OHL Brantford Bulldogs

Clarke's 6 Point Night Gives Colts Game 1 Over Dogs

Published on March 30, 2023 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Brantford Bulldogs News Release


BARRIE, ONTARIO. The Hamilton Bulldogs defense of the 2022 OHL Championship began in earnest on Thursday night with a trip to the Sadlon Arena in Barrie to open the first playoff series between the Bulldogs and the Colts.

Game one got off to a strong start with a quick trip to the power-play for the Bulldogs with the returning Jorian Donovan quarterbacking the top unit and despite pressure pressed to the goal of Anson Thornton, the man-advantage proved fruitless on its first attempt. The Colts opened the scoring at 6:40 as the Bulldogs were unable to clear the puck from their own zone, Beau Jelsma played it on to Declan McDonnell, on a shorthanded rush, who fired it past Bulldogs starter Tristan Malboeuf giving the hosts the 1-0 lead. Hamilton responded at 8:13 as Noah Roberts flipped the puck up the left side to Noah Nelson for a 2-on-1 with Cole Brown, using the Bulldogs sniper as a decoy, Nelson faked the pass and beat Thornton clean from the bottom of the circle for his first OHL playoff goal knotting the game 1-1. Tristan Malboeuf stood up for his team with 13 first period saves but the Colts pressure proved a little too much to handle, after Malboeuf made an initial stop on McDonnell, Hamilton was unable to clear the rebound leading to Beau Jelsma capitalizing on the second opportunity to give Barrie the 2-1 lead at 12:11.

Before the first period was out, Jacob Frasca stole the puck in the right corner of the Bulldogs zone and hit Tai York in the slot who was able to whip a shot over Malboeuf's shoulder to give the Colts a 3-1 lead at 18:42 that they would hold into the first intermission with the Bulldogs looking to regroup.

There was no relief in the middle frame for the Bulldogs as the Colts bolted out of the locker room and cashed on an early power-play at 1:09 with Brandt Clarke recording his first goal of the playoffs to extend the Barrie lead to 4-1 and spell the end of the night for Tristan Malboeuf, replaced between the pipes by Matteo Drobac. The Colts offense continued on shorthanded as Braeden Hache sprang Beau Jelsma in behind the Bulldogs defense at 4:54 to score his 2nd of the game and bubble the score to 5-1 for the hosts. The Bulldogs managed to claw one back on the same power-play at 5:34 as Nick Lardis & Sahil Panwar exchanged high to get the puck to Lucas Moore who rocketed a wrist shot past Thornton for his first OHL playoff goal, cutting the deficit to 5-2. At 7:22 the Colts added on, off a faceoff win to Drobac's left Jodoin played the puck on to Brandt Clarke, creating a low 2-on-1 where Clarke fed Tai York for his 2nd of the game and a 6-2 lead. Before the period was out Jacob Frasca & Tyler Savard would each mark their first goals of the playoffs at 15:11 & 18:57, with Savard's coming on the power-play, the Colts' 4th special teams goal of the night, to take a commanding 8-2 lead to the second intermission.

The third period held more of the same as the Barrie Colts momentum just couldn't be contained on Thursday night, Declan McDonnell recorded his 2nd of the game at 5:45 on the power-play to give the Colts a 9-2 lead. After Sahil Panwar was ejected from the game for a hit on Beau Jelsma, Brandt Clarke capped off the game with a Michigan goal for his 2nd of the game and 6th point of the night at 14:29 to give the Colts a 10-2 victory to open the first round series.

Game 2 of the Hamilton Bulldogs opening round series against the Barrie Colts goes Saturday night, April 1st, at Sadlon Arena with a 7:30pm start time. The series shifts to Hamilton for Game 3 on Sunday night, April 2nd, with a 7:00pm start time.

For more information on Hamilton Bulldogs 2023 Playoff tickets call 905-529-8500 or visit hamiltonbulldogs.com.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 30, 2023


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