Colts rally past IceDogs; Flores set to return Saturday
Niagara captain Kevin He scored a goal as the IceDogs dropped a 7-4 decision to the Barrie Colts. Photo: OHL IMAGES.
It appears help is on the way for the struggling Niagara IceDogs.
The IceDogs dropped a 7-4 decision to the Barrie Colts in Ontario Hockey League action Tuesday night in St. Catharines to extend their losing streak to four games and 16 of 17.
But following the game IceDogs head coach Ben Boudreau confirmed overage goaltender Owen Flores is slated to Saturday in Erie.
Flores suffered a lower body injury and has missed the last 11 games, 10 of which the IceDogs have lost.
“We’ve got a couple guys banged up but Flores should be back in the net on Saturday so that’s something that we’ve got to get him acclimated to,” Boudreau said.
The IceDogs, who clinched a playoff spot Sunday in an overtime loss to Kingston, have five regular season games remaining and Boudreau figures Flores will likely play in three of those games.
“You have a back-to-back scenario this weekend and a back-to-back-to-back scenario (the following weekend) so you can’t expect him to play four of five so ideally he plays three out of five and that will be good.”
Flores, who has a 24-14-3-3 record, was brilliant the first half of the season.
“I think he’s been our star all year and our MVP (most valuable player),” Boudreau said. “I know we’ve had a lot of great players but the biggest thing is to get him back healthy and in the best shape that we possibly can for the playoffs.”
Matthew Humphries got the start in net and permitted all seven goals on 36 shots. The rookie, who has yet to win a game, didn’t get much help at times.
“Seven goals on 35 shots is tough and you don’t want to look at that, especially when you have a chance and out shoot them,” Boudreau said. “I’m not laying that on Hump’s feet at all, so don’t get that misconstrued. But it’s tough to win games when you’re giving it seven goals against.”
Boudreau said some rookies who have spent more time in the press box than on the ice, will get a chance to play now.
“So for us in the position that we’re in, six games to go, we prioritized trying to develop some of the rookies here,” he said. “We’re going to take this opportunity to try to get some guys in the lineup that wouldn’t normally be in there otherwise.”
Forward Charlie Hotles and defenceman Darcy Dewachter both played. Dewachter was the lone IceDog with a positive plus-minus at plus-2.
Boudreau would love to see the IceDogs turn things around heading into the post-season.
“Nobody wants to back into the playoffs and that’s exactly what we’ve been doing for the last couple of months,” he said. “So I mean it would be nice to have some sense of confidence. We’ve got to find that within ourselves. It comes from within and we’ve got to make sure that we control what we can, and that’s our upper level and our focus and our execution. So if everybody can come bring that type of mentality to the rink, I think we’ll have some success.”
Barrie led 3-2 after two before adding four more in the third period.
Team USA goaltender Sam Hillenbrandt started for the Colts and made 38 saves.
“He gives them a chance,” Boudreau said. “Their talent and their depth eventually took over. So it’s a really good hockey team and a really high likely potential first round opponent. And the way we played in the first 40 was good, but we had to play a 60-minute hockey game.”
Ice cubes: Owen Flores, Charlie Robertson, Blair Scott, Blake Arrowsmith, Rafek Dianov and Nick Frasca did not dress for the IceDogs . . . Arvin Jaswal, Tristan Bertucci, Cole Dubowsky, Jack Martin and Michael Derbidge were scratched for the Colts . . . Caileigh Tiller, sister of Barrie defenceman Grayson Tiller, dropped the puck for the ceremonial face-off before the game. The Holy Cross student scored the winning goal as Team Canada defeated Team USA at the 2025 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championships in Finland. Grayson Tiller picked up a pair of assists in the game.
STATS PACK
Colts 7 IceDogs 4
Barrie’s Anthony Romani and Niagara’s Kevin He.
Niagara IceDogs: Kevin He (33); Ethan Czata (20); Sean Doherty (13); Mathieu Paris (7).
Barrie Colts: Anthony Romani 2 (17,18); Dalyn Wakely (20); Beau Jelsma (20); Owen Van Steensel (19); Beau Akey (6); Jaiden Newton (2);
Game stats: Shots on goal: By Niagara on Sam Hillebrandt (42), by Barrie on Matthew Humphries (36); Power plays: Niagara 1/2, Barrie 1/1; Penalty minutes: Niagara 4, Barrie 6.
Attendance: 3,878.
Next up: The IceDogs head to Erie Saturday and are back home Sunday to face the Steelheads.
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