IceDogs fourth overall at the break
The Niagara IceDogs are primed to make a run at an OHL championship following a strong first half of the season. Photo: OHL IMAGES.
The Niagara IceDogs head into the Christmas break and unofficial end of the first half of the Ontario Hockey League season right about where they expected to be.
The IceDogs, who from Day 1 of training camp made it clear an OHL championship was their goal, lead the Central Division with a 20-7-5-1 record for 45 points, one point up on the Sudbury Wolves.
Overall, the IceDogs are fourth overall in the league in points trailing the Ottawa 67’s (54), London Knights (49) and Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (47). They were given an honourable mention in the Canadian Hockey League’s top 10 ranking last week and have been in the top 10 on three occasions.
The IceDogs left no doubt they intend to be legitimate contenders for an OHL title when they swung a massive blockbuster trade with the Kingston Frontenacs which landed them sniper Jason Robertson and defenceman Jacob Paquette.
The cost was high, promising defenceman Billy Constantinou and a whopping 11 draft picks spread out over the next several years.
The club was able to recoup four picks later, dealing defenceman Liam Ham and goaltender Colton Incze.
But the IceDogs aren’t concerned about the future. Now is what counts so let’s take a look back at the first half, position by position, as well as what might happen in the New Year.
GOALTENDING
Stephen Dhillon and Incze began the year in a battle for top spot but Dhillon quickly won the job. The overage backstop is having a strong final season in an IceDogs uniform with a 2.78 goals-against average, .915 save percentage and 17 wins.
Incze, who was dispatched to Windsor for a fourth-round draft pick in 2022, is off to a rocky start with the Spitfires with a 5.19 GAA and .844 save percentage in three games.
Rookie Christian Sbaraglia will handle the back-up chores to Dhillon.
If Dhillon stays healthy, the IceDogs will be fine in goal in the second half. Sbaraglia is highly rated, but untested.
The IceDogs are only one of four teams (London, Ottawa and Sudbury) to have permitted fewer than 100 goals.
DEFENCE
The IceDogs had quantity to begin the season on the blue-line, so much so they dealt Justin McPherson to Kitchener and Danial Nardi to Mississauga.
With Ham and Constantinou moved out and the addition of Paquette, the IceDogs are still strong on the back end, but lack a true stud defenceman, not that they grow on trees and are readily available to be acquired.
Rookie Lleyton Moore has showed well while the rest of the group — Elijah Roberts, Johnathon Schaefer, Drew Hunter, Daniel Bukac and rookie Mason Howard — are solid, if unspectacular.
The addition of a true No. 1 rearguard could mean the difference between winning an OHL title or coming up short.
FORWARDS
The IceDogs are loaded up front.
Akil Thomas, Ben Jones, Ivan Lodnia, Philip Tomasino, Kirill Maksimov and Robertson are as a solid a top six in the league as they come.
Robertson has been exceeded his reputation as a pure sniper with eight goals and 22 points in just eight games since arriving from Kingston.
Rookie import Kyen Sopa has been a pleasant surprise with 11 goals while the likes of Bradey Johnson, Matthew Philip, Andrew Bruder and Oliver Castleman provide depth.
Scoring goals shouldn’t be a problem going forward and into the playoffs.
One area where the club may add is in the toughness department. A veteran, no-nonsense forward would be a welcome addition.
OUTLOOK
The IceDogs made a huge splash picking up Robertson and Paquette. Now, they need to finish off their team with a Grade A defenceman and go for it. The price won’t be cheap but the cost of not adding a stud blue-liner could be even greater.
The IceDogs are back in action Friday, Dec. 28 at Ottawa.
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