RAPIDS ROLL PAST RIVERMEN ON COUNTRY NIGHT

Final Score: Rapids 7, Rivermen 4

It was a winning night at the Gatineau Valley Arena on Friday as the Paugan Falls Rapids earned a hard-fought 7–4 victory over the Arnprior Rivermen in front of a lively Country Night crowd. Fans packed the rink in their best boots, plaid, and cowboy hats, creating an electric atmosphere that matched the energy on the ice.

First Period

The Rapids struck first at 18:57 when Ric Shin opened the scoring on a beautiful setup from John Mahoney and Etienne Champagne. Mahoney hit Shin with a long breakout pass, sending him in on a 1-on-1. Shin gained a step on the defender and slipped a cheeky shot five-hole on Rivermen goaltender Carlen Lyle to make it 1–0.

Both teams traded chances through the remainder of the period, with shots 18–14 in favor of the Rapids. Paugan Falls carried their 1–0 lead into the first intermission.

Second Period

The middle frame saw the Rapids take control. Keon Troccoli-Roik made it 2–0 at 17:52 with a power-play goal off a slick feed from Ryan Peck and Cole Peck. The Rivermen responded at 14:03 when Adrian Moyes scored on a short breakaway following a defensive breakdown.

The Rapids roared back with a flurry of goals late in the period. At 10:36, Matt Menard buried a rebound off a rush led by Logan Beaupre and Devon Thompson to restore the two-goal cushion. Then, at 2:22, Etienne Champagne netted his first of the year after a great defensive play by Cole Peck created a turnover and transition rush. Champagne stepped around a Rivermen defender and beat Lyle low short side.

With just 1:21 remaining, Ryan Peck picked up a loose puck, skated to the slot and fired a perfect low shot post-and-in for a shorthanded goal, giving the Rapids a commanding 5–1 lead heading into the third.

Third Period

The Rivermen battled back, cutting the deficit to 5–2 at 11:27 on a goal from Andrew Cuglietta. The Rapids answered right back when Garth McLaughlin rifled a short-side snipe that popped the water bottle to make it 6–2. Arnprior’s Anthony McVeigh scored twice more to make it 6–4, but Etienne Champagne sealed the deal with an empty-netter in the final minute, his second of the night.

Game Notes

  • Player of the Game:Etienne Champagne (2 goals, 1 assist) – his best performance of the season.

  • Stars of the Game: 1st – Cole Peck (2 assists, strong defensive play), 2nd – Aidan Foley (.905 SV%, 38 saves)

  • Power Play: 1/2

  • Penalty Kill: 1/1 with a shorthanded goal

Country Night Highlights

Fans enjoyed a full country-themed experience with a playlist curated by DJ Robyn Peck, great crowd energy despite poor weather, and plenty of cowboy hats in the stands. Howard Hayes delivered a fantastic national anthem, while Abygail Gratton, Ava Telford, and Amelia Foley proudly carried the flags.

Jeremy Levesque took home the 50/50 prize of $755, Marc Savard won Chuck-a-Puck, Wayne McLaughlin claimed the CrossSmith puck, and Stephen Boese was the winner of the first intermission challenge.

It was a memorable night both on and off the ice, with the Rapids playing a complete team game and rewarding their fans with a well-deserved win on home ice.

Next up is a home and home series against the North Dundas Rockets. The Rapids are on the road in Chesterville on November 15 before returning to home ice on November 22. Go Rapids Go!