IceDogs no match for 67’s
The Niagara IceDogs dropped an 8-3 decision at home to the Ottawa 67’s Friday. Photo by: VIVID EYE PHOTOGRAPHY
It’s hard to imagine what more could have gone wrong for the Niagara IceDogs in the second period of their game Friday night versus the Ottawa 67’s.
After a solid opening period which saw Niagara take a 3-1 lead into intermission, the wheels fell off big time in the middle frame.
The 67’s poured in five straight goals in just over 11 minutes en route to an 8-3 victory in Ontario Hockey League action in St. Catharines.
It was the third straight loss for the IceDogs who fell to 5-8-2-1.
The 67’s won their fourth straight to improve to 10-4.
The 67’s also outshot the IceDogs 17-3 in the period and pretty much dominated from start to finish.
“We had a plan and I thought we were doing what we wanted,” IceDogs coach Billy Burke said. “To a man, everyone was contributing and then in the second it could have been a combination of us thinking we were playing a patient style early and now we’re going to try and force things and they woke up a little bit. It was a bad combo.”
Burke said the IceDogs simply aren’t talented enough at this point to stray from their intended strategy.
“We need to be dialled in, on the same page, from start to finish,” he said. “We need to have an attitude of being simple and solid. Until we’re all simple and solid, we’re going to be inconsistent and have some good flashes and bad flashes.
“When everyone knows what the other guy is going to do, then we can play fast and make plays. When guys get on their own page and try and force things — especially guys without a lot of pedigree in this league — you have to crawl before you walk.”
The IceDogs are right back at it Saturday at home versus Mississauga.
“We just have to park it. Some of the goals in the D-zone were mistakes we can clean up,” Burke said. “We’re just going to try and simplify it for the guys and be as clear as possible.
“We’re not going to hammer guys and embarrass guys on video tomorrow (Saturday).”
After exchanging goals early on, the IceDogs grabbed a 2-1 lead with a pair of goals 21 seconds apart by Giancarlo Chanton and Akil Thomas to lead 3-1 after one. Chanton’s goal was the first of his OHL career.
Before the game, the IceDogs cleared up their over-age roster situation shipping defeneman Drew Hunter to the Erie Otters for a fourth-round selection in the 2021 draft.
“This was a very difficult move to make,” general manager Joey Burke said. “Drew has embodied everything it means to be an IceDog for four years now. While it is very difficult to see him go, this is a great opportunity with a great organization in Erie.
“We have once again cleared up our overage situation while adding a valuable pick to assist in our rebuild.”
Ice cubes: Issac Enright (U17 Challenge), Cameron Snow and Ryan Campbell did not dress for the IceDogs IceDogs assistant coach Jody Hull is at the U17 Challenge Cup as a coach and will miss five games . . . Merrick Rippon, Cameron Tolnai, Dylan Robinson, Jack Beck and Graeme Clark were scratched for the 67’s . . . St. Catharines native AJ Cook was used as a defenceman with Enright away . . . A moment of silence was held for Hockey Hall of Fame executive and Dunnville native Jim Gregory before the game.
67’s 8 IceDogs 3
BPSN Star of the Game: Ottawa forward Jack Quinn with two goals and an assist.
Niagara IceDogs: Akil Thomas 2 (6, 7); Giancalo Chanton (1).
Ottawa 67’s: Quinn 2 (8,9); Mitchell Hoelscher (9); Austen Keating (8); Marco Rossi (5); Alex Belanger (4); Felix-Antoine Tourigny (1); Yanic Crete (1).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By Niagara on Will Cranley (27), by Ottawa on Tucker Tynan/Christian Sbaraglia (37); Power plays: Niagara 0-for-5, Ottawa 1-for-1; Penalty minutes: Niagara 4, Ottawa 12.
Attendance: 4,836.
Up next: Home to Mississauga Saturday at 7 p.m., at Erie Sunday at 2 p.m.
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