Tough Knight for IceDogs
Niagara IceDogs defenceman Elijah Roberts has played the last two games as a forward. Photo by: OHL IMAGES.
One of the oldest members of the Niagara IceDogs and is trying to learn a new trick.
Overage defenceman Elijah Roberts is now an overage centre after he was moved off the blueline last week for a game in Hamilton.
Roberts scored twice in that game as a forward and played there again Tuesday as the IceDogs dropped a 5-2 decision to the London Knights in Ontario Hockey League action in St. Catharines.
The loss was the sixth in a row for Niagara (17-27-4-1) and eighth in their last nine games.
The Knights are on a roll and have now won nine straight to improve to 33-13-1-1.
Roberts, who began the game centring Oliver Castleman and Jonah DiSimone, seems to be fitting into his new role with ease.
“It’s not too bad,” the 21-year-old Brampton native said. “In bantam, I played a little bit of centre so I was familiar with it. Just in practice if you pay attention to what the forwards are doing, it makes the transition a little easier.”
Roberts had no reservations when IceDogs coach Billy Burke approached him with the idea.
“We were short some guys and me and Burke (and I) talked a little bit and gave it a try. I ended up scoring two goals and thought I did pretty well. I decided to stick with it and I’m pretty excited.”
IceDogs assistant coach Mark Mancari, who subbed for Burke in the post-game press conference, feels Roberts has all the tools to make a successful switch to centre.
“He’s an older guy, he’s been around the league, he’s a great skater and he can read the play in all aspects,” Mancari said. “With our injury bug now, we didn’t have a lot of guys who could do that.
“Four of our D are rookies so it was something we were comfortable with. He was very open to it and willing to do it and I think he’s done a great job.”
Roberts isn’t sure how long the experiment will last.
“I’m just having some fun with it,” he said. “We’ll see. Just focusing game by game going into Owen Sound (Thursday) and after that, we’ll move forward.”
London outshot Niagara 15-5 in a scoreless first period.
The Knights finally broke the stalemate when Ottawa Senators draft pick Jonathan Gruden tipped in a pass for his 22nd of the season about seven minutes into the second. London added one more later in the period when New York Rangers prospect Hunter Skinner scored.
The teams then exchanged two goals each in the third as London took a 4-2 lead until Alec Regula concluded the scoring into an empty net with just over a minute to play.
Mancari liked a lot of what he saw.
“I thought from our last weekend, or last few games, we came back and worked really hard,” said Mancari, a native of London who played 42 NHL games with Buffalo and Vancouver. “We tried to keep things a little simple and make the little right plays and try and limit our chances against, and I thought our guys did a pretty good job.
“Obviously London has a very skilled team. In the third period, you try and create a little more offence and sometimes when that happens, you get goals against.”
Christian Sbaraglia turned in a solid effort between the pipes for Niagara facing 48 shots.
Ice cubes: Tucker Tynan, Ethan Sims, Ivan Lodnia and Cameron Peters did not dress for the IceDogs . . . Dylan Miskiw, Stuart Rolofs, Bryce Montgomery and Sahil Panwar were scratched for the Knights . . . The Knights feature eight NHL draft picks . . . The IceDogs recognized and honoured Knights athletic therapist Doug Stacey for his help the night Tynan suffered his leg injury . . . Cameron Butler and Alec Regula dropped the gloves in the first period for a scrap that saw Butler take the decision . . . The game, which was rescheduled game from Dec. 12, was the first Tuesday regular season home game in team history.
Knights 5 IceDogs 2
BPSN Star of the Game: London forward Jonathan Gruden with a goal and three assists.
Niagara IceDogs: Oliver Castleman (21); Jonah DiSimone (7).
London Knights: Gruden (22); Liam Goudy (19); Alex Regula (18); Hunter Skinner (5); Max McCue (2).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By Niagara on Brett Brochu (24), by London on Christian Sbaraglia (48); Power plays: Niagara 1-for-5, London 1-for-4; Penalty minutes: Niagara 15, London 17.
Attendance: 4,486.
Up next: Home to Owen Sound Thursday.
SUPPORT US
On the right side of our web site, as well as on the top of the stories, 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.
