Brace's 100th Overshadowed in 10-2 Loss

March 1, 2014 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Belleville Bulls News Release


KINGSTON, ON - The Kingston Frontenacs are gearing up for the playoffs and the Belleville Bulls were the latest casualty on Friday night. Sam Bennett's second hat-trick against the Bulls this season headlined a 10-2 Kingston victory at the Rogers K-Rock Centre. Bulls overaged forward Cameron Brace scored a pair of goals, including the 100th of his OHL career on a tough night at the office for the Bulls.

Decked out in Military themed uniforms, the Frontenacs saluted the troops on Military Appreciation Night. Things started well for Belleville but plummeted downhill fast in the first period. Cameron Brace boosted the Brahmas to a 1-0 lead on the powerplay 3:50 into action. Brace had help from Alex Yuill, gathering the puck in the slot before spinning and firing a shot under the armpit of Lucas Peressini.

The Belleville lead was short lived though. The Fronts charged back with five goals in the next thirteen minutes to take command of the game. Mikko Vainonen knotted the score at one 7:02 into the period from Henri Ikonen and Ryan Kujawinski who was back in the Kingston lineup for the first time since January 22nd.

A lacrosse-like display of hand-eye coordination put Kingston up 2-1 at 13:56 as Corey Pawley knocked a puck out of mid-air and swatted it over the shoulder of Michael Giugovaz all in one motion to 4,949 at the K-Rock Centre on their feet.

The Kingston powerplay struck at 15:15 with Spencer Watson netting his 33rd of the season. The Bulls got over-aggressive on the penalty kill high in the zone but failed to clear as Sam Bennett took the puck back to the net before firing a cross-crease feed to his linemate Watson for the finish.

Bennett would cap off the first period scoring with a pair of his own. An effective Kingston forecheck worked the puck to the slot where Bennett beat Giugovaz low on the backhand at 15:54. Kingston went ahead 5-1 as Bennett scored again at 19:11, putting an end to a nightmarish shift for the Bulls chalked full of turnovers and missed assignments. Bennett beat Giugovaz on a one-timer through traffic.

Outshot 18-10 and trailing 5-1, the Bulls tried to pick up the pieces in the second. As he did in the first, Cameron Brace opened the scoring in the second. The speedy overaged sniper scored in typical fashion, racing down the wing with speed to beat Peressini under the crossbar on the short side for his 100th career OHL goal just 15 seconds in.

The milestone marker however, would do little to aid the Belleville cause as the Frontenacs put up a three spot in the second. Bennett put the finishing touches on his hat-trick, scoring his third goal in a span of 9:44 as he cut wide upon entering the Belleville zone but still managed to sneak a backhander through Giugovaz from the right circle at 5:38.

Darcy Greenaway pushed Kingston ahead 7-2 at 16:45 from Robert Polesello. Greenaway beat Giugovaz on a second effort, getting his stick on a loose puck in the crease to poke it through the legs of the Belleville goaltender.

Henri Ikonen would score with 29 seconds left in the second as linemate Spencer Watson won a puck battle in the corner before centering to a waiting Ikonen who beat Giugovaz low.

Trailing 8-2 to start the second, the Bulls did what they could to hold off the Kingston attack and even registered some close scoring chances before the final buzzer sounded.

Ryan Verbeek and Robert Polesello capped off the scoring for the Fronts in a 10-2 walloping, one that surely won't be forgotten come Saturday night's back end of the home and home at the Yardmen Arena.

Despite the lopsided result on the scoreboard, the Bulls and Frontenacs had 39 shots each as Sam Bennett was the game's first star with another three goals to his credit.

Adam Bignell returned to the Belleville lineup while forwards Stephen Harper and Aaron Berisha both played a mix of forward and defence on Friday. Jake Marchment, Jake Worrad, Justin Lemcke and Brody Morris remained sidelined with injuries.

The Mississauga Steelheads fell 4-1 to Oshawa on Friday night as the Bulls remain four points back of eighth placed Ottawa with seven games remaining. Ottawa visits Barrie on Saturday night.

The Bulls return home to square off with Kingston for the second time in as many nights on Saturday at 7:05pm. It's RONA Night at the Yardmen Arena, featuring lots of great intermission games and giveaways for those in attendance!

For tickets, contact the Bulls box office at 613-966-8338.



Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 1, 2014


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