IceDogs top Spitfires, then wheel and deal (updated with Crane trade)
The Niagara IceDogs were busy on and off the ice Sunday.
The IceDogs topped the Windsor Spitfires 5-2 in Ontario Hockey League action at Meridian Centre, then announced a huge swap with the North Bay Battalion that netted them a goaltender and five draft picks.
Defenceman Bronson Ride, who was a scratch in Sunday’s game, is headed to the Battalion in exchange for goaltender Charlie Robertson, a third-round pick in 2026 (NB), a third-round pick in 2027 (NB), and fourth-round pick in 2026 (NB), a fourth-round pick in 2027 (NB) and a ninth-round pick in 2024 (SAG).
Robertson, 18, has played 12 games this year and holds a 4-2-3 record with a 3.73 goals-against average and .885 save percentage. The London native is in his second OHL season and was initially drafted in the seventh round (130th) overall by the Battalion in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection. Before his time in the OHL, Robertson spent one season at Ridley College. He is the grandson of Beth and Tom Rankin of Rankin Construction.
“Niagara is excited to have Charlie Robertson in our room, this is something that works well for our future,” Niagara interim general manager Wes Consorti said.
Ride, who turns 19 next week, had two goals and nine points in 35 games.
IceDogs coach Ben Boudreau hinted some roster shuffling may be in the cards when asked about the Jan. 10 trade deadline following the game.
“It’s trade season and you look at where you are in the lineup and then you have think of what’s the best way to avoid these situations going forward and sometimes a team has to trade some assets to put themselves in a position down the road,” he said. “Right now our management group, Wes Consorti, is on the phones daily. We try to put the trust in them to do what’s right for the organization, but we have a job to do as coaches and make sure the guys are ready to go for the game.”
With Robertson coming in and young Charlie Burns in the wings, it will be interesting to see if the trade is a precursor to another deal involving veteran goaltender Owen Flores, who made 36 saves Sunday. Flores, who turns 20 in May, has started the last 10 games.
“I’m not sure of the last time where Flores had a game where he gave up less than three goals but I thought he was spectacular tonight when he needed to be,” Boudreau said. “Give him all the credit that is due. He had a great game.”
The IceDogs Monday shipped winger Brody Crane to the Owen Sound Attack for a sixth-round pick in 2026.
Crane was acquired from London in November for Christopher O’Flaherty a third-round pick in 2025, a third-round pick in 2027 and a fourth-round pick in 2026.
On the ice, the IceDogs managed to turn the page following a tough 5-4 overtime loss to Owen Sound Friday that saw them blow a late two-goal lead in the third period.
“If you’re going to write a story on this team, the one thing I think that has been consistent as ever is this team hasn’t given up,” Boudreau said. “We’ve been this resilient group. You take a 10-2 thumping, a 6-2 thumping at the same time, that’s when the pride and the resiliency come to the surface.
“It’s tough to expect these guys to be perfect but it’s how we learn from these things.”
The win improves Niagara’s record to 10-21-5-1. The team was 8-20-4-1 at this point last season and finished in last place overall.
The IceDogs are still 20th overall in the league and a manageable eight points behind the Peterborough Petes for the eighth and final playoff spot with 31 games remaining to play.
“I’m going to go right until we’re eliminated thinking we can make the playoffs,” Boudreau said. “You go into every single game thinking you are going to win, that’s just a mindset. The second you don’t have that mindset is the second you give up on yourself and the team and I don’t think that’s fair to the group.
“We’re very much going to try and make the playoffs. It was just three weeks ago we won back-to-back games against two really good teams. In the last three or four weekends we’re trending in the right direction and it gives your team and your organization belief.”
Ice cubes: Michael Podolioukh, Alex Assadourian and Ride did not dress for the IceDogs . . . Alex Stewart, Ryan Struthers, Connor Toms, Ethan Martin and Owen Outwater were scratched for Windsor . . . Former IceDogs Aidan Castle (2-5-7) and Joey Costanzo (4.74 GAA) both suited up for the Spitfires . . . Neither the IceDogs or Spitfires have an NHL pick on their roster . . . Mike Levin (12), Andrew Vermulen (4), Brody Crane (3), Urban Podrekar (2) scored versus Owen Sound Friday.
STATS PACK
IceDogs 5 Spitfires 2
Niagara’s Mike Levin and Windsor’s Liam Greentree.
Niagara IceDogs: Mike Levin 2 (13,14); Zakary Lavoie (13); Ryan Roobroeck (12); Mathieu Paris (7).
Windsor Spitfires: Liam Greentree (23); Josef Eichler (3).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By Niagara on Joey Costanzo (45), by Windsor on Owen Flores (38); Power plays: Niagara 0/1, Windsor 1/2; Penalty minutes: Niagara 6, Windsor 4.
Attendance: 3,872.
Next up: The IceDogs are back home Thursday against Barrie and Friday against Flint.
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