Ottawa, ON – The Ottawa Jr. Senators (35-5-4) were able to put last week’s woes behind them, picking up three huge wins by taking down Renfrew on Wednesday, Kemptville on Saturday, and wrapped up the week with a road win Sunday in Pembroke.
Wednesday – Ottawa 1, Renfrew 0
With a playoff-like feel, Wednesday night’s home win over the Renfrew Wolves was the answer for a team desperate to find their winning way again. After a scoreless first period, OJS looked to their last line of defence in William Desmarais, who made seven huge stops in the opening 20.
The lone goal sparked the OJS attack as Julian Reicine managed to keep the puck in the offensive zone, setting up Thomas Freel, who made a no-look feed in front to Simon Isabelle to bury his 19th of the season.
In the third, OJS relied heavily on solid defensive play and a boost from their penalty kill, not allowing the Wolves to capitalize on three-third period chances with the extra man.
William Desmarais made 22 stops for his third shutout of the season, while Wolves starter Will Craig turned aside 31.
The Jr. Senators went 0-for-4 on the man advantage while the Wolves went 0-for-6.
Saturday – Ottawa 5, Kemptville 3
OJS took to the ice for its “home” game Saturday at the Walkley pad at the JDRC and managed to escape with a narrow 5-3 victory over the red hot Kemptville 73’s.
Sam Edwards provided the only goal in the opening period, capitalizing on the powerplay. On the flip side, Edwards was a key contributor to killing off three penalties that OJS took in the first.
Thomas Freel made it a two-goal game before OJS found themselves on their third-five minute powerplay in a week. Brock Krulicki’s goal shorthanded haulted the Jr. Senators’ momentum on that ensuing man advantage.
On his 17th birthday, Xavier Guillemette found the score sheet as he set up Philippe Jacques, who then fed Vincent Velocci for his 13th of the year.
Bodie Nobes and Philippe Jacques added goals for OJS in the third, while Lane Morency and Brock Krulicki found the back of the net for the 73’s in a wild final period of play.
The win for OJS did come at a cost as Isaac Landry and Collin MacKenzie went down with an injury in the final frame.
Collin MacKenzie made 24 stops in a bounce-back victory, while 73’s starter Connor Blackwood turned aside 37.
The Jr. Senators went 1-for-6 on the man advantage while the 73’s went 1-for-7.
Sunday – Ottawa 4, Pembroke 1
The Jr. Senators rode the momentum from Saturday’s win into their dominating victory in Pembroke on Sunday, adding a pair in both the second and third for their 35th win of the season.
After a scoreless first, Vincent Velocci opened the scoring just over two and a half minutes into the second, beating Nicholas Heinzele blocker side for the ice breaker.
Earlier in the week, the coaching staff elected to go back to the original powerplay units, which paid off with Thomas Freel redirecting home his 27th of the year. With the goal, the OJS captain has now eclipsed a new career-high in goals.
In the third, Freel and Jacques capitalized for the Jr. Senators, while Jack Stockfish spoiled the shutout bid for William Desmarais with a powerplay marker.
Desmarais stopped 32 in the OJS net for the win, while his counterpart Nicholas Heinzele made 32 saves.
The Jr. Senators went 2-for-4 on the man advantage while the Lumber Kings went 1-for-4.
The Ottawa Jr. Senators return to the ice this afternoon at 2:30 for the Heron Gate Community Game to face the Cornwall Colts. Catch all the action with Davide Disipio on the Jr. Senators Broadcast Network at Mixlr.com/OJSradio and on Hockey TV.
