LAURIE WEIR
The North Dundas Rockets brought the fireworks and hoisted the hardware Sunday night after a nail-biter at the Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre, edging the Rideaus 7–6 on April 6 to clinch the 2025 EOSHL Championship, four games to one.
They played in front of a large crowd of 1,350 fans.
It was a rollercoaster finish to a hard-fought series, with the Rockets exploding for three unanswered goals in the second period to break open a 2–2 tie and fend off a late Rideaus comeback.
And in the middle of the mayhem? Michael Mcnamee, who turned in a six-point performance that would make even Wayne Gretzky raise an eyebrow — two goals, four assists, and the well-earned first star of the game.
The Rideaus struck first with Spenser Cobbold finding the net in the opening frame, but the lead didn’t last. Mcnamee, Derek Froats and the rest of the Rockets answered in kind. A first-period flurry ended 2–2 after a power-play goal by Andrew Sprague gave Smiths Falls some early hope.
Then came the second-period onslaught.
North Dundas dominated the middle frame, outshooting the Rideaus 14–5 and potting three goals courtesy of Fabian Walsh (twice) and Chris Kushneriuk. Suddenly, it was 5–2 for the Rockets — and the Rideaus were reeling.
Mcnamee struck again early in the third to extend the lead to 6–2, seemingly putting the game — and the championship — out of reach.
But someone forgot to tell the Rideaus.
Down by four with under 15 minutes to play, Smiths Falls mounted a furious comeback. Goals from Tate Leeson, Theo Todd (twice), and David Bennett — the last on a power-play with the goalie pulled — brought the home crowd of 1,350 to its feet, clawing the game back to 7–6 with just over a minute remaining.
Smiths Falls called a timeout at 1:35, and with the net empty again, pushed for the equalizer — but time ran out.
Smiths Falls’ Theo Todd was named second star with two goals, while Rockets forward Fabian Walsh earned third-star honours with a pair of goals and an assist.
In total, Mcnamee figured in on six of the Rockets’ seven goals — a postseason performance for the ages.
With the win, the North Dundas Rockets claim the Eastern Ontario Super Hockey League title, marking a fitting end to a wild ride through the playoffs. The final shot tally: Rockets 32, Rideaus 24.
