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OHL Erie Otters

Erie Otters Shutout on the Road in 2023-24 Season Open

September 29, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


Mississauga, Ontario - 188 days after the final horn sounded on the Erie Otters 2022-23 regular season, a new look and new feel Otters team would roll into the Paramount Fine Foods Centre to open the new year in the Ontario Hockey League. Led by head coach Stan Butler and a coaching staff with a full offseason and preseason to prepare for season 27 of the organization, the Otters would impress in the exhibition season and garner favor from league media heading into their first game. Facing against a Mississauga Steelheads team with - in many respects - a very similar feeling and optimism in their locker room and on the ice, Erie would get a chance to showcase what the preparations heading into the season would amount too.

In the opening period, Mississauga would dominate in every facet enroute to a 4-0 lead after twenty minutes. Just 18 seconds into the first game of the season, Jakub Fibigr (1) would have a knuckle-puck bounce through the five hole of Jacob Gibbons to give Mississauga an early lead. This would be a sign of what was to come. 2:24 would pass before Porter Martone (1) would sneak a puck just past Gibbons for a 2-0 lead for the home team. Taeo Artichuk would head to the box for a knee-on-knee hit at the media timeout, and right out of the timeout it would be Mississauga captain Chas Sharpe (1) who would strike on the man-advantage just eight seconds into the power play. This would be the end of the night for Gibbons. Nolan Lalonde would come in relief for Erie, stopping four of five to end the period - allowing a goal from Luke Misa (1) for his third point of the night. The period would end with Erie headed to the penalty kill down 4-0, being outshot 13-8.

Despite a major deficit heading into the second period, Erie would start to show signs of positive momentum - outshooting the Steelheads 10-8 in the middle frame. Period two would be a penalty-filled one for the two teams, as each team would head to the box three times. Neither team would convert on their opportunities, but Erie would force Mississauga goaltender Ryerson Leenders to have to make a number of terrific saves on the team's power play chances. The Otters would take 40 seconds of power play time into the final frame, still trailing 4-0, but closing the gap of shots down 23-18.

The third period would be the first one that the Erie Otters would lead in shots at the conclusion of, outshooting Mississauga 16-9 in the final frame. The period would also see just a pair of penalties - one for each side - but Mississauga's result in their final goal of the evening from Angus MacDonnell (1). The goal would give the former Sarnia Sting his third point of the night, and the Steelheads first goal since the first period. Ryerson Leenders would be brilliant in net to stop 34/34, and earn his first shutout of the season in Mississauga's opening night win, 5-0.

Erie will head back home looking for a completely different game on Saturday evening. The home schedule will begin for the Otters in their 27th Home Opener (pres. by EC3), preceded by the team's Home Opener Fan Fest at 3:00 P.M. on the lawn of the Erie Insurance Arena. With live music, food trucks, family fun, and a great community atmosphere, this will be the perfect kickoff to the new season of Erie Otters Hockey! The Fan Fest is totally free to attend, and will run from 3:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M., with doors opening at 6:00 P.M. into the EIA. The first 2500 fans will receive a free Gold Out tee shirt (pres. by EC3).

Quick Hit Recap:

1st Period (MISS 4-0):

MISS 1-0: Jakub Fibigr (1), 0:18

MISS 2-0: Porter Martone (1), 3:42

MISS 3-0: Chas Sharpe (1), 8:14

MISS 4-0: Luke Misa (1), 13:25

2nd Period (MISS 4-0):

No goals.

Lalonde: 8/8 saves | Leenders: 10/10 saves.

3rd Period (MISS 5-0):

MISS 5-0: Angus MacDonnell (1), 6:01

Final:

Mississauga downs Erie 5-0.

Check out the Erie Otters Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from September 29, 2023


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