GRADS SOAR TO 7-1 WIN AT ROCKLAND NATIONALS

GRADS SOAR TO 7-1 WIN AT ROCKLAND IN CCHL SEASON OPENER

ROCKLAND, ON (September 24, 2021) - 5 different Grads scored as Navan kicked off the 2021-2022 Central Canada Hockey League season on the road with a 7-1 victory over the Rockland Nationals on Friday night at CIHA Arena.

The Grads outshot the Nationals 42-35 and gained the lead and never looked back. Goaltender Ben West ('03) made 34 saves in the win.

Highlights from the Grads win are below:

The Grads opened the scoring at 8:11 of the first period, when forward Aidan Puley ('04) gathered a rebound in front of the Nationals net to make it 1-0. Danyk Drouin ('01) and Blake Hall ('03) picked up the assists.

Navan increased their lead to 2-0 early in the second period, when forward Cayden Faust ('03) created a turnover with a relentless forecheck inside the Nationals zone and buried a back-hand for his first CCHL goal in his Grads regular season debut.  The Grads power-play went to work at 6:02 of the period, when veteran forward Alec Lovisek ('01) finished off a beautiful set-up by defenders Alexandre Hogue ('01) and Joseph Ianniello ('04) to extend the lead to 3-0.  At 11:38 of the second period, veteran forward Gabriel Crete (Colgate University) scored on a rebound from Jack Cook ('03) and Justin Louette ('02) to make it 4-0 Grads. The Nationals scored their lone goal of the game at 17:19 of the 2nd period, as Mathis Ross finished off a net scramble on the power-play.

The Grads didn't let up in the 3rd period. Alec Lovisek deposited his 2nd of the game at 4:59 of the period to make it 5-1 Navan. A few minutes later, it was veteran forward Blake Butler charging up the ice to score. Newcomers Owen Parsons ('03) and Jack Cook ('03) picked up the assists.  Veteran forward Alec Lovisek ('01) completed the hat trick at 10:53 of the final frame to cement the Grads 7-1 win on Friday night.

The Grads next game is Sunday, September 26th when they host their home opener vs. Hawkesbury Hawks at Navan Memorial Centre & Arena. Live coverage is available on HockeyTV.com and puck drop is at 3:30PM.