WC sports briefs: Arnprior hockey full of WC flavour

ARNPRIOR – Both Arnprior’s Junior B and Senior A hockey teams are filled with West Carleton talent.

In Senior A hockey, the Arnprior Rivermen (formerly the West Carleton Rivermen) host their home-opener in the fourth season of the Eastern Ontario Super Hockey League (EOSHL). The EOSHL continues to grow from four teams in its inaugural season in 2019-2020, to 15 teams this season.

The Rivermen are owned by Galetta’s Adrian Moyes and feature several West Carleton players on the team and coaching staff. The Rivermen opened the EOSHL season last with a loss, and are set to play their first home game Saturday, Sept. 30 with a 4:30 p.m. puck drop.

The team takes on the North Dundas Rockets Senior Hockey Club. Saturday will be the Rockets first game of the new EOSHL season.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for youth 13 to 17 or free when accompanied by an adult. Ice cold drinks are available in the bar section with local suppliers such as Arnprior’s Cold Bear and Dunrobin Distilleries. Tickets are also available at www.arnpriorrivermen.com.

Packers off to .500 start

ARNPRIOR – The Arnprior Packers, the historic Junior B team playing in the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League (EOJHL), are off to a 1-1 start to the new season.

The Packers attract players from all over the Ottawa Valley and west Ottawa and this edition features two from West Carleton on the early season roster.

Dunrobin’s Jonathan McMillan returns to the team. The 6’2”, 215-pound left shooting defenceman was a leader on last year’s record-breaking Packers team wearing the A. This will be the volunteer firefighter’s third season with the Packers.

Carp’s Jules Facchini is also on the Packers this year and the 5’9”, 155-pound forward has two assists in two games with the team. Last year, Facchini played with the Whitewater Kings scoring nine goals and adding 20 assists in 38 games.

Unfortunately, last season ended quicker than expected for Arnprior, but a new ownership group hopes to keep the momentum of a record number of wins last year, has the team hopeful.

The Packers opened the season Sept. 23 winning 5-2 over the rival Renfrew Timberwolves at the Nick Smith Centre. The team would lose 3-2 in overtime the next night (Sept. 24) to the Ottawa Junior Canadians.

The Packers are on the road tonight (Sept. 28) in Athens to take on the Aeros before returning home to the Nick Smith Centre tomorrow (Sept. 29) night for a 7:30 p.m. puck drop against the Richmond Royals.