IceDogs Phil the net
Phil Tomasino collected six points Friday as the Niagara IceDogs defeated the Kingston Frontenacs. File photo: OHL IMAGES.
Phil Tomasino has big plans for the 2019/20 Ontario Hockey League season.
The 18-year-old forward had a breakout sophomore campaign that saw him net 34 goals and be selected in the first round of the National Hockey League draft by the Nashville Predators.
So what does the speedy playmaker do for an encore?
IceDogs coach Billy Burke has some thoughts on the subject.
“I think 50 goals and 100 points are extremely in reach,” Burke said, after watching Tomasino collected three goals and three assists in an 8-4 win over the Kingston Frontenacs in Ontario Hockey League action Friday in St. Catharines. “He’s a dominant player and a first-round pick for a reason. He has electric speed and game-breaking abilities and is a big part of our PK and power play.”
Tomasino was all that and them some Friday as he netted two goals and four points in the first period alone. He added two more points later in the game and now has five goals and 15 points in seven games this season.
“I think like I said at the beginning of the year, being one of the older guys on the team, I want to do everything I can to help the young guys in terms of little things on and off the ice,” he said. “For myself, obviously I want to win. That’s my goal. We want to win every game we are a part of and prove a lot of people wrong.”
Tomasino has so far thrived with the additional responsibilities.
“I think it’s good for me for Burky (Burke) to count on me like that but I think that goes for a lot of the guys,” he said. “I think a lot of the guys are capable of being put into that situation.”
The IceDogs jumped out to a commanding 5-1 lead after 20 minutes. Niagara was outshot 19-11 in the opening period but managed to pump five goals past Kingston netminders Brendan Bonello and Ryan Dugas.
Each team then added two goals in the second and one more each in the third.
It was a good bounce-back win for Niagara after a tough loss to Saginaw Thursday at home.
“Obviously, Saginaw is a pretty good team and I think it was a good test for us,” Tomasino said. “We were on a little bit of a losing streak so this was kind of a must-win game for us and we got the job done.
“I’m proud of our group today.”
Ice cubes: Christian Sbaraglia (suspended, game 4 of 5), Mason Howard (concussion protocol), Anthony Agostinelli and AJ Cook did not dress for the IceDogs . . . Braden Hache, Emmett Gordon and Maddox Callens were scratched for the Frontenacs . . . Niagara lost forward Jackson Doherty with a game misconduct for a check to the head early in the first period . . . Former IceDogs Ian Martin (0-1) and Billy Constantinou (0-1) skated for the Fronts.
IceDogs 8 Frontenacs 4
BPSN Star of the Game: IceDogs forward Phil Tomasino with three goals and three assists.
Niagara IceDogs: Tomasino 3 (3, 4, 5); Kyen Sopa 3 (5 ,6, 7); Oliver Castleman (5); Lucas Theriault (1).
Kingston Frontenacs: Shane Wright (2); Nick Wong (2); Jacob Brahaney (1); Vitali Pinchuk (1).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By Niagara on Brendan Bonello/Ryan Dugas (35), by Kingston on Tucker Tynan (42); Power plays: Niagara 4-for-7, Kingston 2-for-5; Penalty minutes: Niagara 19, Kingston 20.
Attendance: 4,714.
Up next: At Kingston Friday, Oct.11. Home to North Bay Saturday, Oct. 12.
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