OHL Kingston Frontenacs

Frontenacs Cruise Past 67's on Sunday Funday

Published on December 5, 2021 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kingston Frontenacs News Release


The Kingston Frontenacs (14-5-3-0) beat the Ottawa 67's (11-12-1-1) on Sunday afternoon 5-1 extending a winning streak to five games on the strength of two goal performances by Maddox Callens and Martin Chromiak with Shane Wright registering three points scoring the winner on his 50th career OHL goal. Leevi Meriläinen was strong in goal again for Kingston, making 20 saves for his 12th victory.

The Fronts improved to 4-1-1-0 against Ottawa with the win and won their fifth in a row for the first time since Jan 26 - Feb 3, 2018. Meriläinen would square off against Will Cranley in the Ottawa net.

Assistant Captain Jake Murray was happy with the effort and 60-minute game; "We have a lot more energy and we are getting better starts," the assistant captain said. "We didn't let off in the second period which was the most important part of the game. It has been a matter of coming out hard and keeping that energy."

First Period

Kingston came out the stronger of the teams and took a commanding two-goal lead with a pair of goals in 30 seconds; the second game in row the Fronts would score twice in under a minute. Kingston led heavy in possession and on the shotclock allowing Ottawa only three shots in the opening frame.

Kingston got two early powerplays, the first just 1:03 into the game. Cranley saved the best chance on three shots stopping a tick-tack-toe play from the slot. A second penalty was taken by Ottawa, but the man advantage was called short after Kingston was whistled for their first call. The teams went to an extended 1:48 four-on four for. Martin Chromiak fired a good shot from slot, but Cranley blocked it away on one of Kingston's opening 10-1 shot lead in the first 10 minutes.

Ottawa iced their first full power play with 6:19 left in the period with only one shot showing on the board. Meriläinen made one save on the only shot Frontenacs' penalty killers allowed proving important two minutes later.

Maddox Callens (7) scored the opener on a three-on-one with just under four minutes left in the frame to take the first lead at 16:02. Jake Murray made a great outlet play that Jackson Stewart was able to chop past the Ottawa defender at the Fronts blueline. The rookie raced in on the 67's goal before dishing off to a waiting Callens who made no mistake burying it for the 1-0 goal.

Shane Wright (11) scored the game-winner on an unassisted milestone goal with his 50th career marker burying a radar-vision shot from 10 feet over Cranley's shoulder, off the bar and in, for the 2-0 lead. Wright caught a break after the Ottawa defender lost the puck on the boards. "The puck came off the wall," he said, "and after the defenceman tracked back, I was able pick it up and go in and score so a little bit of a lucky play there."

Second Period

Ottawa would break Meriläinen's four-period shutout streak in the middle frame, but the Fronts maintained their two-goal lead with Chromiak scoring for a fourth straight contest, outshooting the visitors 16-10 for a fifteen-shot two period lead.

Ottawa got within one shortly into the period after a shot from the screened point was tipped in front of a screened Meriläinen. Derek Smyth (2) from Thomas Sirman and Vincent Rohrer on the play and it was 2-1 at 2:02. Kingston then went to a penalty kill at 2:35 and a nice blocker save by Meriläinen kept the Fronts up by a goal. Chromiak appeared to have scored after taking a hard drive to the net, but a diving Cranley kept the puck out as an Ottawa defender crashed into him.

Kingston went up 3-1 when Chromiak (12) buried a loose puck in the crease, extending a personal point-streak to five at 7:31. Wright was credited with his second point of the game; seventh in his last three with rookie Matthew Soto also assisting on the insurance marker at 7:31.

Leevi Meriläinen made another ten-bell save off an Ottawa defender with 3:30 left spinning and diving a full 360 after getting clipped off balance protecting the two-goal lead.

Ottawa's Chris Barias and Thomas Sirman went off with the Fronts Thomas Budnick with Kingston going to a third powerplay opportunity, but the score remained 3-1 as the clubs' headed for the second break.

Third Period

Ottawa went to a fourth man-advantage at 1:26. Edmonds had the best chance with a shorthanded break, but Cranley closed the five-hole on a sneaky low shot by the Kingston points leader.

The game featured some physical moments. Nathan Poole was checked in to the boards at 4:27 with the home side taking exception and a minor scrum ensued with coincidental minors being whistled.

