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OHL Kingston Frontenacs

Game Day Preview: KGN vs OTT - Sunday Funday

December 5, 2021 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kingston Frontenacs News Release


The Kingston Frontenacs (13-5-3-0) host the Ottawa 67's (11-11-1-1) at 2:00 pm today for Sunday Funday at Leon's Centre in an East Division showdown looking to extend a four-game winning streak. Looking to improve on a 3-1-1-0 against the Barber Poles this season, the Black and Gold defeated the 67's twice on the road in a pair of 4-3 games, since the 67's beat Kingston at Leon's Centre 3-2 in overtime on October 29. An eight-goal outburst in the home-opening 8-1 win versus Ottawa remains the highest goal output and winning margin by the Fronts in the 2021-22 season.

In the last game between the two, the teams played to a 4-3 on November 9. Rookie Chris Thibodeau scored late in the third, captain Shane Wright scored the winner, and Leevi Meriläinen stopped all three shooters, sealing Kingston's extra point.

Meriläinen appreciates the win but knows it's a team effort: "I felt pretty good in there. I felt like the team had my back; I always know we can get the win even when I don't have my best game, and I like to help them when they struggle a little bit, so I love playing with them," he said. Head Coach Luca Caputi has been stressing improved play in the Fronts crease area, and the Finnish netminder likes what he sees so far. "We've been working on that a lot, and you can see in the game we are improving in front of our net."

Kingston enters this afternoon action on the heels of a 5-0 win over Oshawa on Friday, with Leevi Meriläinen and the Fronts registering their first shutout of the season. Head coach Luca Caputi was pleased for his squad, particularly his Finnish netminder: "We've been doing a lot of good things defensively, so it's nice to have the goalie get rewarded for it," he said after the win. Francesco Arcuri (7G,9A) extended his team-high 10-game point streak, and Martin Chromiak scored two goals in 54 seconds, bolstering the Fronts win on Teddy Bear Toss night and now has goals in three straight games on a four-game point streak (3G,1A).

Assistant Captain Lucas Edmonds leads Kingston, scoring in goals (13), assists (27), and points (40), riding a four-game point streak (3G,7A) to sit second in OHL overall, scoring behind North Bay's Brandon Coe (46). Only Coe has more assists (32) than the overage rookie (KGN - 7th rd' 17) still eligible for the NHL draft. As he gets ready to leave for Calgary this week for the World Junior Camp, Captain Shane Wright has points in two straight games, with three goals with eight points in his last four, registering at least two shots on goal in every game of the season.

Ottawa is struggling for victories, with only three wins in their past 10, four points back of Kingston in East Division standings, and one OT win in the team's last eight overall. Kingston's last loss came against North Bay on Friday, November 26, winning three straight and seven of their previous 10, including an overtime loss facing Ottawa today.

Vsevolod Gaidamak is tied for the OHL lead with five game-winners to lead the 67's in goals (12), sitting six points back of Cameron Tolnai (25) in Ottawa overall scoring. The 2020 Import Selection has six points (4G,2A) in the three games against Kingston this season. Forward Dylan Robinson was suspended for eight games and is not eligible to return until December 10.

Notes

Frontenacs winning percentage leads Eastern Conference / Second overall OHL (.690)

Last time Kingston won five in a row - January 26 - February 3, 2018.

Last time back-to-back shutouts - Jan 27,28, 2017

Forward Francesco Arcuri extended to a ten-game point streak on 16 points versus Oshawa on Friday

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

Chase Costantino is 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

Forward Matthew Soto and Defenceman Quinton Burns returned to action on Thursday after competing at the Capital City Challenge

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

Team Stat Pack - GP (21)

(13-5-3-0) - 28 points (Lead East Div) (2nd in Eastern Conf - NB 32pts))

Power Play - 2% (2nd Eastern Conf - OSH (28.4%)

Penalty Kill - 3% (6th Eastern Conf)

Leaders (Top/3)

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

Assists - Edmonds (27), Wright (17), Arcuri (16)

Points - Edmonds (40), Wright (27), Arcuri (26)

PIMs - Haché (29), Poole (27) Budnick, Callens (23)

Plus/Minus - Arcuri, Edmonds, Murray (10), Frasca (9)

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

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

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

On The Front

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 December 5, 2021


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