IceDogs wrap up 2018 with a win
Oliver Castleman picked a good time to find his scoring touch.
With six regulars out of the lineup, the Niagara IceDogs were in dire need of someone to pick up the slack and Castleman answered the bell.
The 19-year-old winger scored a pair of goals as the IceDogs held off the Ottawa 67’s 6-5 in Ontario Hockey League action Monday night in St. Catharines.
“It feels great,” said Castleman, who also notched a pair Saturday in an 8-0 win at Kingston. “A couple of keys guys are gone so it’s important guys like me step up.
“It’s really nice to get the goals and get the monkey off my back, but I owe a lot to my linemates.”
The IceDogs were minus Ivan Lodnia, Jason Robertson, Kyen Sopa and Daniel Bukac, who are all away at the World Junior Tournament, as well as Lleyton Moore (injured) and the suspended Johnathon Schaefer.
To round out the roster, the IceDogs added A.J. Cook from Ridley and Ethan Sims from the St. Catharines Falcons. Sims picked up an assist in his OHL debut after signing with the team earlier in the day.
The 67’s were also missing six players, including recently acquired goaltender Michael DiPietro, who is with Team Canada.
With the roster depleted, Castleman found himself on a line with Akil Thomas and Philip Tomasino.
“It’s a big confidence booster,” he said. “You have to know you are up there for a reason.
“When you’re playing with those guys, you have keep doing what you are doing because it’s working.”
Castleman now has 11 goals on the season after netting 12 last year and 18 in his rookie campaign.
“Guys like Castleman don’t get the attention and the love of some of the other players and it’s totally understandable, but he’s a great guy and a great player,” IceDogs coach Billy Burke said.
The game was a battle of the top two teams in the Eastern Conference and a potential preview of the conference final.
The win improved Niagara’s record to 22-8-5-1 and 49 points.
The 67’s, who lead the conference with 58 points, dropped to 27-7-3-1.
Niagara jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period on a pair of goals by Castleman just 30 seconds apart.
The IceDogs were down two men for almost two minutes thanks to a pair of rarely called infractions — closing the hand on the puck and delay of game for shooting the puck into the stands — but did a superb job of keeping the 67’s off the board.
Ottawa netted a goal early in the second period to close to gap to 2-1 but the IceDogs roared back with three straight to lead 5-1 after 40 minutes.
The 67’s came out strong in the third and potted two goals, both by sniper Tye Felhaber, in the first 1:36 of the period to narrow the gap to 5-3. Kirill Maksimov then made it 6-3 before the 67’s added two late goals.
“We cut it way too close,” Castleman said after the 67’s scored three times in the third. “We came out with the two points, which was huge. I’m not sure what happened. We’ll have to look at some video.”
Burke admitted it was tough to watch the 67’s roar back.
“They’re a dangerous team,” he said. “It definitely got nerve wracking. A lesser team would have crumbled for sure.”
Ice cubes: Schaefer has served three of six games in his suspension . . . IceDogs usher Norm Habel sang the Canadian national anthem, but not before starting with a few words from the Star Spangled Banner . . . Ottawa netminder Will Cranley picked up an assist in the third period after relieving starter Cedrick Andree . . . The IceDogs dropped a 4-1 decision at Ottawa Friday with Tomasino scoring the lone goal. Saturday in Kingston, Kirill Maksimov potted three and Castleman two in an 8-0 win over the Frontenacs. Tomasino, Ben Jones and Thomas added singles. Stephen Dhillon made 30 saves for the shutout.
IceDogs 6 67’s 5
BPSN Star of the Game: Niagara forward Oliver Castleman with a pair of goals.
Niagara IceDogs: Castleman 2 (10, 11); Kirill Maksimov (24); Akil Thomas (13); Matthew Philip (9); Andrew Bruder (3).
Ottawa 67’s: Tye Felhaber 3 (40, 41, 42); Graham Clarke (12); Cameron Tolnai (2).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By Niagara on Cedrick Andree/Will Cranley (28), by Ottawa on Stephen Dhillon (28); Power plays: Niagara 2-for-5, Ottawa 2-for-6; Penalty minutes: Niagara 20, Ottawa 18.
Attendance: 5,600 (sell out)
Up next: The London Knights visit Niagara Thursday and the Erie Otters Friday.
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