Testa scores as Bulldogs blank IceDogs
Luca Testa was a man in demand Tuesday night.
The 16-year-old Grimsby native was busy shaking hands, getting hugs and posing for pictures after scoring his first goal for the Hamilton Bulldogs following a 6-0 win over the Niagara IceDogs in Ontario Hockey League action at the Meridian Centre.
Testa, who went scoreless in his first 13 games with Bulldogs after being acquired from the London Knights, banged home his second OHL goal late in the period on a perfect passing play.
“It was awesome to finally get the monkey off the back a bit,” Testa said. “It (slump) kind of started in London and then it came over here.
“It was really good. I played at the end a lot and finally scored.”
Testa said the goal couldn’t have come at a better time in a more appropriate location with about 20 friends and family the stands.
“It was a really good feeling. I’m happy to do it here in the hometown a bit,” he said.
Testa was all smiles on the bench following the goal.
“I was so excited and ready to start rolling with the Bulldogs now,” he said.
Testa was the Knights first-round selection in the 2022 OHL draft but was dealt to the rebuilding Bulldogs after just 15 games in a package that sent veteran forwards Ryan Winterton and Ryan Humphrey to London.
“Obviously, it’s a really hard transition into the OHL,” he said. “It’s a hard league. It’s a physical league and it’s really fast but I think getting the monkey off the back hopefully I can go produce some more.”
Testa, who suited up for the St. Catharines Falcons and was a key contributor in their run to a Sutherland Cup with six goals and 17 points in 18 playoff games, isn’t the least bit deterred by his slow offensive season.
“I think you just have to keep the mindset of getting better every day,” he said. “It’s a development year so I’m just trying to get as good as I can now and hopefully roll into my draft year and put up quite a few points.”
Testa said Hamilton coach Jay McKee said to keep things simple.
“Just keep working hard and get in the gym and get as strong as you can,” Testa said of McKee’s advice. “We’re in a rebuild kind of year, but we’re still rolling hard. Just stay on hard after practice and work hard every day.”
The loss was the sixth in a row for Niagara and 16th in their last 17 games. They bring up the rear of the standings with a 9-31-6-1 record.
IceDogs goaltender Owen Flores was back between the pipes for the first time since injuring his knee Jan. 18 versus Sudbury.
Ice cubes: Landon Cato (upper body), Gerard Keane (broken wrist), Michael Podolioukh and Anthony Agostinelli (concussion) did not dress for the IceDogs . . . David Egorov, Noah Roberts, Noah Nelson, Noah VandenBrink, Carson Lloyd were scratched for Hamilton . . . The shutout was the first of the season for the Bulldogs and the first time the IceDogs have been blanked . . . Hamilton’s first goal was scored on a penalty shot.
STATS PACK
Bulldogs 6 IceDogs 0
Hamilton’s Luca Testa and Niagara’s Owen Flores.
Niagara IceDogs: No scoring.
Hamilton Bulldogs: Nick Lardis 2 (24, 25); Sahil Panwar (17); Marek Vanacker (4); Adrian Rebelo (3); Luca Testa (2).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By Niagara on Matteo Drobac (18), by Hamilton on Owen Flores (33); Power plays: Niagara 0/3, Hamilton 2/5; Penalty minutes: Niagara 12, Hamilton 8.
Attendance: 4,060.
Next up: The IceDogs are in Owen Sound Wednesday, in Ottawa Friday and in Kingston Sunday.
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