IceDogs drop eighth in a row
Rookie Juan Copeland netted his fourth goal of the season as the Niagara IceDogs dropped a 7-1 decision at North Bay Thursday. File photo by: OHL IMAGES.
The Niagara IceDogs’ losing streak hit eight games with a 7-1 loss to the North Bay Battalion in Ontario Hockey League action Thursday night in North Bay.
The IceDogs, who last won at North Bay Jan. 25 in a shootout, dropped to 10-25-2-1. Their 23 points are last in the 20-team OHL.
The Battalion improved to 24-15-3-3.
The IceDogs got off to a strong enough start early but the Battalion struck first when Paul Christopoulos netted his third of the season when his wrist shot from the point was deflected in front of Niagara goaltender Josh Rosenzweig at the 8:30 mark of the first. Dalyn Wakely and Kyle Jackson then added goals just over two minutes apart late in the period.
Niagara out-shot North Bay 11-8 in the opening 20 minutes.
Brandon Coe gave North Bay a 4-0 lead early in the second period. The IceDogs finally got on the board halfway through the game when rookie Juan Copeland connected for his fourth of the season with assists from Declan Waddick and Rosenzweig.
The Battalion quickly answered when Matvey Petrov scored his 27th of the season four minutes later to resort North Bay’s four-goal lead.
Mitchell Russell and Nikita Tarasevich scored in the third to round out the scoring.
Niagara was without leading scorer Danil Gushchin, who was serving the second of his two-game suspension for shooting the puck over the boards following a game in Peterborough Feb. 5.
Dom DiVinceentiis picked up the win in goal for North Bay. DiVinceentiis was injured when Gushchin collied with him in a game in Niagara which resulted in a four-game suspension for Gushchin.
The IceDogs are back in action Friday in Sudbury before a rare weekend off.
IceDogs head coach Billy Burke said he would be available for comment following Friday’s game.
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