IceDogs rally past Colts
The Niagara IceDogs’ first home playoff game in six years was a memorable one.
In a week where the IceDogs were the centre of attention for all the wrong reasons due to an off-ice incident, the team collected themselves, put the past in the rearview mirror and delivered one of their best efforts of the season.
Alex Assadourian and Kevin He each scored twice as the IceDogs defeated the Barrie Colts 6-4 Tuesday night in St. Catharines to climb back into their Ontario Hockey League best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarter-final series.
The IceDogs trail the series 2-1 but can get back on even ground with a win at home Thursday.
IceDogs coach Ben Boudreau was naturally overjoyed with the effort.
“You really can’t really put it into words,” Boudreau said. “And you know, obviously the distractions off the ice don’t help us achieve success. People make mistakes, there’s no question, but I think their effort level, talking about how they wanted to give back to the community, that was my message. It’s been six years, these people have paid hard-earned, good money, no matter what your reputation is right now, I mean, we have no choice but to give everything we got.”
Assadourian scored twice after getting about six stitches in his lip following a puck to the mouth early in the game.
“Assadourian’s lost teeth, (Matthew) Virgilio can’t see out of one eye and Galley (Ivan Galiyanov) is closed in his other eye,” Boudreau said. “They wore it, they gave everything they could and you have no choice but to respect that effort level.
“It makes me a really proud as a coach because if they were to give up that would be a big issue but the way that they played and showed up here tonight . . . yeah I’m extremely proud of them.”
Assadourian said the team thrives in difficult situations.
“Yeah, obviously we’ve been through adversity all year and we’ve become accustomed to it,” he said. “I feel like when we go through adversity, actually, funny enough, it brings us together.
“I feel like we just got to keep doing our thing and playing our game.”
The IceDogs played Game 2 under league and team-imposed disciplinary measures as the result of an off-ice incident involving the entire team last week. The sanctions required all players in the lineup to sit for one period in the series which was taken care of Monday, which meant the lineup could get back to normal for Game 3.
“Obviously this was a big game for the organization,” Assadourian said. “We wanted to come out with a bang and that’s what we did. We played together and played for each other and stuck together.”
Assadourian didn’t seem bothered by his injury.
“I saw the cut and obviously it wasn’t ideal, but it’s playoffs,” he said. “That’s what happens and you just want to go out there and help your team.”
Boudreau is confident the IceDogs can carry the momentum of Tuesday’s big win into Game 4.
“It’s the most exciting thing that we’ve been involved in because we know that we can win now,” he said. “We know how good they are, but it’s more been a focus on what we do and how we execute.”
The game was tied 3-3 after two before Vancouver draft pick Anthony Romani scored early in the third to give Barrie a 4-3 lead. The IceDogs then stormed back with three goals, two by He and the winner by Assadourian.
Ice cubes: Charlie Robertson, Andrew Wycisk, Rafek Dianov and Nick Frasca did not dress for Niagara . . . Justin Handsor, Ethan Armstrong, Brad Gardiner and Cole Dubowsky were scratched for Barrie . . . Bruce Boudreau was in attendance.
STATS PACK
IceDogs 6 Colts 4
Niagara’s Alex Assadourian and Barrie’s Tristan Bertucci.
Niagara IceDogs: Alex Assadourian 2 (2,3); Kevin He 2 (2,3); Ryan Roobroeck (1); Blake Arrowsmith (1);
Barrie Colts: Anthony Romani (6); Owen Van Steensel (2); Emil Hemming (2); Riley Patterson (1);
Game stats: Shots on goal: By Niagara on Ben Hrebik (33); by Barrie on Owen Flores (39); Power plays: Niagara 2/4, Barrie 1/2; Penalty minutes: Niagara 6, Barrie 10.
Attendance: 3,035.
Up next: Game 4 Thursday in Niagara. Game 5 Saturday in Barrie.
Dear reader. If you liked this story or one of the 6,700 other stories found on our website, please consider hitting the Support Us button on the right-hand side of our home page and making a PayPal contribution to our website. Your support would be much appreciated. If you are a business owner, please consider advertising on our site. Our rates are reasonable and we provide plenty of exposure for your business. Contact [email protected] for more information.
