Hometown hockey for Federkow
Saturday night’s regular season home opener was extra special for Connor Federkow.
Not only was the 20-year-old St. Catharines native making his regular season debut at the Meridian Centre for the Niagara IceDogs, but he was doing so with a huge contingent of about 70 family and friends in the stands.
“It was pretty incredible. I grew up watching the IceDogs all my life so finally being out there and playing for your hometown, it’s quite an experience,” Federkow said following a 5-2 loss to the London Knights before 4,365 fans. “They don’t get to come and watch me in London, it’s a long drive, so it was cool seeing them up in the stands.”
Federkow, who attended St. Francis Secondary School, grew up playing minor hockey in St. Catharines and was drafted by the Knights in the third round of the 2019 Ontario Hockey League draft.
He was acquired from the Knights just after training camp opened along with forward Mike Levin for a third-round pick in 2025 and a fifth-round selection in 2025.
“I’ve spent most of my OHL career there so it playing against all my old buddies that I basically grew up through the OHL with, it was a lot of fun,” Federkow said. “They were all looking for me and saying hi. They’re a great group of guys.”
Federkow is expected to provide leadership and toughness as an overage player.
“It’s a big step,” he said of his leadership role. “Coming from a team like that, that’s what we’re trying to build here.”
Federkow feels the IceDogs, who also lost to London Friday in their season opener, are on the right track.
“We’re building as a group, as a family, and the more we come together, the more we’re going to get these W’s. We just have to keep working hard, keep working together and the boys do their part and we’ll get it done,” he said.
Niagara coach Ryan Kuwabara said Federkow has been as advertised early on.
“Be a steady presence back there and provide a little grit and sandpaper and be there for our young guys. To have him out there making plays and doing the right stuff is going to be huge for them to learn from,” Kuwabara said when asked for Federkow’s role.
The IceDogs turned in a solid effort for 40 minutes, even leading 2-1 in the second, before the Knights took over in the third period, scoring a pair of goals with the man advantage.
“They have a pretty good power play, that’s the difference,” Kuwabara said. “When you have some of the weapons they have out there it’s tough to cover everything. Thought we did a really good job. Got behind a bit, they got a couple of screened ones, tight ones.
“We’re a work in progress so I was super happy with our first 40 to battle back and have a chance to win in the third. Our guys and bumping, working hard and sometimes the bounces don’t go our way but we’re getting some growth out of our guys.”
Small sample size notwithstanding, the IceDogs appear a much more cohesive unit that last season, particularly defensively.
“Having four weeks of training camp,” Kuwabara said when asked about the difference. “Last year when I came in it’s tough to just step in. They’ve gone though three different D-zone systems and everybody is on different pages. To have four weeks to just dial in and work and do video and just make sure everybody knows their job is, that’s huge.”
Kuwabara also liked the way his charges play with an edge — rookie Ethan Czata dropped the gloves briefly with London’s Kasper Halttunen in the second period.
“I’m super happy. They’re coming together as a team and they want to protect each other. We call it a pack — a dog pack — so we’re there for each other and we want to make sure we stay that way. That’s how we’re going to have success.”
Ice cubes: Ryan Vannetten, William Stewart, Andrew Vermeulen and Ivan Galiyanov did not dress for Niagara . . . Alexei Medvedev, Henry Brzutewicz, Easton Cowan and Landon Sim were scratched for London.
STATS PACK
Knights 5 IceDogs 2
Niagara’s Mike Levine and London’s Kasper Halttunen
Niagara IceDogs: Mike Levin (1); Gavin Bryant (1).
London Knights: Kasper Hulttunen 2 (2,3); Sam Dickinson (1); Ryder Boulton (1); Kaeden Johnston (1).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By Niagara on Micheal Simpson (21), by London on Marcus Vandenberg (35); Power plays: Niagara 0/4, London 3/6.
Attendance: 4,365.
Next up: The IceDogs host the Mississauga Steelheads Thursday at 7 p.m.
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