Game Day Preview: KGN vs NB
Published on November 5, 2021 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kingston Frontenacs News Release
On Friday night, the Kingston Frontenacs get their first look at the North Bay Battalion in an Eastern Conference matchup at Leon's Centre featuring the Ontario Hockey League Selection first-overall picks at the 2019 and 2020 OHL Priority Selection. The game sees plenty of flavour from the 2019 Don Mills Flyers championship squad, with five players from the undefeated midget team on tonight's rosters.
Kingston will be wearing their CADPAT camo jerseys for tonight's game to honour those who served our country.
Number One Clash
With the 2019-20 season cancelled, Kingston captain Shane Wright (2019) and North Bay defenceman Ty Nelson (2020) square off for the first time tonight in their OHL careers, with both players integral parts of the team makeup and leadership.
In his rookie season, Nelson sits tied for first with Oshawa's Calum Ritchie in the OHL rookie-scoring race with 12 points.
Flyer Friday
A total of five players from the Don Mills midget championship squad make up tonight's rosters. Teammates Francesco Arcuri and Shane Wright will face off against some familiar names on the Battalion roster, including North Bay captain Liam Arnsby and brothers Paul and Alex Christopoulos. All five teamed up together in 2019 for an impressive unbeaten season.
Kingston Coach, Luca Caputi's group suffered a buzzer-beating 3-2 OT defeat on Wednesday by Mississauga. It was the second home game in a row the Fronts could not get the extra point, though the team has not suffered a regulation loss in the last six games (4-0-2-0).
Rookie Matthew Soto is on a six-game point streak (2G,6A) started on Oct 15 with his first OHL point. On Wednesday, a two-assist game versus Mississauga, also gave Kingston's 2021 first-round selection multi-points in four consecutive games. The Oakville, ON native's 10 points are good for sixth in OHL freshman scoring, sitting two back of the leaders, and his eight assists are second to only North Bay's Ty Nelson.
Martin Chromiak has points in three straight, including a goal and an assist in Wednesday's 3-2 loss. The Slovakian has four goals and seven points during the stretch. Wright has registered points in three straight (2G,2A).
Battalion Battling
Kingston faces a team coming in on a back-to-back stretch with North Bay playing to an impressive 6-3 win in Peterborough on Thursday night. The Petes jumped out to an early first-period lead and subsequently had three additional one-goal leads disappear as North Bay scored four unanswered goals for the win, including two in six seconds in the last minute of the second period.
North Bay leads the central Divison with 14 points and is in the midst of a six-game road schedule that started on Oct 30 in an 8-3 win over Barrie. The Battalion lost to Sudbury 3-1 before rebounding with the win last night in Peterborough. The trip to Kingston is the fourth game for the Troops on the road before heading to Ottawa and Sudbury, closing out the tough stretch away from home.
Brandon Coe is fourth in both OHL points (17) and assists (13). Mitchell Russell has nine goals, including three shorthanded. He sits at two back of Tye Kartye (11) in SOO. Joe Vrbetic's six wins are third in OHL, two behind London's Brett Brochu(8).
Shavings
Kingston remains the only team in the Eastern Conference, allowing less than three goals per game (2.00 team GAA)
Battalion Defenceman Tnias Mathurin leads OHL in plus/minus (+14)
Goaltenders Leevi Meriläinen (446) and Joe Vrbetic (453) are in the top ten for minutes played in OHL
Jordan Frasca five-game point-streak ended in the last game on versus Mississauga (4G, 4A)
Goalie Leevi Meriläinen's 2.82 goals-against-average is fourth amongst OHL netminders, and his .905 save percentage places him seventh in the league.
Team Stat Pack - GP (9)
Record (5-2-2-0)
Tie 2nd East Div / Tie 2nd Eastern Conf - Two back of Division Conference-leading North Bay Battalion (14 pts) / One Back of Division-leading Hamilton Bulldogs.
34 Goals For - Tie 10th OHL / Tie 6th Eastern Conf
26 Goals Against - 4th least OHL / 1st Eastern Conf
Leaders (Top/3)
Goals - Chromiak (6), Edmonds (5), Wright, Frasca (4)
Assists - Edmonds, Soto (8), Frasca, Chromiak (7), Wright, Arcuri (6)
Points - Edmonds, Chromiak (13), Frasca (11), Wright, Soto (10)
PIMs - Poole (18), Burns (12), Hache (10)
SOG - Edmonds (41), Chromiak (39), Wright (37)
Plus/Minus - Wright (+6), Ludwinski, Murray (+5), Arcuri (4)
On The Front
The East Division Peterborough Petes will be in town this Sunday afternoon, November 7, at 2:00 pm (Note early start time). This game is our Sunday Funday and will include family fun activities. Featuring comedy magician Rob Driscoll, inflatables and games from The Party Empire and more!
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.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 5, 2021
- A Knights Curse as Attack Fall in OverTime - Owen Sound Attack
- Firebirds Finish off the Rangers for a Thrilling 6-4 Road Win - Flint Firebirds
- Spirit Score Five, Third Period Goals to Earn Comeback Victory - Saginaw Spirit
- Steelheads Shutout the Bulldogs - Brampton Steelheads
- Rangers Falter to Firebirds 6-4 - Kitchener Rangers
- Sudbury Stops IceDogs, 2-1 - Niagara IceDogs
- Bulldogs Shut out by Basran & Steelheads - Brantford Bulldogs
- Soto and Vaccari Named to Under-17 Roster for Capital City Challenge - Kingston Frontenacs
- Generals Look to Extend Winning Streak against Colts - Oshawa Generals
- Outwater Gets Under-17 Nod - North Bay Battalion
- 67's Forwards Barlas and Pinelli to Attend Capital City Challenge - Ottawa 67's
- 24 OHL Players Named to Hockey Canada Under-17 Roster for Inaugural Capital City Challenge - OHL
- Hockey Canada Announces Capital City Challenge - Brampton Steelheads
- Barlow to Represent Attack at New Capital City Challenge - Owen Sound Attack
- Game Day Preview: KGN vs NB - Kingston Frontenacs
- Firebirds Hit Ontario for First Time this Year to Take on the Kitchener Rangers - Flint Firebirds
- Alex Pharand Named to Hockey Canada U-17 Roster - Brantford Bulldogs
- Game Preview: Guelph Storm at Soo Greyhounds - Guelph Storm
- McNamara, Savard to Participate in First Ever U17 Capital City Challenge - Saginaw Spirit
- Carson Rehkopf to Participate in Capital City Challenge - Kitchener Rangers
- Ethan Miedema Named to U-17 Roster for Capital City Challenge - Windsor Spitfires
- 67's Take on the Petes at Home - Ottawa 67's
- Nick Lardis and Rob Wilson to Participate at Canada's U17 Capital City Challenge - Peterborough Petes
- 2021-22 Remembrance Day Jersey Auction in Support of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25 and the Algoma Veterans Association - Soo Greyhounds
- Hounds Announce Addition to Leadership Group - Soo Greyhounds
- Spirit, Sting Begin Home-And-Home Series Friday in Sarnia - Saginaw Spirit
- Battalion Defeats Petes - North Bay Battalion
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