Chromiak (13) continued his hot stretch at 4:41 while on the four-on-four with his second of the afternoon ripping a low short-side shot past Cranley for a 4-1 lead. Wright's third point of the day came on the play. Murray was credited for his second assist giving the veteran blueliner points in five-straight (1G,7A).

Kingston went to another penalty kill shortly after the Chromiak strike, but once again Kingston penalty killers did a good job in front of Meriläinen limiting chances to maintain the three-goal lead. A seventh powerplay for Ottawa came midway through the game.

Callens (8) scored his second of the game on a nice shot from the circle at 12:55 for a 5-1 Fronts lead. Braden Hache got his first assist of the season with Murray a third of the game off a nice stretch pass breaking Callens in on the Ottawa netminder. Callens' 12th point set a new career high for the two-way forward in just his 20th game of the year. "It's more a confidence thing from my first year."

"Its part of our breakout to push the pace," said Murray on the long outlet pass. "They aren't open very often, but its important to get a quick scan and on Maddox's second goal, I just waited an extra second. I just had to put it on his stick, and he did the rest. Kudos for Maddox for a great shot there."

Kingston finished the game on the penalty kill with a penalty called with 1:57 left but Meriläinen would earn his 12th win on 20 saves for the Fronts who remain in first in the East Division.

Thoughts

Captain Shane Wright, who will leave for Calgary this week said, "I think overall we are playing well as a team we have a lot of confidence in ourselves in the way we are playing now, and we need to carry it over shift to shift." He too appreciated the play of his goalie. "He (Meriläinen) is such a great player for us he's a big part of our success he's so solid back there he makes big saves when he has to."

On facing his teammates at the upcoming World Junior tournament, he added; "It will be different facing my teammates and competing against them, but it's gonna be pretty cool as well. I know they can keep up the success right now and with Wiz (Zayde Wisdom) coming back soon it should be good. I believe they can keep winning and have success."

Merialinen has been hot lately allowing only one goal in two games. Jake Murray said, "Leevi is a phenomenal goalie and made some huge saves to today and Friday in the shutout, so he allows us to be a little calmer and be less worried being able to get out of our zone."

Callens added, "We needed these last three games we need to keep playing our structure. Goaltending has been key, and he's (Meriläinen)been playing well."

Shane Wright and Martin Chromiak will both be leaving soon for the Word Junior tournament in Alberta, but the Murray is confident his team will fill in the pieces. "With Shaner (Wright) leaving soon and Chrommer (Chromiak) too, we have big shoes to fill but we have full confidence in our guys stepping up. We have played well tructurally we need to just stick to it. We all wish our teammates well at the World Junior and look forward to the challenge."

BMW Kingston Hardest Worker of the Game

Jake Murray - KGN (3A)

3 Star of the Game Awards

Shane Wright - KGN (1G,2A)

Martin Chromiak - KGN (2G)

Maddox Callens - KGN (2G)

Notes

Leevi Meriläinen has allowed only one goal against in two games

Forward Jordan Frasca scored the Teddy Bear Toss goal on Friday for points in three straight (3G,1A)

Chase Costantino is still listed as day-to-day

Captain Shane Wright will be at Canada's World Junior Camp in Calgary, AB on December 9-12, 2021

Forward Martin Chromiak will represent Slovakia's National Junior Team squaring off against teammate Wright

Kingston was 0-4-2-0 versus OTT in 2019-20

Team Stat Pack - GP (22)

(14-5-3-0) - 30 points (Lead East Div)

Leaders (Top/3)

Goals - Chromiak, Edmonds (13), Frasca (12), Wright (11)

Assists - Edmonds (27), Wright (19), Arcuri, Murray (16)

Points - Edmonds (40), Wright (30), Arcuri (27)

PIMs - Haché (31), Poole (27,) Budnick (25)

Shots- Edmonds (95), Wright (83), Chromiak (78)

Powerplay Points - Edmonds, Wright (13), Chromiak (11)

Rookie Points - Soto, Ludwinski (14), Thibodeau (7),

On The Front

The Frontenacs next home game is Friday, Dec 10 versus the East Division Hamilton Bulldogs at 7:00 pm.

The Black and Gold then hit the road for two games on Sat Dec 11 versus Niagara and Sun Dec 12 against Mississauga.

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.

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

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 5, 2021


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