IceDogs dominate Greyhounds
Philip Tomasino has experienced more than his share of distractions lately.
The sophomore winger played in the Canadian Hockey Leagues’s top prospects game last week and has also seen his named prominently featured in the 2019 National Hockey League draft rankings, where he has been rated as high as 23rd.
Despite the extra attention, Tomasino has been able to keep his focus on the Niagara IceDogs.
Tomasino collected a goal and two assists Thursday as the IceDogs topped the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 6-1 in an Ontario Hockey League game in St. Catharines.
Tomasino, who was named the game’s first star, now has 25 goals and 52 points, a substantial increase over his rookie season where he netted just five goals.
“Obviously, it’s an exciting time and big year for me but my main focus is to win every game,” Tomasino said. “You try not to pay attention to the rankings and all that stuff.”
Tomasino is pleased with his sophomore season but deflected the praise to his teammates.
“I think I really started picking it up recently but that goes for our team as well. I wouldn’t be where I am without them.”
The victory was the seventh in a row for the IceDogs who improved to 31-10-7.
The Greyhounds, who are second overall in the Western Conference, dropped to 31-11-5-1.
“We’re really stepping it up as a team lately and it’s really fun to be part of this winning streak,” Tomasino said.
The IceDogs turned in one of their most complete efforts of the season, from goaltender Stephen Dhillon, to the defence, to a solid effort by the forwards at both ends of the rink.
And they did it versus a strong Sault Ste. Marie team which came into the game one point ahead of the IceDogs.
“They’re a great team and it was a great test for us,” Tomasino said. “We only play them twice a year and we’re going to be going to the Soo next weekend.
“It was a great win for us and definitely gives us some confidence.”
Akil Thomas scored the opener just 25 seconds in when he netted his 25th of the season as he was falling to the ice. Niagara held an 8-6 edge in shots in the first period which featured almost eight minutes without a whistle.
The Greyhounds scored early in the second period on a shot Dhillon would no doubt like back but Niagara rallied with three goals later in the period to lead 4-1 after 40 minutes. The IceDogs also did a superb job killing off a two-man advantage late in the frame.
Niagara then iced the game away with two more goals in the third period.
Ice cubes: Jacob Paquette (day to day), Andrew Bruder (week to week) and Ivan Lodnia (back in a month) and third goalie Christian Sbaraglia were scratched for the IceDogs . . . Drew Wawrow, Roman Pucek, Rory Kerins and Brett Jacklin did not dress for the Greyhounds . . . The IceDogs named Jack Studnicka an assistant captain . . . Niagara Falls native Mac Hollowell is having a strong season with 16 goals and 54 points for the Greyhounds.
IceDogs 6 Greyhounds 1
BPSN Star of the Game: Niagara forward Philip Tomasino with three points.
Niagara IceDogs: Tomasino (25); Akil Thomas 2 (25, 26); Jason Robertson (35); Ben Jones (29); Oliver Castleman (14).
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds: Holden Wale (3).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By Niagara on Matthew Villata/Ethan Taylor (30), by Sault Ste. Marie on Stephen Dhillon (28); Power plays: Niagara 1-for-4, Sault Ste. Marie 0-for-5; Penalty minutes: Niagara 14, Sault Ste. Marie 12.
Attendance: 5,300
Up next: At Kingston Friday and Ottawa Saturday.
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