IceDogs tied for top spot
Alex Assadourian scored three goals as the Niagara IceDogs edged the Barrie Colts 6-5 Thursday in Barrie. Photo: OHL IMAGES.
The Niagara IceDogs won the showdown with the Barrie Colts for top spot in the Central Division Thursday night.
The IceDogs made it six wins in a row with a 6-5 victory in Ontario Hockey League action in Barrie and are now tied with the Colts for first place with 44 points each. The Colts own one game in hand.
IceDogs coach Ben Boudreau was understandably proud of his club.
“How could you not be? We’re happy, but not satisfied,” Boudreau said. “It’s OK to be greedy in these situations. I don’t think I’d be far off to say the guys want the same thing.
“It’s a hungry group, especially anybody that’s been here for any time before this year. So it’s a lot of fun and we’re trying to be as selfish as we can and stockpile as many wins as we can.”
Alex Assadourian led the offence with three goals and now has nine points in six games since his return from injury earlier this month.
“He has come back in absolutely full stride and motivation is a scary thing,” Boudreau said. “It seems like he’s really motivated and making up for lost time. I know he spent last season going through some injuries and that really hurt us, but I’m excited for the individual performance of over a point of game right now which is incredible.”
The IceDogs have only two regulation losses this season with Assadourian in the lineup.
“He’s been part of our winning success,” Boudreau said. “They tried to match without their top guys which allowed (Andrei) Loshko and Kevin (He) and also Assadourian and his line to play against their depth and I thought we would outshone their depth tonight.”
The Colts were without forward Cole Beaudoin and defenceman Beau Akey (Team Canada), forward Emil Hemming (Finland) and starting goaltender Sam Hildebrandt (United States), who are all at the World Junior Championships.
The IceDogs led 4-1 after one and 5-3 after two. The Colts made a late run with a pair of goals but Owen Flores was able to shut the door. Flores made 27 saves for the win.
“Yeah, six-on-five and three out of the five goals came with the man advantage. You know, you give them a good opportunity to score some goals, and they will. But overall, pleased with the game. We obviously don’t want to give up those goals late in the game,” Boudreau said. “You’ve got to remind these guys to play a team-first type concept and when that creeps into the game, you start seeing the goals against go up. So I think that’s a process of winning and learning how to play as a team.”
He, in his first game since signing an entry-level contract with the Winnipeg Jets earlier this week, had a goal and two assists. Andrei Loshko and Sean Doherty also scored.
The IceDogs are in Brampton Friday in their last game before the Christmas break.
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