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Kingston Frontenacs

Frontenacs Roll Past 67's 7-1 on Family Day

February 21, 2022 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kingston Frontenacs News Release


It was Family Day at Leon's Centre on Monday afternoon as the Kingston Frontenacs (28-13-3-0) won 7-1 over the Ottawa 67's (20-22-1-3) in the third game in five days between the East Division opponents. Lucas Edmonds moved into a tie in the OHL scoring race with three points (1G,2A), Jake Murray had two goals and Mitchell Brooks scored his first OHL goal for Kingston's 28th win on the season and sixth in eight games versus Ottawa.

The Black and Gold remain three back of Division leaders Hamilton, who won today as well. Ottawa has now lost six straight (0-5-0-1) with 29 goals scored against with only eight tallies for while Kingston now has won four of the last five games.

The OHL's fourth-overall goalie in minutes played Leevi Merilainen was in the Kingston crease earning a 23rd win making 26 saves with the Fronts firing 39 shots on Max Donoso in Ottawa's net.

Martin Chromiak returned from injury after missing seven games.

First Period

It was a 4-0 lead after the first period for the Frontenacs in an exciting twenty minutes for the sold-out crowd. Ottawa got an early powerplay chance just 66 seconds into the period, but a call on the visitors sent the teams to four-on-four play for 1:12 and the Fronts would score the opener.

Jake Murray (2) opened the scoring putting the Fronts up 1-0 firing a low shot past Donoso after Shane Wright had won the ensuing faceoff. Kingston didn't score on remaining powerplay time. "It took a nice bounce for me," said Murray after the game. "It took a little bit of a monkey off my back as it has been a while since I scored."

Ottawa had a second man advantage 5:26 into the period. Zayde Wisdom had a breakaway chance, but a rolling puck kept the Flyers prospect from putting the home team up a pair. Nathan Poole followed up with a good shot on Donoso for a pair of good shorthanded chances.

Wisdom (3) tipped a shot by Alec Belanger for a 2-0 lead at as Kingston was out in front 11-3 on the shot clock with five minutes left in the period. Wright earned a second assist at 13:19 for multi-points in four of the last five games. It was Belanger's first point against his old team.

The Wright, Wisdom, Chromiak line drew another penalty on Ottawa moments after the 2-0 goal and Kingston opened the game up with two quick goals in the last two minutes of the frame.

A second goal of the game by Murray (3) came after the assistant captain fired a point shot through a screened crease beating Donoso five-hole for a three-goal lead. Getting shots through traffic is a skill Murray and teammate Peric have been working on. "I sure appreciate the guys in front of the net for sure. Frasca, Eddie and Frenchie (Arcuri) all helped out there." The unassisted goal came at 18:02 and was the eighth point in eight games for Murray versus Ottawa (2G,6A) to make it 3-0.

Francesco Arcuri (25) made it 4-0 just 37 seconds later with a shot over Donoso's outstretched glove after Jordan Frasca and Edmonds teamed up getting the puck to a streaking Arcuri. 18:39 The Dallas Stars prospect extended his point streak to three games and has registered points in 11 of the last 12 (10G,10A).

Second period

Both teams had a pair of powerplay chances in the middle period with the Barber Poles scoring once setting up a 4-1 third period.

Ottawa held a majority of play in the opening half of the middle frame and got on the board making it 4-1 when Tyler Boucher (1) got his first career OHL goal for the 67's. The early powerplay goal came off a seeing eye shot that made its way through a crowded crease past Merilainen. Thomas Sirman and Jack Beck assisted at 4:50.

Kingston would go to a fourth man-advantage breaking visitor momentum just after the midway mark of the stanza and Chromiak had a good chance from point-blank, but the Ottawa goalie close the five-hole.

Ottawa's fourth powerplay came with 5:30 left. Merilainen saved a breakaway chance off Beck on the 67's best chance maintaining the three-goal margin for Kingston heading to the second intermission forcing the visitors into a final frame with a 4-21-0-1 record when trailing after two periods.

Third Period

Two quick goals in the final period by the Fronts put the game out of reach as the play grew increasingly physical.

