IceDogs fall to Otters
Rookie Pano Fimis collected an assist as the Niagara IceDogs dropped a 6-4 decision at home to the Erie Otters Thursday. Photo by: VIVID EYE PHOTOGRAPHY.
Ten games into his Ontario Hockey League career, Pano Fimis continues to acclimatize himself to the league.
The 17-year-old centre has displayed flashes of greatness — he was a standout from Day 1 in training camp — but has also shown he is far from the finished product.
“I definitely think it’s been a great adjustment for me,” the Richmond Hill native said. “I think now that we’ve started the season and I’ve got my first little taste of the league I’m starting to become more comfortable with the pace and the size and the speed of the game.
“There’s still a lot more room for improvement, but at the same time, we’ve got our first taste of it, and we continue to get better each and every day.”
Fimis, who was Niagara’s first pick (second overall) in the 2020 OHL draft, has two goals and six points so far.
The slick centre was the cornerstone of the Toronto Junior Canadians U16 team in 2019/20 with 41 goals and 104 points in 59 games.
Fimis is well aware it is virtually unheard of for rookies to put up those kind of numbers right off the bat.
“I think the biggest thing is that you have to understand what your role is and accept it,” he said. “Your focus has got to be to be the best you can possibly be at your role each and every day. And I think that’s one thing that I focused on a lot.
“I’ve accepted the fact that’s how this league is and that’s how the game is in general. Everyone has their own role because in order to be successful, as a team and as an individual, there’s always a certain piece to the puzzle that’s always needed for it. You just have to understand what your piece is and be the best at that.”
IceDogs coach Billy Burke, who has used Fimis in a variety of roles so far this season, realizes there will be bumps in the road along the way.
“He’s a very special player, an unbelievable talent, but there’s a learning curve for everybody. It doesn’t matter who you are, there is always a learning curve,” he said. “There is no expectation to average three points a game. It’s all baby steps.
“He’s a great person and a great player. He’s going to earn some big minutes in some big situations and I’m sure he will do well with that and will continue to grow together.”
Fimis appreciates how he is being utilized.
“The feedback has been very positive from the entire coaching staff. It’s been very supportive which I appreciate a lot because obviously it’s not easy to come in and perform like you may have in the past,” he said.
Fimis should be in the sophomore season, but had his rookie campaign wiped out by the COVID pandemic.
“The big thing for the 17-year-olds will be not to take anything for granted,” Burke said. “Don’t think you’re going to get any breaks or anything because you’re a year older.”
Fimis is thrilled to be back playing the game he loves.
“It’s definitely amazing,” he said. “We all missed the game. To be back on the ice, especially in front of such great fans, it’s great. I definitely feel fortunate to be back.”
Off the ice, Fimis reports he is adjusting well to school where he is a top-notch student and to living with his billet family, Chris and Bryony Hawthorn.
“It’s a bit of an adjustment being away from home but you get used to it very fast,” he said. “In terms of my billet situation, I’m with probably the best billets anyone could get, so I’m very fortunate for that and they’ve made life a lot easier for me.”
Fimis picked up an assist Thursday as the IceDogs dropped a 6-4 decision to the Erie Otters at Meridian Centre.
Erie led 4-0 halfway through the second before Niagara netted three straight to trail 4-3 early in the third. The teams then exchanged goals before the Otters put the game away with an empty-net goal at 19:56.
Ice cubes: Dakota Betts and Danil Guschin have been named as assistant captains, joining Jake Uberti and Mason Howard . . . Forward Jonah DeSimone was waived and picked up by the Gatineau Olympiques of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
Otters 6 IceDogs 4
Erie’s Connor Lockhart and Niagara’s Brice Cooke.
For the Erie Otters: Lockhart 2 (2); Brendan Hoffman 2 (4); Spencer Sova (1); Owain Johnston (1).
For the Niagara IceDogs: Cooke 4; Danil Gushchin 9; Aidan Castle (4); Cam Snow (1).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By Niagara on Nolan Lalonde (22), by Erie on Josh Rosenzweig (34); Power plays: Niagara 1-for-4, Erie 2-for-5; Penalty minutes: Niagara 10, Erie 8.
Attendance: 3,408
Up next: At Sudbury Friday and Mississauga Sunday afternoon. Home to Barrie next Friday and Oshawa next Saturday.
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