IceDogs winger a solid addition
Alex Assadourian has fit in like a glove with the Niagara IceDogs since his acquisition from the Sudbury Wolves.
The 17-year-old Stouffville native has quickly become a fan favourite with his speed and production — he’s averaging more than a point per game — with four goals and 11 points in 10 games.
“It’s been a good transition,” Assadourian said. “All the boys are great in the room and it makes it easy playing with the linemates I’m playing with (impressive rookie Kevin He and leading scoring Zakary Lavoie) to really succeed. I’m really happy with that.”
The IceDogs paid a good price to add Assadourian, dealing a second-round selection in 2026 (Windsor) and a third-round pick in 2026 (Sault Ste. Marie) to the Wolves.
“It was a last-minute thing,” Assadourian said of the deal. “I had a little bit of an idea it might happen but I wasn’t too sure and then here I am now.”
Assadourian, who was a second-round selection (37th overall) by Sudbury in 2021, had a solid rookie season with eight goals but this year saw high ice time severely reduced and had only three goals in 22 games at the time of the deal.
“I didn’t play at all in Sudbury,” he said. “I was seeing limited ice and I just needed a fresh start somewhere else and luckily Niagara was the place to take a bid on me. I’m just trying to prove Sudbury wrong.
“Sudbury had a pretty deep team and didn’t have room for me.”
Assadourian is enjoying being a go-to player with the IceDogs.
“I am playing a much bigger role here,” he said. “I feel like I’m doing my best to do as well as I can and play my game and let things happen and enjoy playing that big role and just keep improving.”
He also said he isn’t trying to get too caught up in the numbers.
“Obviously, I’m trying not to think about it and just play my game and let things happen. I’m just trying to make myself and my teammates around me better and get better everyday.”
Assadourian has been an IceDog for only a few weeks but is already comfortable away from the rink.
“It’s been great. My billets are awesome as well and they’ve made the transition that much easier,” he said. “The rink is great, a great facility and from what I’ve seen in my limited time so far, just a quick glimpse, the fans have been great. Second to none.”
He is also enjoying being just over an hour from home.
“It’s been nice. I can go home on off days and see some family and unwind and spent some times with friends.”
Assadourian hasn’t experienced much winning since joining the IceDogs, but he is optimistic that is only temporary.
“This won’t last long,” he said. “We have a really young team and young talent and lots of potential. If everyone chips in and everyone does their thing we’re going to be really good in the near future.”
The IceDogs, 9-27-6-1, have dropped 12 of their last 14 and are 17 points behind the Wolves for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with 25 games remaining in the regular season.
Niagara visits Peterborough (24-18-1-2) Thursday, Hamilton (21-20-4) Friday and are home to Kitchener (19-22-2) Saturday.
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