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OHL Kingston Frontenacs

Fronts Win on Hockey Fights Cancer Night

November 20, 2021 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kingston Frontenacs News Release


The Kingston Frontenacs (8-4-2-0) faced-off against the Peterborough Petes for the fourth time in the 2021-22 season in an East Division matchup on Friday night. After going down twice the Fronts battled back to take a 5-3 wearing their fresh Hockey Fights Cancer jerseys.

Francesco Arcuri scored the winner late, Jordan Frasca had a pair of goals on four points and Lucas Edmonds had four assists as the Frontenacs sent the home fans home happy with a regulation win on Hockey Fights Cancer night at the Leon's Centre.

Frontenacs head coach Luca Caputi's father dropped the ceremonial face-off between captains Shawn Spearing and Shane Wright. A pregame honour was had by the team with Frank Caputi a part of a special pre-game ceremony recognizing Hockey Fights Cancer Night. Daughter Chloe (4-years-old) was also with her grandfather on the ice to show support.

"We got the news he is currently cancer free this afternoon," said Caputi. "He was supposed to get the news on Tuesday but was pushed back until today, so it was a special night all round. The first year head coach is happy to be with the Frontenacs organization: "We are a family around here," said the head coach. "I am so fortunate to be with a great organization from ownership through to business operations. A lot of emotions for me and its tough to put in words right now."

Leevi Meriläinen was back in goal versus Michael Simpson in the Petes crease. Martin Chromiak missed the game. Rookie Nathan Poole returned from an injury sustained on Nov 7 (Missing three games) and brought energy back to the lineup with his robust style.

First Period

A pair of special team's goals highlighted an otherwise tight opening period. The Fronts came out the fresher of the teams with most of the play in the Petes zone the first 10 minutes, outshooting the visitors 6-2. Thibodeau had a great chance on the fifth shot breaking in trying to deke the Petes netminder off the backhand but was stopped by the left pad of Simpson.

Kingston went on the games first penalty kill and the Petes would score immediately off the ensuing faceoff in Kingston's zone. A wristed shot at the screened net got tipped by J.R. Avon founding its way past Meriläinen for the 1-0 score. Brian Zanetti and Tucker Robertson assisted on the opener at 13:44.

Less than two minutes later the Fronts would knot the game up with their first chance on the man-advantage. Jordan Frasca slipped a smart pass/shot from the circle to a gliding Wright (7) who tipped it by the Petes goalie for the 1-1 score at 15:19. Frasca extended a point streak to four games with the assist and Lucas Peric was also credited with a helper.

The Maroon and White had a second powerplay with just under three minutes to play with Roberston having a point-blank chance on Meriläinen, but the Senators draft pick stoned him with no rebound. Maddox Callens almost had the first shorthanded goal of Kingston's season as he broke in on Simpson but could not get it past the Petes netminder just before the opening buzzer sounded.

Second Period

After a shotless 3:38 of opening time, Peterborough went ahead by one goal for the second time scoring just after their third man-advantage had expired early in the period making it 2-1 Petes. Tucker Roberston (15) added to his OHL league-leading goal total off a rebound in front of Meriläinen at 5:48.

Once again, the Black and Gold made a quick reply just 14 seconds later as Frasca (8) tied it at 2-2. Francesco Arcuri earned a nice assist stealing the puck behind the Petes net before centring a pass to Frasca who banged in his own rebound at 6:02. "I know his (Arcuri) ability to drive the net and I've been focusing on plays to get on rebounds, so I drove the net," said Frasca on the goal. Lucas Edmonds extending a point-streak to six games with an additional assist.

Meriläinen made a nice stop keeping the game squared up with eight minutes left after snuffing out a chance from the hash marks without a rebound.

Another penalty to the Fronts with six minutes left had Jordan Frasca (9) scoring his second, on the Frontenacs first shorthanded goal of the season at 15:20 putting the Fronts ahead for the first time 3-2. The winger was emotional after the game scoring while having his cousin Mila's name on the Fronts special night jerseys.

The overage centre went in alone after getting around a Petes defender beating Simpson through the five-hole on a nice deke. Frasca said, "We saw his five-hole was weak in the pre-scout, so I wanted to get him moving and saw a hole and just jammed it in." Jake Murray drew an assist with Edmonds notching his second point of the game adding to his team leading total (28).

Third Period

The visitors tied the game on a one-timer from Jax Dubois to J.R Avon (8) for his second goal of the night at 13:18. Emmett Sproule added an assist extending a season-long point-streak in all 15 Petes games.

Arcuri (5) scored the game-winner with 57 seconds left to give the Fronts the 4-3 lead with Edmonds and Frasca both earning assists. The winger spun around and ripped a low shot past a screened Simpson. Edmonds

Maddox Callens (5) scored into an empty net sealing the 5-3 win at 18:47 with Edmonds fourth point adding his team leading assist total (19).

Quotes

Rookie Jackson Stewart was buzzing making life busy for the opposition with a couple big hits. "It's a huge win," said the hard-nosed forward. "We've been doing it lately, but we played a full 60 tonight and came back. We seem to have character in coming back that helps us."On being voted the hardest working player by the fans, the rookie forward was happy, "I love that and was very excited do hear I got it, it's awesome to get fans appreciation in your home rink."

Caputi added his appreciation for the special teams tonight adding, "I thought we could have one or two (goals) first but at the same time if we put it together for a full game and came away with an important two points." Kingston first shorthanded goal was huge and came at an important time of the game.

"Its nice when they happen; special teams were a difference in the game tonight, and we have to have that to have success".

Jordan Frasca has been playing with a mask on since a puck to his mouth but has kept up his torrid scoring pace. With the cage on, he doesn't let it affect his game: "I just don't think it affects me, I just keep playing the right way and focus maybe a little more and control what I can control." On the breakaway goal, he said, "from the pre-scout we saw his five-hole was weak so wanted to get him moving and saw a hole and jammed it in."

Notes

Matthew Soto had his stick taped pink for the special night

The 50/50 winner took home a season high $4,252.00

3-Stars

Jordan Frasca - KGN (2G,2A)

Lucas Edmonds - KGN (4A)

JR Avon -PBO

BMW Kingston Hardest Worker Award

Jackson Stewart -KGN

Team Stat Pack - GP (15)

Record (9-4-2-0)

Leaders (Top/3)

Goals - Edmonds, Frasca (9), Wright, Chromiak (7), Arcuri, Callens (5)

Assists - Edmonds (19), Chromiak (13), Wright (12)

Points - Chromiak (28), Edmonds (20), Wright, Frasca (19)

PIMs - Poole (23), Hache (16), Callens (15)

SOG - Edmonds (69), Wright (63), Chromiak (56)

On The Front

The Frontenacs are at The Tribute Communities Centre in Oshawa this Sunday for an evening affair with the Generals at 6:05 pm.

The next home game is Friday, Nov 26 when the North Bay Battalion and 2020 First-Overall selection Ty Nelson make their second visit to the Leon's Centre.

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 20, 2021


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