| ST. CATHARINES, ON – The IceDogs finished off a 3-game homestand this week on Saturday Night as they welcomed in the Kingston Frontenacs. Niagara entered the game 0-1-1 this season vs Kingston. Entering Saturday Night’s contest Matthew Soto entered the game with 4 points in 2 games vs the IceDogs, while Daniel Michaud lead his team with 2 points head-to-head this season against the Frontenacs.
Niagara came into the game 8 wins behind Sudbury for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference while Kingston came in at 6th place holding onto one of the final playoff spots despite being sellers at the recent OHL Trade Deadline.
A big moment for newly signed goaltender Charlie Burns as he would make his OHL Debut after being signed earlier in the week due to the injury to Owen Flores. Juan Copeland, Landon Cato, Gerard Keane, Anthony Agostinelli, Andrew Wycisk, and Owen Flores would be the scratches for Niagara. Niagara would go in to the game short a forward and a defenseman, only dressing 18 skaters.
IceDogs Starters (21/01/23):
LW: Declan Waddick
C: Daniel Michaud
RW: Andrew LeBlanc
LD: Nathan Ribau
RD: David Jesus
G: Charlie Burns
Tale of the (Stick) Tape
| Team Leaders |
Niagara IceDogs |
Kingston Frontenacs |
| Goals |
Zakary Lavoie (15) |
Matthew Soto (13) |
| Assists |
David Jesus (18) |
Matthew Soto (23) |
| Points |
Zakary Lavoie (26) |
Matthew Soto (36) |
Between the Pipes
|
Niagara IceDogs |
Kingston Frontenacs |
| Starters |
Charlie Burns |
Mason Vaccari |
| Games |
– |
14 |
| Wins |
– |
8 |
| Losses |
– |
6-0-1 |
| Save Percentage |
– |
.908 |
| Goals Against Average |
– |
3.34 |
1st Period
After a strong penalty kill to start the game, the IceDogs would turn the puck over at their own blue line, resulting in a 2on0 for the Frontenacs but they would completely miss the net on the opportunity, keeping the game scoreless.
Daniel Michaud would create a few scoring opportunities in front of the Frontenacs net during a strong shift from the Assistant Captain but Vaccari was up to the task for Kingston heading into the mid-period break.
Owen Outwater would take the pass in the corner from Ethan Miedema and fire the puck blocker side on Burns in the slot to give the Frontenacs the lead. Right as the period was about to expire, Kingston was able to pot in the loose puck past a sprawling Burns to take a 2-0 lead heading into the break thanks to Outwater’s second goal of the night.
2nd Period
Early in the middle period, a pass to the right circle is ripped on a one-timer by Poole that gets past Burns to extend Kingston’s lead. Following the mid-period break Nathan Ribau would be called for a slash behind his own net trying to knock the puck away, sending Kingston to a powerplay opportunity.
Charlie Burns would come up with a big breakaway save during the man advantage as Niagara was trying to complete a change on the long end of the ice. On the following draw, the Frontenacs would work the puck around before another one-timer from the right circle was labelled by Gabriel Frasca to increase the Frontenacs lead by four.
With 5 minutes remaining in the period, a Schneider shot goes wide but bounces off the boards and right to Gabriel Frasca who pots it into the open net for his second of the period. The IceDogs would be given a late powerplay thanks to Nathan Poole, their first chance on the man advantage of the evening with 4:18 remaining in period two.
Zak Lavoie would take the pass from Waddick on the right circle and wrist one blocker side on Vaccari, finally getting the IceDogs on the board with a powerplay goal. Shots at the end of the period favoured the visitors by a 22-16 total.
3rd Period
IceDogs defenseman Nathan Ribau delivered a major hit along the boards near centre ice on Chris Thibodeaux that led to a minor scrum between both teams. A hit that got the Meridian Centre crowd going despite the score. As a result, Jacob Battaglia would go off for roughing to give Niagara another chance with the man advantage. Goaltender Charlie Burns would come up with a huge breakaway save on Kingston captain Paul Ludwinski shorthanded.
The IceDogs would have a glorious chance in tight but the shot was received by Podolioukh who would break his stick on the play. Owen Outwater would be called for a slash later in the shift, sending the IceDogs right back to the powerplay.
After an arrant pass on the man advantage by the IceDogs to no one in the neutral zone, Bronson Ride would be called for tripping as Kingston would pick up the loose puck. Niagara was unable to capitalize on the back-to-back man advantages and the teams would play four on-four for a short time before the final midperiod break.
Andrew LeBlanc would steal the puck off a Frontenacs defender, go in on goal, and set up Declan Waddick for a cross-ice pass that was stoned by the left pad of Vaccari. Niagara would continue the pressure in the offensive zone on the same shift and a pass by Daniel Michaud out front would be potted in by Declan Waddick who got his redemption on Vaccari the shift before. Kingston would challenge the play for goaltender interference but after a short review, the call was upheld for Niagara’s second goal of the evening.
A scrum would ensue behind the Kingston net between Zak Lavoie and Raine Nadeau which would lead to four-on-four play. The Frontenacs would take advantage of the open ice as Callens would take the pass from Ludwinski who drew two IceDogs defenders towards him and went in on goal to fire a shot glove side on Burns, giving Kingston a four-goal advantage.
The Frontenacs would take the game by a 6-2 score improving to 3-0 versus Niagara this season. Niagara goes 0-3 during their homestand before going on the road for a Central Division matchup tomorrow in Mississauga. Charlie Burns made 24 saves in his OHL Debut. Another large crowd on Saturday Night at the Meridian Centre as 4,695 fans were in attendance, still strongly supporting the IceDogs through their tough stretch and winless 2023 so far.
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