IceDogs split weekend set
The Niagara IceDogs dropped a 6-4 decision to the North Bay Battalion Saturday at home before rebounding to edge the Erie Otters 3-1 Sunday in Erie. Photo by: BILL POTRECZ
The Niagara IceDogs continue to perform well under adverse conditions.
Missing a half dozen key players out due to injury or suspension, the IceDogs split a pair of games over the weekend.
Joseph Costanzo turned back 39 of 40 shots as the IceDogs edged the Erie Otters 3-1 in an Ontario Hockey League game Sunday afternoon in Erie.
Less than 24 hours earlier, Niagara dropped a 6-4 decision to the North Bay Battalion before over 4,000 fans at Meridian Centre.
The IceDogs were without captain Dakota Betts, over-age winger Liam Van Loon, both suspended, leading scorer Danil Gushchin, winger Cam Peters and defencemen Isaac Enright and Rodwin Dionicio Sunday.
“It was just a great win for us,” IceDogs coach Billy Burke said. “To go into this game with no OA’s, no 19-year-olds and only four defenceman dressed, all of them rookies, it was a great effort by everyone.”
Following a scoreless first period, the IceDogs opened the scoring less than five minutes into the second when Ilia Chmelevski netted his first OHL goal.
The Otters quickly replied with a goal by Elias Cohen to tie the game at 1-1.
Anthony Agostinelli scored the winner at 8:36 of the third before Brenden Sirizzotti added an insurance goal into an empty net with one minute to play.
“We wanted to make this an ugly, boring road game and the guys could not have executed any better,” Burke said. “We could have found excuses but we found a way to get a great win.”
The IceDogs now have a few days off until heading to North Bay Thursday.
“A brutal stretch of seven games in 11 days and we went 4-2-1. Very proud of the guys and looking forward to two days of rest before we get back at it,” Burke said.
Saturday night, the IceDogs jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead before the Battalion rallied with the next three goals. Niagara twice came back to tie the game before Mitchell Russell netted the winner at 13:27 of the third. Grayson Ladd then scored into at empty net at 18:52.
Josh Rosenzweig turned in another solid effort in goal for Niagara with 40 saves.
“To lose Betts (ejected in second period) and play that game with no 19-year-olds, no over-agers, that’s an incredible, gutsy effort. I think the execution was great. They battled against a top team in the conference and never quit,” Burke said.
Burke said it is gratifying to see the improvement from earlier in the season.
“Tremendous growth from these guys,” he said. “You see it on display every night. It would have been easy to wilt or not play a team game but these guys are figuring out how to play in this league. It’s great experience for the future for sure.”
The IceDogs learned earlier in the day VanLoon was being suspended indefinitely for a collision with Erie goaltender Nolan Lalonde from a game earlier in the week.
The IceDogs are 20-36-3-1 with eight games remaining in their regular season schedule.
Ice cubes: Peters, Sami Douglas-Najem, Gushchin, Daniel Michaud (ill), Van Loon (suspension), Dionicio (suspension) did not dress for the IceDogs . . . First overall pick Ty Nelson and Nic Sima were scratched for the Battalion.
SATURDAY
STATS PACK
Battalion 6 IceDogs 4
Niagara IceDogs: Juan Copeland (12); Aidan Castle (11); Anthony Agostinelli (8); Alec Leonard (5).
North Bay Battalion: Mitchell Russell 2 (36,37); Matvey Petrov 2 (33,34); Kyle Jackson (26); Grayson Ladd (2).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By North Bay on Josh Rosenzweig (46), by Niagara on Dom DiVincentiis (29); Power plays: Niagara 0/2, North Bay 2/5: Penalty minutes: Niagara 10, North Bay 4.
Attendance: 4,076
Up next: At North Bay Thursday and Sudbury Friday.
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