IceDogs outlast Bulldogs
IceDogs rookie Ethan Sims scored his first OHL goal Friday as Niagara topped Hamilton 5-3. Photo by: BILL POTRECZ
It took Ethan Sims 10 games this season to get his first OHL goal, but the wait was well worth it.
The 17-year-old Hamilton native potted his milestone marker in the first period as the IceDogs topped the Hamilton Bulldogs 5-3 in Ontario Hockey League action Friday night in St. Catharines.
It was the second straight victory for the IceDogs who climbed back to the .500 mark at 5-5-2-1.
The Bulldogs fell to 5-7-1.
Sims was all smiles after the game when discussing the goal.
“I’ve been waiting for that goal for a long time, and to do it in front of friends and family here, kind of local, it felt great,” Sims said. “The atmosphere in this arena is unreal, and to score my first goal here, nothing better.”
Sims’ goal elevated him to instant star status — he was swamped with autograph requests while posing for pictures for the media with his prized souvenir puck.
“Either in my room or in my stall to remind me of this day, because this day is pretty special,” the Hamilton native said, when asked what he was going to do with the puck.
It also didn’t hurt he scored the goal against his hometown team.
“That is pretty cool,” he said. “I have a couple of buddies on the other team too, and a couple guys from home came out and watched it.
“It’s a pretty big moment for me.”
Sims said he tried to not think too much about getting that first goal.
“As a first-year guy it will come,” he said. “Just do your job and get pucks deep and eventually it will come.”
Sims, fifth-round selection in the 2018 OHL draft, played in four games with the IceDogs last season collecting a pair of assists.
“Coming from junior B even up to the OHL showed me how fast this league was and what I needed to do to prepare for this,” he said. “This is a fast league and it (last year) opened my eyes and helped me train over the summer for what I need to do to get ready for this season. I think I’ve done a pretty good job of that.”
Sims spent last season with the St. Catharines Falcons where he collected seven goals and 24 points in 27 games, a more than respectable showing for a 16-year-old at that level.
“Junior B helped me a lot rather than midget because it got me used to playing with older guys and the contact,” he said. “The speed is obviously faster than midget.”
Niagara outplayed and outshot the Bulldogs 18-13 in the first period but only emerged with a 1-0 lead on Sims’ goal.
The Bulldogs grabbed a quick 2-1 lead early in the second on a pair of goals less than two minutes apart. The IceDogs quickly regrouped and fired three straight in 10 minutes to take a 4-2 lead after 40 minutes.
The Bulldogs shaved the lead to one with an early goal in the second period. The IceDogs then quickly responded with a power-play goal to restore the two-goal lead.
Akil Thomas had a big night for the IceDogs with two goals and an assist while rookie netminder Tucker Tynan turned win another solid effort kicking out 35 shots.m
Ice cubes: Anthony Agostinelli, Cameron Snow, Ryan Campbell and Drew Hunter did not dress for the IceDogs . . . Isaac Nurse, Jan Jenik, Frank Jenkins, Davis Young and Jake Gravelle were scratched for the Bulldogs . . . Former IceDogs forward Bradey Johnson came into the game with one goal and one assists in 12 games for Hamilton and picked up a helper in the second period . . . IceDogs owners Bill and Denise Burke participated in the costume contest on the ice between periods with grandson, William, son of head coach Billy Burke. Bill Burke wore a referee’s jersey and carried a white cane.
IceDogs 5 Bulldogs 3
BPSN Star of the Game: IceDogs captain Akil Thomas with three points.
Niagara IceDogs: Thomas 2 (3, 4); Oliver Castleman (6); Ivan Lodnia (2); Ethan Sims (1).
Hamilton Bulldogs: Ryan Winterton 2 (3, 4); Tag Bertuzzi (4).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By Niagara on Zachary Roy (41), by Hamilton on Tucker Tynan (37); Power plays: Niagara 1-for-4, Hamilton 0-for-3; Penalty minutes: Niagara 10, Hamilton 12.
Attendance: 4,915
Up next: At Barrie Saturday and London Sunday afternoon.
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