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OHL North Bay Battalion

Clark plays big role at both ends

April 4, 2009 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
North Bay Battalion News Release


MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - Defenceman Matt Clark of the Brampton Battalion is known for his ability to play in his own end, but he was a factor offensively for the Ontario Hockey League team Friday night.

Clark had two assists, including setting up the winning goal by Matt Duchene at 12:05 of the third period, as the Troops edged the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors 2-1 to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal. The Battalion hosts Game 3 at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Majors goaltender J.P. Anderson stopped Clark's low shot from the right point, but the rebound went to Duchene, who buried it for his fifth goal of the playoffs. Stephon Thorne earned the other assist.

"The guys were driving the net, and Thorne gave me a nice pass," said rookie Clark, an 18-year-old Campbellville, Ont., resident. "I threw it on the net, and Duchene was right there. He made a great play to get it into the net."

Clark collected his first OHL playoff point on Matt Kang's goal at 14:51 of the second period, giving the Troops a 1-0 lead. After some industrious work by Clark's defence partner, Josh Day, deep in Battalion territory, Clark fed the puck to Jason Dale, who fired a shot that Anderson couldn't handle. Kang arrived in the deep slot to fire home the loose puck.

"Day battled really hard in the corner, and I was just there for the outlet pass," said Clark. "I made an easy pass, and the next thing I knew it was in the net."

Clark found himself on the ice in the final minute with Anderson on the bench for a sixth attacker. The Battalion held its ground, with goaltender Thomas McCollum making a save on a Jared Gomes shot from the deep slot in the final seconds.

"He's become one of our top four defencemen," coach Stan Butler said of Clark, an 11th-round choice in the 2006 OHL Priority Selection. "We play him in every tough situation, and that's a credit to Matt and all the work he has put in."

Overager Day and Clark have been partners since Day's arrival in a trade from the Niagara IceDogs on Jan. 7.

"He's been playing really well," said Day. "We clicked right away. I like playing with him. He's a smart player. He makes a really good first pass and reads the play well. We're always looking out for each other."

The six-foot-three, 215-pound Clark had three goals and 20 assists for 23 points in 63 games this season. He said he finds the heightened atmosphere in the playoffs to his liking.

"It's completely different. Guys are battling every shift. I love the physical play. This is my kind of game. Mississauga works hard, and we knew it would be a battle. We just have to keep on doing what we've been doing. We have to keep on hitting and getting pucks to the net."

The Battalion took the series opener 3-0 at home Thursday night, limiting the Majors to 21 shots. The Troops owned a 35-30 shots edge in Game 2.

"It was a tough road win, but we scraped it out," said captain Cody Hodgson. "McCollum was great for us back there. You won't get too many fancy goals in a series like this. This game was more like what we thought the series would be like."

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