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OHL Kingston Frontenacs

Frontenacs Battle Back to Beat the Steelheads in a Shootout

November 13, 2021 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kingston Frontenacs News Release


It was a memorable afternoon for the Kingston Frontenacs hosting the Central Division Mississauga Steelheads in a nationally televised battle on CBC. The Fronts battled back from an early 2-0 deficit and won their second shootout game of the season 5-4. Lucas Edmonds had the late tying goal and four-points with Shane Wright scoring in the shootout to improving Kingston's record to 8-4-2-0.

The Frontenacs were back on the ice less than 24 hours after a 6-4 loss on Friday night to Oshawa. The Fronts battled back hard after going down four goals. One point separated the teams in the Eastern Conference standings heading into the game.

A pre-game ceremony honored the late OHL coach/manager Larry "Mav" Mavety. The former Frontenacs and Belleville Bulls coach was an influential figurehead in Kingston's OHL hockey history. A video tribute including touching messages from Sherry Bassin, Brian Kilrea, and Doug Springer relived memories of the junior hockey legend.

The Steelheads had won the two previous meetings including a 3-2 OT win in their last visit to Kingston scoring as the OT buzzer sounded.

Leevi Meriläinen was in the Fronts crease with Roman Basran facing Kingston shooters in the Steelheads net.

First Period

After rookie Kingston forward Jackson Stewart was turned aside by Basran on a great one-timer early, the visitors had most of the play. The It was 1-0 less then five minutes in when Evan Brand (1) scored the opening goal off a great feed from Luca DelBelBelluz. The former Frontenacs defender fired a shot over a sprawling Meriläinen from the hashmarks at 4:24 for a 1-0 Steelhead lead.

Mississauga came out looking the fresher of the teams pushing the play registering early with 11 of the first 13 shots through the first half of the opening frame holding Kingston to just three throughout the stanza.

The Steelheads took a two-goal lead at 11:27 when Del Bel Delluz (2) scored his third goal and sixth point against Kingston in three games. Kaspars Larsen assisted, and the Fronts were down 2-0 heading to the first intermission.

Second Period

A scoreless second period was played with the teams spending most of the playing timed in the neutral zone with the Steelheads defending their two-goal lead. Kingston limited the visitors to just five shots but could not get a puck past Basran with 11 shots.

The Steelheads could not score on the first power play of the game while Kingston's first power play came with seven minutes left in the middle period and had more pressure on Basran firing four shots at the Steelhead crease during the man-advantage but could not get one in.

Third Period

A wild third ensued with the teams scoring six goals on 27 combined shots and the Fronts finally squaring the game up at 4-4.

The teams traded three goals in the first five minutes with the Fronts getting within one at 1:41. Rookie Paul Ludwinski (3) scored less than two minutes into the period burying a rebound after Lucas Edmonds had fired a hard low shot on the Mississauga goaltender.

Mississauga took a second two-goal lead after a puck was deflected down in front of Basran and the loose puck was batted in by Ty Collins off the side of the crease. and Ole Bjorgvik-Holm and Del Bel Belluz at 3:31

The Frontenacs then scored at 3:58 after Arcuri centred a puck to a crashing Jordan Frasca (7). Edmonds also assisted.

Mississauga had a power play at 7:20 but Kingston held the game to one score proving important. After a key save by Meriläinen midway through the period kept the Fronts within a shot, Braden Haché (1) scored his first OHL goal tying the game 3-3.

The defenceman fired a wrist shot that found its way through a screened Basran and it was a new game with 9:52 left. Wright assisted with Edmonds earning his team-leading 24th point and third assist of the game at 9:38.

"Its another huge team win for us especially on a special night tonight with the memory of Mav in the building." On his first goal, the Florida Panthers draft pick added: "It's a cool feeling to the tying goal. It was a surreal moment and a long time coming for me."

Mississauga went back up 4-3 with under five left 15:11 Owen Beck from Zakary Lavoie and Charlie Callaghan.

Edmonds (9) got his fourth point of the game to tie it late with 1:50 left. After a stealing a puck in the Steelhead zone, Edmonds turned and fired a seeing eye shot past Basran and the teams went to OT at 4-4.

Overtime

The extra frame saw both teams with good chances but both goalies kept the game tied sending Kingston to a second shootout on the season. Wright just missed a backhand shot over Basran's glove and Meriläinen made a huge save with 27 seconds left.

Shootout

Meriläinen was three for three on saves coming in and continued that trend with another shutout performance to preserve the win and is now perfect facing six shots.

After the first three shooters could not get a goal, Wright buried a wrist shot past Basran to put the Fronts in front. Meriläinen then made sprawling save on the Mississauga's Owen Beck to earn the extra point. "Having confidence in the pipes is huge and we have two good goalies, "said Haché. "He's (Meriläinen) is in a zone in shootouts, and he is a calm guy no matter what, "speaking on his goalie "He's in a zone at times and he's a calm guy no matter what so it helps us."

Lucas Edmonds commented, "We showed a lot of character today and fought adversity once again. He was also impressed with his goalie's game. "He's been great, and we feel safe when he's in net."

The assistant captain was happy for Haché: "He's not a guy who will score every game, but he deserves it. He puts in the work. A big body likes to hit guys, so it was fun to see him get that goal tonight."

BMW Kingston Hardest Worker Award

Maddox Callens - KGN

Three-Star Awards

1 - Lucas Edmonds (1G, 4A)

2 - Luca Del Bel Belluz

3 - Braden Haché (1st career OHL goal)

Team Stat Pack - GP (14)

Record

(8-4-2-0)

Leaders (Top/3)

Goals - Edmonds (8), Chromiak, Frasca (7), Wright, (6)

Assists - Edmonds (15), Chromiak (13), Wright (12)

Points - Chromiak (23), Edmonds (20), Wright (18)

PIMs - Poole (23), Callens (15), Haché (14)

SOG - Edmonds (63), Wright (61), Chromiak (54)

On The Front

The next home game is Friday, Nov 19, as Kingston hosts Peterborough Petes in the teams Hockey Fights Cancer Night.

Listen to all the action on 104.3 Fresh Radio with Frontenacs play-by-play voice Jim Gilchrist. Fans can also follow along with team social media channels at Twitter, Facebook and IG for updates.

The arena is now operating at 100% capacity, following all Provincial health guidelines.

All home game tickets are available online at www.ticketmaster.ca or visiting the Leon's Centre box office. Group Sales and Flex Packs are also available for fans at www.kingstonfrontenacs.com.

Check out the Kingston Frontenacs Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 13, 2021


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