Fast Start Paces Petes to 7-4 Win
Published on September 6, 2013 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Belleville Bulls News Release
PETERBOROUGH, ON - Preseason hockey is an upredictable thing. The Belleville Bulls and Peterborough Petes combined for eleven goals for the second time in as many games on Thursday night in Peterborough. The Petes had contributions from seven different goal scorers in a medley of different scenarios as the Bulls fell 7-4 at the Memorial Centre.
The Petes had a pair of powerplay goals, two shorthanded markers and an empty net tally, getting out to a 3-0 lead on the first ten shots of the game as the Bulls battled late but couldn't recover.
With Brendan Gaunce, Jordan Subban, Alan Quine, Brady Austin and Scott Simmonds away at NHL camps, the kids got a workout on Thursday. Both David Tomasek and Jake Bricknell provided positives for the Bulls on an otherwise unmemorable night in Peterborough.
The pesky Petes jumped out in front just 2:30 into action on a powerplay goal by Stephen Nosad. A low point shot from rookie defenceman Cameron Lizotte drew a rebound off the pad of Braydon Banitsiotis as Nosad was on the doorstep to finish the job.
Established veteran and former first round pick Nick Ritchie put Peterborough ahead by a deuce on a low shot from down the right wing that got through the wickets of a butterflied Banitsiotis at 5:27 shorthanded.
Recently signed 17 year-old Steven Lorentz extended the maroon and white lead to three, jumping on a loose disc in the goalmouth after a deflection bounced his way at 6:28.
Staring a 3-0 deficit in the face, the Bulls took a step forward when Jake Marchment connected with Aaron Berisha on a two-on-one chance. Berisha buried past Peterborough netminder Mathew Robson just ten seconds after Lorentz' goal.
The Bulls were outshot 16-9 in the first and trailed 3-1 after twenty minutes.
The Petes were back on the warpath at 4:31 of the second. Cody Thompson, who drew a slew-footing major in Sunday's contest, ripped a wicked release as he cut in off the left wing to beat Banitsiotis high on the far side. Eric Cornel would add a fifth Peterborough goal under two minutes later at 6:17 on the powerplay from Nosad and Ritchie.
Petes forward Chase Hatcher was shown the dressing room a quarter of the way through the second period on a check to the head against Bulls defenceman Daniel De Sousa. De Sousa was shaken up on the play but would return a few shifts later.
Jonatan Tanus continued the Peterborough offensive at 9:34 with their second shorthanded goal of the night. A rare sight, Tanus came screaming down the middle to jump on a rebound as three Petes beat the Bulls' powerplay unit back up ice to make the score 6-1.
The Belleville powerplay went to work just beyond the midway point of the second. Second round selection Jake Bricknell was on the latter end of a give and go with linemate Michael Cramarossa,beating Robson on the short side on a quick release at 11:31.
Down 6-2 to begin the third, a Bulls club with a little more jump came out for the final twenty minutes. Jake Marchment rallied the bench when he and Petes rookie blueliner Cameron Lizotte gave the 1796 in attendance something to get excited about. The knuckles came out and were connecting in a big way at centre ice as both young players delivered their share of blows.
Michael Cramarossa got the Bulls to within three at 6:44 when linemate David Tomasek shook a Petes defender off his tail before dishing to the slot where Cramarossa was waiting with his stick on the ice to tip it home.
Tomasek would find a goal of his own with just under six minutes to go on a rebound to the left of the goal. Tomasek had assists from Niki Petti and Jake Worradwhen he beat Robson inside the near post on an opportunistic shot.
Unfortunately, that's as close as the Bulls would get. Nelson Armstrong put the game out of reach with an empty-netter from behind his own goal line to make the final score 7-4 Peterborough.
"We're throwing a lot at these guys right now and it's a learning curve they're adapting to," said Bulls Assistant Coach Jake Grimes following the loss. "We need to be more responsible on the defensive side of things but I liked the contributions from guys like Tomasek and Bricknell tonight. We've seen some good things from our young forwards."
The Bulls were outshot 41-33 in the game and see their preseason record fall to 0-2. They'll host the Kingston Frontenacs at home on Saturday night.
Both Chad Heffernan and Griffin McCarty remained sidelined while Adam Bignell got the night off in favour of fellow defenceman Jake Worrad.
For tickets to Saturday's 7:05pm game, contact the Bulls box office at 613-966-8338. Tickets are general admission for the price of $10.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from September 6, 2013
- Greyhounds play to a draw - Soo Greyhounds
- Rangers Fall 5-2 in Exhibition Contest - Kitchener Rangers
- Petes Reassign Two More Players - Peterborough Petes
- Catch Preseason Action on Saturday for Just $10 - Belleville Bulls
- Reminder: Storm Game Tonight Cancelled - Guelph Storm
- Generals Come out of St. Catharines with 3-3 Tie - Oshawa Generals
- Fast Start Paces Petes to 7-4 Win - Belleville Bulls
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