IceDogs stun Fronts in OT
The Niagara IceDogs woke up just in time Sunday afternoon to pull off anther miraculous comeback.
Trailing 3-1 halfway through the third period, the IceDogs found another gear and rallied to defeat the Kingston Frontenacs 4-3 in overtime in Ontario Hockey League action in St. Catharines.
It was the second straight late rally at home for the IceDogs who also stunned the Ottawa 67’s with a late comeback Thursday.
“That’s why there’s 60 minutes on the clock,” IceDogs coach Ben Boudreau said. “We play everyone the same way. Just because we weren’t winning early, it didn’t matter how long we were behind. We played all the way to the final buzzer, found a way to tie it up, and we’ve been pretty successful in overtime so far.
“I’m really, really happy for the way we just kept going and believing as a group. It was a very positive message from the staff and the group, just a belief the entire way.”
The IceDogs began their comeback when Ethan Czata scored his second of the season at 11:24 of the third. Ryan Roobroeck tied things up at 3-3 with 2:55 to play, then won it when he netted his second of the game with just over two minutes to play in OT.
Boudreau singled out Czata for his play.
“Czata only had one goal in eight games but he got the game puck tonight because it was a huge momentum turn for us to get that goal,” Boudreau said. “He’s had a lot of opportunities and everyone’s going to look at Roobroeck scoring but Czata should draw the attention of taking away Vaccari’s (Kingston goaltender Mason Vaccari) eyes. You can’t stop what you can’t see and 12 (Czata) did a great job of taking away his eyes. Put the pucks on the net and anything can happen but I think he makes that save if Czata isn’t standing out front. So the honourable mention and the recognition goes to Ethan Czata tonight.”
Forward Masen Wray, who normally flies under the radar with a strong two-way game, got Niagara on the board with his first of the season in the first period.
“Somebody that’s not going to get enough attention is Masen Wray for his defensive efforts and a lot of blocked shots,” Boudreau said. “He didn’t play that many minutes — I probably should have rewarded him a little bit more to be honest with you — but 71 (Wray) chipping in, that’s unbelievable. I thought he really did well.”
Wray was thrilled to chip in offensively.
“Obviously, as a player everybody hopes when they score the first to keep the momentum going but I couldn’t have done it without my linemates (Charlie Hotles, Ivan Galiyanov). The only reason I got the goal was because of them,” Wray said.
The comeback wiped out a sleepy start for the IceDogs, who managed just 17 shots through the first 40 minutes.
Boudreau flipped around his forward units as the game went on in an attempt to shake things up.
“I just I like to change it up and switch it up,” he said. “I think that’s important. We’re rolling 11 forwards and everyone was getting their opportunity. Out of those 11 forwards we only have one right winger, so it seems like everybody can almost play the same position. We don’t have four centres, I think we have nine centres out there.
“It was the third game in four nights, we were just playing the guys that were fresh and they kept rolling tonight. They found a way to get the job done.”
Owen Flores returned to the net after a four-game suspension and kicked out 24 shots and is now a perfect 5-0 this season.
Ice cubes: Gavin Bryant, Rafek Dianov, Darcy Dewatcher and Mathieu Paris did not dress for the IceDogs . . . Gavin Betts, Ethan Weir and Xander Velliaris were scratched for Kingston . . . The IceDogs dropped a 4-2 decision at Kitchener Friday. Alex Assadourian (4) and Mike Levin (2) scored. Charlie Robertson made 29 saves.
STATS PACK
IceDogs 4 Frontenacs 3 OT
Niagara’s Ethan Czata and Kingston’s Tuomas Uronen
Niagara IceDogs: Ryan Roobroeck 2 (6,7); Ethan Czata (2); Masen Wray (1).
Kingston Frontenacs: Cedrick Guindon (5); Ben Pickell (3); Tuomas Uronen (3).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By Niagara on Mason Vaccari (27), by Kingston on Owen Flores (27); Power plays: Niagara 0/3, Kingston 1/4; Penalty minutes: Niagara 8, Kingston 6.
Attendance: 3,317.
Next up: The IceDogs are home to Oshawa Thursday before embarking on a three-game road trip.
With files from the Armchair GM’s Sports Network.
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