ROLLERCOASTER: Raiders roll to 8-4 win over Pirates

JASON PARKS
PICTON GAZETTE-EDITOR

An avalanche of opposition goals to start the third period dashed any hopes the Picton Pirates had of over coming a one goal deficit and besting the visiting Napanee Raiders Thursday night.

The Raiders, perhaps recalling a 5-2 set back at the hands of the locals two weeks ago, made sure they would leave Huff Estates Arena with two points in tow with a determined effort in the third period. Up a goal to start the frame, Ben Carter and Ben Chubbs would score in the first five minutes of the stanza to extend the Napanee lead to 6-3. Raider newcomer Andrew Carr would subsequently add his first and second Provincial Junior Hockey League goals to make it an 8-3 game in favour of the visitors.

Mackenzie Moyer stopped the bleeding with his first PJHL goal, taking the puck wide and then picking the corner behind Raiders starter Ethan Babin at the 12:57 mark.

Picton escaped the first period with a 2-1 lead.

After Ben White opened the scoring at 2:01, Aiden Treverton fired home his 20^th of the campaign exaclty 91 seconds later.

The Pirates then grabbed their first lead of the game at 5:12 when Mr. Moyer set up Zack Brooks.

In the second, the Raiders would get on a roll and three tallies less than seven minutes gave the visitors a 4-2 margin to work with.

Picton would get back into the game off a late offensive zone draw. Nick Kiby and Mr. Treverton would combine to set up Cole Lavender for a tap in tally with just four seconds left in the stanza.

Picton was in Amherstview on Sunday and another second period lull proved their undoing in a 4-1 setback.

Cole Stevenson opened the scoring in the first period and the locals took a 1-0 lead into the dressing room at intermission.

But Jets goals from Owen Bauder, Josh Kudo and Brayden Robinson over the opening 8:17 of the second helped the hosts turn a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 lead.

Picton was unable to solve Amherstview starter Marc Olivier-Robert and Andrew White would score an empty netter in the late going to make it a 4-1 final.

Prior to the game, the club relieved Jeff Diamond and Greg McMurter of coaching duties. Former Pirate Ian Brooks has taken over at the helm and will be assisted by Jamie Lane.

MATT STEVER NIGHT

The Pirates welcome the Frankford Huskies on Thurs. Feb. 8 and will have the parents of the late Matt Stever on hand for a ceremonial face off as part of Matt Stever night.

The Picton native played two seasons with the Pirates in the late 90’s and went on to work as an english teacher in Taiwan.

In 2008, Matt Stever was involved in a serious and, ultimately, fatal accident.

His parents, Roger and Mary, were supported by the PEC community and that support allowed them to be at their son’s bedside following his accident.

Following their son’s death, the Stever family created a fund which allows local families who might go through this wrenching experience to have the benefit of the support the Stevers were offered.

Correspondingly, with the leftover funds and with funds subsequently raised by the community, they have established the Matt Stever in the memory of their son which the Rotary Club of Picton administers on their behalf.

The hockey team will be collecting money and holding special draws Thursday to help bolster the Matt Stever Fund. For more information on this initiative, please visit www.mattstever.com.