Losing streak hits five for undermanned IceDogs
Marcus Vandenberg made 31 saves for the Niagara IceDogs in a 6-2 loss at Saginaw Sunday. Photo: OHL IMAGES.
Things continue to go from bad to worse for the Niagara IceDogs.
The undermanned IceDogs dropped a 6-2 decision at Saginaw Sunday following a 7-3 defeat in Flint Saturday night.
The IceDogs dressed just nine forwards and six defenceman Saturday and then lost defenceman Daniil Sobolov for Sunday’s encounter while forward Gavin Bryant did not finish the game.
Also scratched for both games were Alex Assadourian, Ethan Crane, Mathieu Paris, Evan Klein, Andrew Wycisk and Andrew Vermeulen.
IceDogs coach Ben Boudreau continues to look at the big picture.
“We have to focus on the process,” Boudreau said. “You look at teams with coaches with stability in the coaching like Saginaw, they have had the chance to mold the players to the foundation the way he wants them to play.
“It’s a process for us. We’re really young. We had eight forwards in this game after Bryant went out and four of them are rookies. We’re young with the core we have but we need time for them to grow and we need to grow with them as a staff.”
Boudreau said he had no problem the team’s work ethic.
“We left it all out there with our effort. Nobody will question the heart and effort we gave,” he said. “Playing a game with eight forwards and five D is not easy but we found a way to compete until the end.”
Sunday in Saginaw, the IceDogs fell behind 3-1 after one period and 5-2 after two.
Mike Levin and Ryan Roobroeck scored for Niagara.
Matyas Sapovaliv paced the Spirit with three goals while Hunter Haight, Joey Willis and Dean Loukus added singles.
Marcus Vandenberg made 31 saves in a losing cause.
Saturday in Flint, Roobroeck, Zak Lavoie and Ryan VanNetten scored.
Owen Flores made 42 saves in net.
The IceDogs have now dropped five in a row and 10 of their last 11 games to fall to 4-14-4-1.
Niagara visits Brantford Wednesday and Kitchener Friday before hosting the Peterborough Petes Sunday at 2 p.m.
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