Barber Poles Rally to Defeat Frontenacs in High-Scoring Affair
October 14, 2019 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Ottawa 67's News Release
OTTAWA - The Thanksgiving spirit was omnipresent on Monday afternoon at TD Place Arena, as the 67's gave their fans an incredible comeback win and completed a perfect weekend with an 8 - 7 overtime win against the Kingston Frontenacs.
Once again, the Barber Poles started the game on a strong note, but conceded 3 unanswered goals in the first ten minutes of play. The 67's saw Marco Rossi reducing the gap at 3-1 with his third of the season at 10:56 played in the first. Despite narrowing the gap, Kingston continued on their scoring spree with another two goals before the end of the first and entered the locker-room with a 5-1 lead over the 67's.
André Tourigny's team started the second act with a lot more aggressiveness and found the back of net at the fifth minute of play, thanks to Rossi's (4) shorthanded goal and his second of the game, reducing the gap to 5-2. 67's fans did not have to wait too long before celebrating another goal. Mitchell Hoelscher and Graeme Clarke scored back to back and gave hope to their fans by closing the gap to 5-4. The offensive festival continued with another Frontenacs goal at 12:57 in the second, but Graeme Clarke answered back for the 67's two minutes later with his second of the game and sixth of the season. The Barber Poles were trailing 6-5 after 40 minutes of play.
After transforming a 5-1 deficit to a 6-5 game, the 67's came back on the ice for the third period still trailing by one goal with one objective in mind; completing their comeback. Ottawa started the third just like they left off. It is 67's veteran, Austin Keating, who tied the game at 6-6 with his third of the season. However, the Frontenacs silenced the home crowd once again with their seventh goal of the game, scored by Dawson Baker. In the middle of the third, 67's goaltender, Will Cranley, made a few key saves to keep his teammates in the game. After knocking on Kingston's door, Ottawa once again tied the game at 7-7, thanks to an incredible slap shot from Noel Hoefenmayer who found the top corner with 2:19 remaining in the third period. After what was an exciting 60 minutes of hockey, both teams headed to overtime.
The 67's started the overtime on the right foot. Hoefenmayer almost found the back of the net after just 30 second of play in extra time. From there, Ottawa kept putting pressure on the Frontenacs and completed one of the best comeback of the 2019-2020 season, in what was the most nail-biting home game of the campaign. Kevin Bahl's second goal of the season, couldn't have come at better time than this. Bahl's goal helped the 67's to complete their comeback and their perfect weekend with an 8-7
The 67's will be in action once again inside The Arena at TD Place on Friday night, when they host the Peterborough Petes for their first ever Friends Night.
Game Notes
Since coming back from suspension, Marco Rossi has put up two goals and three assists in two games for five points. He now has nine points in four games on the year.
With two goals on Monday, Graeme Clarke now has seven goals in nine games this season. Clarke left the game early due to an upper-body injury.
Sophomore goalie Will Cranley came in aid of his teammate Cedrick Andree during the first period. Cranley earned the win by saving 15 of 19 shots directed towards him.
With a four-point night, Austen Keating now has 12 points in nine games. He is now second behind Mitch Hoelscher for Ottawa's leading scorer. Hoelscher has put up 14 points in nine games thus far.
Head coach André Tourigny
"First of all, I think we were working hard at the start of the game, but got a few bad bounces. It was not a question of a lack of effort."
"A lot of guys in that room could have quit, we stayed with it, came back in the second very strong and we scored key goals in key moments. It was maybe not perfect but it was a really good game in terms of character and effort. We have a no quit philosophy and Identity and we want that in our DNA forever."
Defenceman Kevin Bahl
"At the start of the season I wasn't doing too well, but I just picked up the intensity and started doing all the little things right in order to continue from where I left off last year."
"With the relentlessness that we have in our DNA anything is possible. Just before the third period we talked and I just knew right away that we were going to come back. I am very excited to be a part of this group."
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Ontario Hockey League Stories from October 14, 2019
- Kaliyev, Jenik & Morrison Lead Bulldogs To Victory Over Barrie - Brantford Bulldogs
- Troops Feast on 'Hounds - North Bay Battalion
- Barber Poles Rally to Defeat Frontenacs in High-Scoring Affair - Ottawa 67's
- Bulldogs Edge out Colts in Thanksgiving Game - Barrie Colts
- Rangers Explode for a 7-3 Win over the Wolves - Kitchener Rangers
- OHL 'On the Run' Player of the Week: Mack Guzda - Owen Sound Attack
- Attack's Mack Guzda Named OHL 'On the Run' Player of the Week - OHL
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