LAURIE WEIR
The Smiths Falls Jr. A Bears entertained the Carleton Place Canadians in Central Canada Hockey League action Friday, Feb. 21, handing the visitors a 5-2 upset in front of 322 fans.
After four previous meetings this season, the Bears now lead the series 3-2.
Following a scoreless first period, Smiths Falls opened the scoring at 4:30 of the second when Marc-Antoine Riopel found the net off a feed from Gus Rabe. Carleton Place responded at 7:05, tying the game on a power-play goal by Ryan Small, assisted by Masen Culley and Loïc Prud’homme.
The Canadians took the lead with another power-play marker when Culley beat Ethan Morrow, assisted by Small and Prud’homme.
Travis Ouellette evened things up for the Bears, capitalizing on the man advantage with help from Quinn Booth and Tyson Parker.
Cameron O’Connell scored the game-winner at 18:55 of the second period, netting a power-play goal assisted by Xavier Tessier and Parker.
In the third, Ouellette added his 18th goal of the season, assisted by Brayden Childerhose and Booth, before Peyton Veltkamp sealed the win with an empty-netter in the final minute.
Game stars were Morrow, who stopped 38 of 40 shots; Ouellette, who had two goals; and Small, who recorded a goal and an assist for Carleton Place.
Smiths Falls remains in fifth place in the standings with 51 points, two behind Cornwall and one ahead of Pembroke and Kemptville, who are tied at 50 points.
