OHL Kingston Frontenacs

Frontenacs Win 5-2 in Barrie

Published on February 4, 2022 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kingston Frontenacs News Release


The Kingston Frontenacs (23-10-3-0) won 5-2 over the Barrie Colts (20-11-4-0) in front of limited spectators back in the arena for live OHL hockey. Shane Wright (1G,1A) registered a multi-point game for the fourth time in his last six games and Jordan Frasca scored his 50th career goal as the Fronts opened up a three-point lead on idle Hamilton in the East Division standings.

Kingston now travels to Sudbury to take on the Wolves in the second of back-to-back games tomorrow night.

Leevi Meriläinen made 32 saves and earned his 19th win for Kingston facing OHL goaltender of the Month Mack Guzda in the cage for the Colts who stopped 22 of 27 shots.

Barrie was missing some significant players up front. Jordan Frasca would not play against brother Jacob as the latter was out with a shoulder injury. The Colts were also without suspended forwards Declan McDonnell (8 gms) and Ethan Cardwell (15 gms).

First Period

A choppy start with six faceoffs after the opening puck drop in the first five minutes evened out with better flow as the opening period grew. Before the period was over, Kingston was able to take a 1-0 lead to the dressing room. Shots were at a premium with only 12 total by the teams. Kingston was able to capitalize on one of their four sohts. The teams combined for only one powerplay chance.

Francesco Arcuri had Kingston's first chance three minutes into the game, breaking in on Mack Guzda, but the puck rolled off his stick as he was deking the OHL's second-best in save percentage (.924).

Barrie's Brandt Clarke had a good shot saved by Meriläinen's left pad from the hashmarks seven minutes in with Kingston's defence clearing the rebound before the visitors would open the scoring.

Rookie Nathan Poole (2) put the Fronts up 1-0 breaking in with speed and beating Guzda with a nifty shot over the right pad of the Colts' goalie. Alec Bélanger and Thomas Budnick assisted on the opening strike at 9:51.

Chris Thibodeau set up Paul Ludwinski for a wicked one-timer seconds after the opening goal but the shot was swallowed up by Guzda. Meriläinen made a good save on Connor Punnett with four minutes left as both goalies were not tested much but had to be sharp.

The period heated up with some rough stuff with Clarke and Braden Haché exchanging some pleasantries, while Nathan Allensen came in to help his captain. It all started after Jackson Stewart made a solid hit on Beau Akey in Kingston's zone.

Barrie got the games first powerplay with three minutes left but the Fronts held the OHL's third- best powerplay unit to no shots as the teams headed for intermission.

Second Period

Kingston scored three times, including a powerplay goal, putting the Colts on their heels for most of the latter stage of the middle frame and a 4-0 lead.

Kingston was called for an early penalty, but it was the Kingston penalty-killers with the only two shots. Shane Wright had a good chance on the Barrie net after taking a pass from Ludwinski. Barrie was called for their first penalty killing off the remaining 34 seconds before the Fronts would take advantage of their first man-advantage for 86 seconds opening up the game.

A rebound was banged home by Jordan Frasca (25) at 2:48 on the powerplay and his second consecutive game with a goal. Kingston's goal leader made it 2-0 with his 50th career OHL goal after Arcuri shot quickly from the slot being setup by Wright. Guzda couldn't hold onto to the loose puck with Kingston forwards crashing the net putting Kingston up a pair.

It was 3-0 when Florida Panthers prospect Haché (2) scored a beauty, rifling a wristshot past Guzda watching fly and into the top corner. Rookie skaters Matthew Soto and Ludwinski added assists at 6:34 as Kingston began to take over play with an 12-3 run in shots after the Haché strike.

Wright (16) made it 4-0 with under a minute remaining after firing another high shot that sailed over Guzda's blocker for his second point of the game. The captain was set up on Bélanger's second assist of the game at 19:03 with Martin Chromiak earning the second helper.

Third Period

Barrie continued to fight and would score twice in the last period, but the Frontenacs would add one of their own to take the 5-2 win.

Lucas Edmonds made a great play to win a puck battle centring a pass to Arcuri (19) who made it 5-0 at 3:57. The assist gives Edmonds 42, just one back of the OHL lead. Jake Murray added the secondary assists on the play.

Barrie had a third powerplay opportunity and while they had good zone time, they could not find the target. Allensen had a good one-timer shot at the end of the man-advantage, but Meriläinen kept the Barrie offence at bay.

A deflected shot beat Meriläinen getting Barrie on the board at 7:51 to make it a 5-1 score. Hunter Haight (11) had his five-game scoring streak extended when a shot by Allensen hit the forward on its way to the net, bouncing up and over a surprised Kingston netminder.

Ben Roger made a smart shot block on a Allensen shot during Barrie's fourth powerplay. Moments after Roger's shot block, Braden Haché connected with a huge hit to LA Kings prospect, Brandt Clarke.

A fifth man advantage for Barrie produced some good opportunities on the Kingston net with Meriläinen playing solid but he couldn't keep rookie Beau Jelsma (16) from getting a powerplay marker and a 5-2 score. Allensen and Haight assisted at 15:18 earning both their second points on the night.

BMW of Kingston Hardest Worker

Braden Haché (1G, 2SOG, +1, 4 PIMs)

Three Star Awards

Shane Wright - KGN (1G,1A)

Hunter Haight - BAR (1G,1A)

Francesco Arcuri - KGN (1G,1A)

Notes

Former Don Mills Flyers teammates Brandt Clarke, Francesco Arcuri and Shane Wright faced-off

Francesco Arcuri goals in four-straight and five of last six

Goalie Leevi Meriläinen tied for second in OHL Wins (19)

Barrie Colts Jacob Frasca (Jordan's brother) injured - did not play

Maddox Callens listed day-to-day

Leading Frontenacs goal scorer Jordan Frasca scored 50th in OHL career and has points in 11 of the last 14 games

Shane Wright has 13 points in last six games

Team Stat Pack - GP (36)

(23-10-3-0) 49 pts - 1st East Div / 2nd Eastern Conf (Miss 60 pts)

(Note: Miss has played four more games than KGN)

Leaders

Goals - Frasca (25), Chromiak (20), Edmonds (19)

Assists - Edmonds (42), Wright (29), Chromiak (27)

Points - Edmonds (61), Chromiak, Frasca (47), Wright (45)

PIMs - Haché (46), Budnick (35), Poole (31)

Shots- Edmonds (169), Chromiak (132), Frasca (124)

Powerplay Points - Edmonds (21), Chromiak, Wright (17), Frasca (14)

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

Defence Points - Peric (23), Murray (21), Bélanger (10)

Plus/Minus - Frasca, Murray (+20), Arcuri (+15), Edmonds (+14)

On The Front

Kingston rounds out the northern swing heading to Sudbury tomorrow night at 7:05 pm versus the Wolves. The road trip wraps up in North Bay on Sunday at 1:00 pm.

The next home game is Wednesday, February 9 at 7:00 pm versus the Peterborough Petes.

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 on CHL TV/OHL Live.

Check out the Kingston Frontenacs Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 4, 2022


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