Steelheads rally past IceDogs
Gavin Bryant has been everything the Niagara IceDogs could have asked for this season — and more.
The 19-year-old forward was brought in from the Owen Sound Attack to give the IceDogs depth and experience down the middle as well as provide leadership.
Bryant has checked all those boxes and then some.
The Ingersoll native picked up an assist Thursday night as the IceDogs dropped a 3-1 decision to the Mississauga Steelheads in Ontario Hockey League action in St. Catharines, but Bryant’s contributions go much deeper than just points.
“He’s meant everything,” IceDogs coach Ben Boudreau said of Bryant. “We’d be up a river right now if it wasn’t for Gavin. It’s everything that everyone sees on the ice that you can appreciate. He’s doing unbelievable and he’s doing it with a body that isn’t 100 per cent.”
Bryant began the season as one of four assistants before being named captain after the trade of Zac Lavoie to Brantford in January at the trade deadline.
“We went through a leadership change and a coaching change and you couldn’t have asked for a better guy to take ownership of that role and to come back knowing he’s the captain for next year, I think is really important,” Boudreau said. “He’s an unbelievable human, he brings the group together, he’s unbelievable on the ice.
“He’s an A-plus captain.”
Bryant confirmed he is committed to return next season as an over-age player.
“One hundred per cent,” Bryant said. “Niagara has been unbelievable to me this year. I have nothing but respect for everyone in the organization and everyone in it — coaching staff, management, trainers. It’s been a heck of a year for me and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else next year.”
Bryant cherishes every minute of his time in the OHL.
“Timing is not on my side here in the OHL. I had a 30-game year last year so it was a pretty down year so getting up to 60 games this year has been really important to me,” he said.
He has enjoyed his role as leader as well.
“From a team standpoint, it’s just staying with it for these younger guys. They have lots of time left in this league but it goes by quick. I’ve seen it first hand and it’s one of those things where you just have to stay with it, no matter what the standings show. It’s a privilege to play in the OHL, a privilege to be an IceDog, so that’s how the guys have to look at it.
“In my rookie year, I was a sponge coming into the league. I wanted to learn from all the older guys, and even guys my age. I know there’s guys in that room who love to ask questions and that’s all you can ask for on my end being a veteran. It’s pretty cool to see.”
The loss was the third in three nights this week for Niagara after a 7-1 loss at Brantford Wednesday and a 5-4 shootout loss at Barrie Tuesday.
Niagara led 1-0 after two when Ryan Roobroeck scored, breaking the IceDogs single season rookie record with 49 points passing Akil Thomas (48 points, 2016-17).
Charlie Robertson was having another outstanding game in net with 43 saves but was injured and had to be removed with 8:08 remaining in the game with the IceDogs up 1-0. The Steelheads tied the game at 14:21, then netted the winner when Mason Zebeski scored on a wrap-around on Owen Flores.
“As far as Flores goes, it’s a tough situation, but you want to be able to find a way to shut that game down,” Boudreau said. “I know it’s tough but that’s the time where you have to find a way to make a difference.
“Far too often in games this year you look back and say if only for that one play, if only that one thing and it’s happened a lot. Whether you’re a goalie, a defenceman or a forward, you have to find a way to make that one difference in the game and unfortunately tonight I didn’t think we got it.”
Boudreau had no news on Robertson’s injury but indicated Flores would likely get the start to finish off the season Saturday versus Sudbury.
Ice cubes: Alex Assadourian, Kevin He (suspended), Michael Podolioukh and Andrew Wycisk did not dress for the IceDogs . . . Anthony Paolini, Dean Loukus, Wyatt Jinman, Luke Dragusica and Liam Spencer were scratched for the Steelheads . . . Assadourian (8) scored at Brantford Wednesday while Mathieu Paris (10), Ivan Galiyanov (8), Masen Wray (5) and William Stewart (4) scored at Barrie Tuesday.
STATS PACK
Steelheads 3 IceDogs 1
Niagara goaltender Charlie Robertson and Mississauga’s Mason Zebeski.
Niagara IceDogs: Ryan Roobroeck (24).
Mississauga Steelheads: Angus MacDonell (31); Luke Misa (25); Mason Zebeski (24).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By Niagara on Ryerson Leenders (39), by Mississauga on Charlie Robertson/Owen Flores (50); Power plays: Niagara 0/3, Mississauga 0/3; Penalty minutes: Niagara 8, Mississauga 8.
Attendance: 4,018.
Next up: IceDogs play their last regular season game at home Saturday versus the Sudbury Wolves.
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