OHL Brantford Bulldogs

Egorov Debut Spoiled by Storm Swarm

Published on January 11, 2023 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Brantford Bulldogs News Release


HAMILTON, ONTARIO. For the first time since November 23rd, 2019, the Hamilton Bulldogs hosted the Guelph Storm at FirstOntario Centre on Wednesday night. David Egorov took the pipes for his OHL debut while Cedricson Okitundu & Ben Bujold each made their debuts in black & gold.

The story of the opening frame was the play of the 16-year-old rookie netminder Egorov who opened his OHL career in spectacular fashion. First bolting across the crease from his left to his right to deny Storm captain Cooper Walker on the doorstep and following that up with a blocker stop on a Ryan McGuire breakaway to keep the game scoreless. On the Storm 's second power-play of the opening frame, they did breakthrough, with Michael Buchinger feeding left for Matthew Poitras who found Braeden Bowman on a cross-seam pass left where the Storm gunner went back bar and down for his 11th of the season putting Guelph up 1-0. A late flurry period flurry for Hamilton drew the Bulldogs first man advantage of the game right at the horn but they newly acquired Patrick Leaver kept the door shut stopping all 10 Bulldogs first period shots, taking a 1-0 lead to the break.

The Storm quickened the pace in the middle frame, fending off the early Bulldogs power-play and turning the period to their advantage, surrendering just 1 shot until the midway point of the frame. At 9:00, Max Namestnikov danced through a pair to feed Cooper Walker in the slot striking past Egorov to give the Storm a 2-0 lead. A Bulldogs flurry followed led by Nick Lardis and Patrick Thomas, cycling around the Storm zone with 4 opportunities on goal in a single shift but were unable to beat Leaver. With the Bulldogs on the power-play at 18:16, Ryan McGuire led a shorthanded 2-on-1 with Jake Karabela who McGuire was able to slide the puck too with Karabela tucking it in to give the Storm a 3-0 lead. The Bulldogs countered with time expiring in the middle frame, at 19:50, Lucas Moore worked right for Jorian Donovan who's shot into a crowd was tipped, in spectacular fashion, by Patrick Thomas, going between his legs and over Leaver's shoulder for his 11th of the season and cutting the lead to 3-1 through 40 minutes.

The final frame was a rather subdued affair, with shots just 6-6 over the 20 minutes. Cedricson Okitundu hammered a shot from the right point around the mid-way of the frame that Ben McFarlane blocked off in front of a screened Patrick Leaver to keep the 2-goal lead for the Storm. Just moments later, Jorian Donovan from the left point looked to feed newcomer Ben Bujold back door but the puck bounced off Bujold's skate and away from the forward's stick to again stifle the Dogs attack. With Hamilton pressing late, Okitundu again looked to hop into the play but a deflected pass away from the Bulldogs defenseman sent the Storm ahead with Valentin Zhugin feeding Hunter McKenzie down the middle of the ice, lifting a shot past Egorov to give the Storm a 4-1 lead at 16:27. The young Bulldogs fought to the final seconds to decrease the deficit but Patrick Leaver held strong, turning aside 22 of 23 as the Storm skated away with a 4-1 victory.

The Hamilton Bulldogs return to action on Friday, January 13th facing off with Logan Morrison and the Ottawa 67's to open a 5-game road trip at TD Place with a 7:00pm puck drop.

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

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 11, 2023


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