second.
Yanic Crête took advantage of a powerplay to tie the score once again, then Jonathan Swyer gave the Nats the lead. Two Carleton Place goals would put the Canadians ahead once more before the second period came to a close. Nicolas White’s 25th goal of the season, the highest scoring National, would tie up the game in the third, sending the teams into overtime.
A scoreless overtime would lead to a 2-1 shoot-out loss for the Nats, an unceremonial finish to a back-and-forth game that saw Rockland battle from behind to get themselves back in a position to earn some points.
The Nats next chance at putting another win on the schedule comes Friday, February 10 against the Pembroke Lumber Kings. Rockland have defeated the Lumber Kings in both previous games this season. On Sunday the Nats head to Nepean to take on the Raiders, having lost their last matchup 4-2.