Rookie winger paces IceDogs past Petes
Jonah DiSimone had a feeling something good was about to happen to him Wednesday.
The rookie forward for the Niagara IceDogs went the first nine games of his Ontario Hockey League career scoreless, but had an inkling things were about the change.
DiSimon’s premonition was spot on as his fired his first career OHL goal to lead the IceDogs to a 3-0 win over the Peterborough Petes on home ice.
“Playing in the league as a 16-year-old, you don’t expect to score in your first game,” DiSimone said. “Me and Scooby (rookie Jake Uberti), we just kept trying to play our game and we just knew things were coming, especially before this game.
“We kind of knew something was going to happen.”
DiSimone’s goal was a beauty, as he snapped home a shot to the long side past Peterborough netminder Hunter Jones.
“It felt good,” said DiSimone, who plans to give the prized souvenir puck to his parents or grandfather for their support. “I didn’t really get many of those last year so it felt good just to put that one in.”
DiSimone, who hails from Richmond Hill, was Niagara’s fourth-round pick in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection. He netted 11 goals and 26 points in 33 games at the minor midget level in Mississauga last year.
Like most rookies, he finds the jump to the OHL a big one.
“It’s tough for sure, but you just try and stay in the game,” he said. “If you’re not playing, keep the boys motivated, and when you do play, just get pucks out and try and focus on doing your job and make plays and bury when you get the chance.”
IceDogs coach Billy Burke was thrilled for the rookie.
“He doesn’t get a ton of ice time and when he is out there, he’s not in prime offensive situations,” Burke said. “He’s a great guy. He’s unbelievably positive on the bench.
“It was a great play by Uberti to get it to him and just a great release. He looked like a 20-goal scorer. It was a glimpse of the future with those two.”
The IceDogs scored the lone goal of the first period by DiSimone while also outshooting the Petes 15-8.
Play loosened up considerably in the second period with both teams having several odd-man rushes and point blank chances, but neither team was able to find the back of the net.
“It was a little too back and forth for me,” Burke said. “The defence were pushing a little too much and no forwards were covering for them and then it goes back and forth and you never know what is going to happen.
“It wasn’t exactly how we wanted it. There were opportunities to jump out a bigger lead but the guys didn’t get too frustrated.”
Stephen Dhillon made 28 saves for the shutout, including several tough saves late in the third.
The IceDogs improved to 7-4-2 while the Petes dropped their fourth straight to fall to 8-6.
Ice cubes: Mason Howard, Oliver Castleman, Christian Sbaraglia and Drew Hunter did not dress for the IceDogs . . . Zach Gallant (Red Wings), Adam Timlock, Dustin Hutton and John Parker Jones were scratched for the Petes . . . Former IceDog Chris Paquette came into the game with seven goals and 12 points in 13 games . . . Niagara’s Kirill Maksimov dropped the gloves for a brief tilt with Nick Isaacson in the second period.
Stats Pack
BPSN Star of the Game: IceDogs’ rookie Jonah DiSimone with his first OHL goal.
For the Niagara IceDogs: DiSimone (1); Ivan Lodnia (5); Bradey Johnson (4).
For the Peterborough Petes: No scoring.
Game stats: Shots on goal: By Niagara on Hunter Jones (44), by Peterborough on Stephen Dhillon (28); Power plays: Niagara 1-for-4, Peterborough 0-for-2; Penalty minutes: Niagara 11, Peterborough 15.
Attendance: 4,687
Up next: At Saginaw Saturday and Flint Sunday. Niagara’s next home game is Thursday, Nov. 1 versus Mississauga.
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