IceDogs blank Colts to end losing streak
Everything fell into place for Charlie Roberston and the Niagara IceDogs Sunday afternoon.
The 18-year-old netminder earned his first shutout of the season as the IceDogs blanked the Barrie Colts 3-0 in Ontario Hockey League action in St. Catharines.
The victory ended a 10-game losing streak for the IceDogs whose last win was Feb. 16 versus Oshawa.
Robertson made 30 saves for his fourth OHL shoutout and first since joining the IceDogs in a trade from the North Bay Battalion earlier this season.
“It was a great feeling,” Robertson said. “Obviously getting my first shutout this year is something I was striving for and it was great to finish it off in a great game like that. The team played great for me.”
Robertson said he didn’t focus on the shutout as the game went on.
“To be honest with you, try not to think about it too much,” he said. “It’s kind of the goal at the end of the day but just try to take it one save at a time and I got rewarded there.”
Robertson was coming off a strong start Friday in which he made 40 saves in a 3-2 loss at Mississauga.
“It was really good to have that bounce back game in Mississauga. I think I just brought that over to today and a little more confidence was the key for me and looking forward to the next couple of games here,” he said. “It’s obviously not easy, especially for a goaltender, but I just kept telling myself it was going to come, it was going to come, and we were rewarded.”
Robertson, who played one season for the Ridley Tigers and has several family members who live in St. Catharines, had his own cheering section on hand for the game.
“I had a lot of family — grandparents, parents, cousins,” he said. “It was a great crowd and I’m really happy they were in the crowd for that one.”
IceDogs coach Ben Boudreau was happy to see Robertson and the team rewarded after a tough stretch.
“Charlie and our defence have been battling as hard as they can,” Boudreau said. “On a personal level, you want see all your hard work is paying off and I thought he was a difference maker tonight. I thought he made his routine saves, the ones that he should have, and came up with maybe one or two that were earmarked for the back of the net.
“Anytime you have a big win it’s usually your goaltender that makes the difference and tonight with such the case. I thought he was a big impact player. We’ve seen it in a few games so we know he’s got the potential to be there and I think the next challenge for him is to find a way to do it consecutively.”
Boudreau said the coaching staff focused on the positive at practice Saturday.
“You want to see the fruits of your labour pay off and one of the things we did yesterday (at practice) was highlight all the good things we’ve been doing over the last few games, just without the results. We were just preaching to stay with it and keep going and at some point this was going to break.”
The win came with Ben Boudreau’s father, IceDogs senior advisor Bruce Boudreau, in attendance.
“It feels pretty good,” Ben Boudreau said. “I’m sure he’s proud of his son down on the bench and I can see my son in the stands too so it’s a family affair with the Boudreaus in the building and no better place to do it than the city you grew up in.”
Ice cubes: Michael Podolioukh and Andrew Wycisk did not dress for the IceDogs . . . Ben Hrebik, Justin Handsor, Noah Smith, Chris Grisolia, Beau Aey, Roenick Jodoin were scratched for the Colts . . . Ryan Roobroeck (27) and Mike Levin (18) scored at Mississauga Friday . . . IceDogs forward Kevin He was assessed a five-minute major for interference and given a game misconduct early in the third period . . . The Colts qualified for the playoffs with a win Saturday.
STATS PACK
IceDogs 3 Colts 0
Niagara’s Charlie Robertson and Gavin Bryant.
Niagara IceDogs: Gavin Bryant 2 (20, 21); William Stewart (3).
Barrie Colts: No scoring.
Game stats: Shots on goal: By Niagara on Sam Hillebrandt (26), by Barrie on Charlie Robertson (30); Power plays: Niagara 0/0, Barrie 0/4; Penalty minutes: Niagara 18, Barrie 7.
Attendance: 4,512.
Next up: The IceDogs are in Barrie Tuesday and Brantford Wednesday before hosting Mississauga Thursday and Sudbury Saturday to conclude the season.
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