Bulls Fall 6-1 to Colts on New Years Eve

December 31, 2014 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Belleville Bulls News Release


BARRIE, ON - The Belleville Bulls travelled to Barrie for a New Years date with the Colts. Barrie defeated the Bulls the last time these two clubs met and has since jumped up to second on the Eastern Conference standings. The Bulls have not played since December 20th and were looking for a good start to the second half of their season. Barrie, however played spoiler as they scored early and often on route to a 6-1 win.

The Colts took advantage of a slow start by the Bulls and fired a number of quality scoring chances on Bulls starting goaltender Charlie Graham. It didn't take long for the home team to open the scoring as 1995-born winger Justin Scott potted his 14th of the season at 1:33. Centre, Andrew Mangiapane and former Bull Garrett Hooey picked up assists on the games opening goal.

Just over the seven-minute mark, Stephen Harper was called for goaltender interference when he knocked off the mask of Mackenzie Blackwood while driving the net. The Colts made no mistake on their first power play of the game as Kevin Labanc took a cross-ice pass from Mangipane and made it 2-0 Barrie. The goal marked Labanc's 21st consecutive game registering a point.

The Bulls stopped the bleeding less than three minutes later. Czech Republic product David Tomasek buried a loose puck on the doorstep to put his club on the board. Forwards Andrew Ming and Jake Bricknell pick up helpers on the goal that cut the lead in half.

In the dying minutes of the opening frame, defenceman Jordan Subban was called for holding the stick, handing the Colts their third man advantage of the period. At 19:34 left-winger Brendan Lemieux scored his 26th of the season to put Barrie up 3-1. Over ager Joseph Blandisi and Labanc were credited with the assists. Shots were knotted up at 7 after the first 20 minutes.

It was much of the same in the second stanza as Barrie continued their hot play. Bulls defenceman Jack Hanley was called for holding just under 3 minutes in giving the Colts another man advantage. Blandisi made the Bulls pay as he scored his 22nd of the year, extending the lead for his team at 2:47, prompting a goaltender change for Belleville.

Just under the 10-minute mark, the Bulls found themselves short handed again as Michael Cramarossa sat two minutes for tripping. 18 seconds into the power play Joseph Blandisi buried his second marker of the night to make it 5-1 Barrie. Mangiapane picked up his 4th helper of the night on the play. Barrie led 20-17 in shots after two periods.

Things got a little chippy in the final period. Former teammates Garrett Hooey and Jordan Subban got into it briefly sending both players to the box for roughing just under 2:30 minutes in. Following a number of penalties for both teams, Lemieux finished off a cross-ice pass from Blandisi at 8:28 to make it 6-1 Barrie. Both teams continued to trade trips to the penalty box for the remainder of the period.

Shots favoured the Colts 34-25. Charlie Graham made 10 saves while Connor Hicks made 18. The Bulls return home to the Yardmen Arena on New Years Day as they host the Kingston Frontenacs at 4:05pm.



Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 31, 2014


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