Kingston held a 17-2-3-0 record when leading after forty minutes and came out firing. An Edmonds (24) goal 12 seconds into the period gave the Fronts a 5-1 lead. Arcuri made a swift pass as the duo raced in on the Ottawa net on a two-on-one. Peric earned an assist for points in four straight games.

Frasca (32) then made it 6-1 a with lucky goal 36 seconds later after he centred a pass that banked off the back off Donoso's skate into the Ottawa cage. Edmonds added his OHL-leading 55th assist and Arcuri assisted at 51 seconds. Edmonds also moved into a tie for first-overall in OHL scoring (76 pts).

Gage Heyes and Matthew Mayich dropped the gloves shortly after the goal as the divisional opponents began to test the physicality of each other in the midst of a three-game in five-day stretch. The fronts Ben Roger and Chris Barlas then squared off not long after the first tussle.

Murray understands the intensity creeping up as the season rolls along. "The big thing is we are a family in the organization and at this point we are really starting to feel it. Its great to see we are ready to protect each other and play whatever way we have to. As we get closer to playoffs you can expect that intensity to ramp up."

After a fifth Kingston powerplay, a sixth powerplay for Kingston was taken advantage of and it would be 7-1. Mitchell Brooks scored at 10:27 for his first OHL goal. The diminutive forward poked in a loose puck behind the Ottawa goalie assisted by Paul Ludwinski and Wisdom getting a second point of the game. "It felt pretty unreal and a moment, said Brooks. "I'll definitely remember rest of my life. To do be able to do it in such a big win was really special." Brooks, who scored in the preseason, and has collected an assist was thrilled with some powerplay minutes. "We were on the powerplay, and I was with Zayde (Wisdom) and Ludwinski who are two great players. I was able to finish off a shot on a loose puck. Its fun playing with them, they make the game easy for you."

"Every single guy on the bench was ecstatic to see him score that goal. We gave him a good water shower after in the room," said Murray. "We all super happy for Mitchell because he got a lot of heart and comes working hard every day regardless of if he's in or not. Today he was in the right place at the right time, and I think the bench reaction said it all."

BMW of Kingston Hardest Worker

Mitchell Brooks (1st Career OHL goal)

Three Star Awards

Jake Murray - KGN (2G)

Francesco Arcuri - KGN (1G,2A)

Jordan Frasca - KGN (1G,1A)

Fronts Notes:

Lucas Edmonds is 1st OHL assists (54), T-1st OHL points (79), 1st OHL PP assists (22)

Edmonds extended to nine-game point streak (4G,13A), longest assist streak in OHL (nine games)

Jordan Frasca extended to nine-game point streak (8G,9A)

Frasca (32) fourth-overall OHL - one of eight players with 30+ goals - 13 PPG's 2nd most in OHL.

Matthew Soto, Maddox Callens day-to-day

Quinton Burns (Susp - 8 gms)

Lucas Peric on four-game point streak (2G,5A)

General Manager Kory Cooper Birthday

Team Stat Pack - GP (44)

(28-13-3-0) 57 pts (2nd East Div / 4th Eastern Conf / T-5th OHL)

Leaders

Goals - Frasca (32), Arcuri (25), Edmonds (24)

Assists - Edmonds (55), Wright (37), Frasca (31)

Points - Edmonds (79), Frasca (63), Wright (57)

PIMs - Haché (59), Poole (44), Budnick (41)

Shots- Edmonds (197), Frasca (149), Wright (148)

Powerplay Points - Edmonds (27), Frasca, (21), Wright (19)

Rookie Points - Ludwinski (27), Soto (21), Thibodeau (8)

Defence Points - Peric (29), Murray (25), Bélanger (12)

Plus/Minus - Frasca (+30), Edmonds (+23), Arcuri (+22)

On The Front

The Fronts will play back in Ottawa on Wednesday, February 23 at 7:00 pm before a Friday, February 25th matchup with the Oshawa Generals at 7:00 pm. The game will be the Frontenacs 12th annual Military Appreciation Game and the Fronts will wear their CADPAT jerseys.

Tickets are available at ticketmaster.ca or the venue box office. The Capacity at Leon's Centre has increased to 50%, and the venue should be operating at 100% as of March 1, 2022.

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. Watch the games on YourTV Kingston (channel 700) or CHL TV/OHL Live.

Check out the Kingston Frontenacs Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 21, 2022


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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