IceDogs waste strong start
Juan Copeland has gone from limited duty to the first line in only a few months.
The 16-year-old rookie winger for the Niagara IceDogs was a healthy scratch on a couple of occasions earlier this year as he got acclimatized to the Ontario Hockey League and also dealt with a concussion which kept him out of action.
But Copeland slowly worked his way up the lineup and recently has been one of their better forwards, taking advantage of some extra ice time due to a myriad of injuries.
Copeland potted two goals Friday but his production was overshadowed by a frustrating 6-3 loss to the Peterborough Petes at Meridian Centre.
“It’s definitely a special feeling because I was getting a point here and there and now that they’re giving me more of an opportunity and they’re trusting me more, and I’m putting up more points,” said Copeland, Niagara’s second round (22nd overall) selection in the 2021 OHL draft. “It not only helps me but the team. It’s not just a one-man show. It’s all around the board and we can go through and support each other, from the young guys to the old guys.”
The IceDogs were without Cameron Peters, Pano Fimis, Declan Waddick and leading scorer Daniel Gushchin, all out with injuries. Liam VanLoon is serving the ninth game of a 10-game suspension and is eligible to return March 9.
With so many holes in the lineup to fill IceDogs coach Billy Burke started Copeland on the wing with Daniel Michaud at centre and Brenden Sirizzotti on the other side.
“He’s been throw into the fire here, elevated with major minutes and he responds every night,” Burke said. “He’s very impressive.
“It’s great to see him for the future. He’s showing the real makings of an impact player in this league.”
Burke also appreciates the way Copeland goes about his business.
“He’s an old-school hockey player,” Burke said. “He loves everything about it. It’s great to see him get rewarded. He’s a great guy with great skill.”
Copeland scored twice in the first period as Niagara jumped out to a quick lead, netting three goals before the game was four minutes old. They held a 3-1 lead after one period but the Petes responded with four goals in the middle frame — one early and two in the final minute of the period — to take a 5-3 lead after 40 minutes.
“It definitely stings,” Burke said. “Great start wasted. It’s big energy, doing it the right way and getting rewarded for it, and then softness in the second period and standing around and watching.
“It’s a lesson learned in this league. You have to play 60 minutes, especially when you are down bodies and you don’t have the guns. You have to stick together.”
The IceDogs rebounded in the third and threw a lot of pucks on goal but couldn’t beat Peterborough netminder Michael Simpson.
“Give the guys a ton of credit for their character to come back in the third there and have a little bit of a pushback,” Burke said. “Unfortunately mental mistakes and soft mistakes ended up costing us.”
The loss was the fourth in a row for the IceDogs and fifth in their last six games. They trail the Petes and Sudbury Wolves by 12 points for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They have 20 games remaining.
“We’re for sure looking at it (playoffs),” Burke said. “Until we’re mathematically eliminated, we’re going to chase it. We did ourselves no favour this weekend. There’s no way to sugar coat it, obviously we’re looking at a massive mountain. We’re hoping we can get healthy and get our lineup on the ice and have a strong finish and see what happens.”
Ice cubes: Boe Piroski and Tanner Ryan were scratched for the IceDogs . . . Piroski turned 18 Friday . . . Liam Sztusko, Stevie Leskovar, Quinton Page, Konnor Smith, Zack Lewis, Cole Patey, Jade Reyers and Jonathan Melee did not dress for the Petes . . . The game was the first at Meridian Centre with full capacity permitted since Dec. 11 . . . Lucas Littlejohn and Sammy Douglas-Najem, both normally defencemen, were once again used at forward.
STATS PACK
Petes 6 IceDogs 3
Niagara’s Juan Copeland and Peterborough’s Tucker Robertson.
Niagara IceDogs: Juan Copeland 2 (7,8); Daniel Michaud (11).
Peterborough Petes: Tucker Robertson 23 (28, 29, 30); Emmett Sproule (21); Joe Carroll (15); Artem Guryev (1).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By Niagara on Michael Simpson (29), by Peterborough on Josh Rosenzweig (36); Power plays: Niagara 2/6, Peterborough 0/3; Penalty minutes: Niagara 10, Peterborough 16.
Attendance: 3,798.
Up next: Home to Mississauga Sunday at 2 p.m.
If you like this or other stories found on our website, please consider hitting the Support Us button on the right-hand side of our home page and making a PayPal contribution to our website. Your support would be much appreciated. If you are a business owner, please consider advertising on our site. Our rates are reasonable and we provide plenty of exposure for your business. Contact bpotrecz@outlook.com for more information.
