IceDogs fall to Battalion
New IceDogs forward Cameron Peters. Photo by: ALEX LUPUL PHOTOGRAPHY
Cameron Peters has no problem with his latest change of address.
The Niagara IceDogs picked up the 17-year-old centre from the North Bay Battalion just before the trade deadline, and the Toronto native was more than happy with the deal.
Peters faced his old team for the first time Saturday and turned in a solid effort as the IceDogs dropped a 3-1 decision at home before a sell-out crowd of 5,300.
“It was a tough battle,” said Peters, who had five shots on goals and won 12 of 16 face-offs. “It happened so quick that we got to face them, but we didn’t get the outcome we wanted.”
Peters, who had two goals and six points in 36 games for the Battalion, admitted it was a bit strange to battle against players he has gone to war with for the last two seasons.
“It’s different but I think the change is good,” he said. “I’m really happy where I am right now.
“Billy (head coach Billy Burke) gave me that call and I was thrilled.”
Peters, who was selected by North Bay in the second round of the 2018 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection, feels the change of scenery may do him some good.
“For sure. Coming here, I feel a lot more comfortable and I think I should get back to the game I played in minor midget. That’s why I got drafted so highly,” he said.
The IceDogs have given Peters plenty of ice time since the deal.
“Playing for North Bay, I didn’t get the ice time I wanted but then I came here and the opportunity is there,” he said. “It’s a lot easier getting into the game when you get a bunch of minutes. Your heartbeat is up and you just get going.”
Burke said the plan is to give Peters every opportunity to regain his form.
“Both (Cameron) Butler and Peters are guys Joey (general manager Joey Burke) went after to specifically bring in,” Billy Burke said. “We didn’t think Peters was being used well up there. He’s got big speed and he’s a big guy and he’s a great teammate.
“It’s an adjustment period. These guys go from playing no minutes to being out there on the PP and PK and playing a big role. It takes some time and it’s a learning curve, but (we’re) thrilled with Peters.”
The last time the teams met, the IceDogs prevailed 9-8 Jan. 2 in a wild game that ended when Mason Howard scored his third of the night in overtime.
This time, the teams stuck to defence and played through two scoreless periods until Luca Mondcada scored at the 13:40 mark of the third to put the Battalion up 1-0. Mondcada then made it 2-0 with an empty net goal with just over a minute to play before Anthony Agostinelli scored for the IceDogs with 43 seconds to play. Mondcada then completed the hat trick with another goal into the empty net.
The Battalion came into the game with six straight losses, including two in overtime, and in last place overall in the league.
“I thought in the first we were jumping and we were playing well,” Burke said. “It’s too bad. The effort was there but we couldn’t find the net when we needed to.
“Obviously, (it’s) very frustrating. It was a game we all wanted to win and thought we should have won, but in terms of where we’re trying to go, there are certainly some positives.”
IceDogs captain Ivan Lodnia was injured in the first period when he was kneed by North Bay’s Mitchell Russell, who was given a major penalty and ejected. Lodnia had to be helped off the ice. He returned in the second period for one period before shutting it down for the night. He is listed as week-to-week.
Ice cubes: Tucker Tynan, A.J. Cook, Ryan Campbell and Jake Uberti did not dress for the IceDogs . . . Ryan Thompson, Josh Currie and Nick Grima were scratched for the Battalion . . . Niagara’s Jackson Doherty and North Bay’s Liam Arnsby dropped the gloves for a brief, but intense tussle late in the second. Jackson was given a 10-minute misconduct in addition to a fighting major.
STATS PACK
Battalion 3 IceDogs 1
BPSN Star of the Game: Luca Mondcada with three goals.
Niagara IceDogs: Anthony Agostinelli (3).
North Bay Battalion: Mondcada 3 (22, 23, 24).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By Niagara on Joe Vrbetic (29), by North Bay on Andrew MacLean (31); Power plays: Niagara 0-for-4, North Bay 0-for-2; Penalty minutes: Niagara 15, North Bay 18.
Attendance: 5,300 (sell out).
Up next: At Peterborough Sunday. Home to Mississauga Thursday.
SUPPORT US
On the right side of our web site, you will notice a yellow SUPPORT US button.
We are asking anyone who finds value in our work and is able to financially help us to click on the button and contribute whatever amount you feel is appropriate and can afford. There is no set amount. Any amount is appreciated.
The funds collected will be used to enhance and offset the expenses of running the web site.
