(Posted 7:30 p.m., Feb. 13)
Grads net second overtime win in as many nights
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online

Back-to-back overtime wins over the Nepean Raiders and the Cornwall Colts this week has moved the Cumberland Grads comfortably into third place in the overall standings of the Central Junior Hockey League.

On Wednesday night, the Grads managed to down a red hot Raiders team that had won their last three games in a row while scoring 21 goals. Even more remarkably the Grads beat the Raiders without the services of five players who had to sit out the game for suspensions they incurred during a third period melee in a game against the Hawkesbury Hawks on Sunday.

Adam Laderoute was stellar in net for Cumberland, stopping 41 of 43 shots, while Marc-Andre Labelle continued his torrid scoring pace with a pair of goals including the overtime winner to give him 35 goals in just 46 games. He also earned an assist on the Grads' second goal scored by Daniel Sauve.

The next night in Cornwall, the Grads managed to bounce back from a poor first period in which they only managed to generate two shots on goal, and a late tying goal to win in OT. Down 4-3 in final minute, the Colts pulled their goalie in favour of an extra skater which paid off in a goal by Mike Zannella with seven seconds left in the game.

Sauve's second goal in as many nights gave the Grads their third overtime win in their last four game. Labelle once again factored into the scoring with a goal in the second period. Chris Murphy also had a pair and Brock Plouffe scored a goal in the third.

The Grads will be looking to continue their current winning streak when they face the Kemptville 73s at the Navan Memorial Arena on Sunday. The opening faceoff is at 3 p.m.

(This story was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local business partners.)

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