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Brantford Bulldogs

Brown Hat-Trick Leads Bulldogs In 7-5 Win Over Colts

March 2, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Brantford Bulldogs News Release


BARRIE, ONTARIO. The Bulldogs busy week rolled on Thursday night with a visit to Sadlon Arena in Barrie for the last meeting of the season between the two teams which entered the game in position to play one another in the opening round of the OHL Playoffs.

Feeding off the momentum gained from their dramatic comeback win over the Erie Otters on Tuesday, the Bulldogs hopped in the saddle early. At 5:01, Cole Brown carried the puck through the left-wing circle, dropping it to the following Patrick Thomas who used his teammate as a moving screen to snap the puck through the crowd and record his 17th of the season, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead. Hamilton quickly followed to add to the lead, just as their first power-play of the game expired, Braeden O'Keefe collected a Noah Nelson offensive zone rim on the right, dropping the puck to Lucas Moore at the right point whose drive whistled through the crowd and deflected off the shaft of Florian Xhekaj's stick for the power winger's 10th of the season giving the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead. Back on the man advantage at 12:07 the Bulldogs struck again, Jorian Donovan controlled the puck at the middle of the blueline, setting Sahil Panwar for a one-timer in the right circle which caromed off the skate of Cole Brown and past Anson Thornton for Brown's 15th of the season and 2nd point of the first frame putting Hamilton up 3-0. Before the period was out the Colts got one back, with the game 4-on-4 Ben Bujold lost his helmet leading to a brief 4-on-3 where Ethan Cardwell found Brandt Clarke for his 13th of the season at 17:46 to make the score 3-1, which is where the first period came to a close.

Opening the middle frame on the power-play after Ranvir Gill-Shane took a high cross-check from Declan McDonnell, the Bulldogs power-play struck again. Matteo Drobac captured the puck off a Colts clear and catching the hosts in a line change, he slung the puck to Cole Brown on the right side of the Barrie blueline. Brown walked middle, surveying his options and from the middle of the slot ripped a shot past Thornton for his 2nd goal of the game, 3rd point, and 16th marker of the year at 1:07 to put the Bulldogs ahead 4-1. The Colts high octane offense answered back, at 2:33 a neutral zone turnover started a 2-on-1 where Cooper Matthews fed Cole Beaudoin for his 6th of the game, pulling the game to 4-2. The Colts added another with a Brandt Clarke rush through neutral ice, working off the right side, sweeping out front and tucking the puck past the pad of Drobac for his 2nd of the game & 14th of the year, pulling the Colts to within one, 4-3, at 3:58. With the Bulldogs on the penalty kill at 10:14 and after a brilliant Matteo Drobac sprawling save, Adrian Rebelo knocked a cross-slot pass out of the air to start a shorthanded 2-on-1 with Masen Wray. With Rebelo striding left, he fed the 2006-born rookie middle for Wray to fire past Thornton for his 2nd goal in the OHL & 1st shorthanded to give the Bulldogs a 5-3 lead through 40 minutes.

The final frame was just as wild as the opening pair, the Bulldogs power-play struck again at 3:25 as Sahil Panwar & Patrick Thomas exchanged the puck low and found Cole Brown high in the slot where he let fly, beating Anson Thornton for his hat-trick goal, his 1st in the OHL, and 17th of the season giving the Bulldogs a 6-3 lead. The wasn't safe however as the Colts closed back in, Brandt Clarke completed his hat-trick from Beau Jelsma on a Barrie power-play at 13:02 followed by Declan McDonnell cashing a Colts 2-on-1 from Jelsma at 15:10 getting the Colts back to 6-5. With Barrie pressing forward, an unforced error by Connor Punnett in his defensive zone turned the puck over to Florian Xhekaj on the left-wing boards, finding Adrian Rebelo middle on the short distance 2-on-1 for his 6th of the season, the Bulldogs nosed back ahead 7-5. Despite a furious late press, 29 saves from Matteo Drobac would seal the deal giving the Bulldogs 2-points to move into a 5th place tie in the Eastern Conference with the Mississauga Steelheads.

The Bulldogs head home to host the Owen Sound Attack on Friday, March 3rd at 7:00pm.

For more information on Hamilton Bulldogs 2022-23 Flex packages or single game tickets call 905-529-8500 or visit hamiltonbulldogs.com.

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