IceDogs Week in Review
November 22, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Niagara IceDogs News Release
The team had a very busy week this week, playing their third "three in three" of the season, and second straight week, this weekend. Up first came a matchup with the Barrie Colts at home on Thursday, before travelling to Guelph to play the Storm on Friday, and closing up the week against the Saginaw Spirit in the annual Teddy Bear Toss game here at home!
Thursday night was the second matchup with the Colts this season, the first game being a nail biting 7-6 loss that saw the IceDogs come back from a 6-3 deficit to force overtime. The boys knew they needed to bring the heat for the rematch, but the first period was rather quiet, with neither team able to score. The second period was a different story; the boys came out firing on all cylinders and scored three unanswered goals to take a 3-0 lead. Gavin Bryant got us started with his 5th of the season, Mike Levin added his 5th of the campaign less than five minutes later, and Michael Podolioukh flew in on a shorthanded breakaway and slipped a shot through the five hole to score with just 48 seconds left in the frame! The Colts weren't going to make it easy, as they scored two goals in the third to come within one. They pulled their goalie in the hopes of tying it up, but the Dogs stayed resilient and denied them any opportunity. Kevin He and Ryan Roobroeck scored an empty net goal each, bringing the score to 5-2 and giving the IceDogs the victory!
On Friday, the IceDogs made their way down to face the Guelph Storm for the first time this year. Roobroeck started things off by scoring his 6th of the year just six minutes into the game. Max Namestnikov answered back for Guelph and tied the score at 1 heading into the second. The Storm were able to score two within the first half of the second period, taking a 3-1 lead into the third and final frame. Kevin He stayed hot, scoring just over seven minutes in to keep the Storm on their toes and cut the lead to one. Unfortunately that's where the scoring ended, as the Dogs weren't able to tie things up before time expired.
Finally, the team was back in the Garden City for Saturday's game against a loaded Saginaw Spirit team that was riding a six game winning streak coming in. This game was filled with excitement, and of course, lots of teddy bears! The first period went to Saginaw, as the Spirit scored a couple quick goals to take a 2-0 lead at the conclusion of the first. Things got heated in the second, as just 11 seconds in there were a couple fights and scrums that took place, resulting in a 20 minute delay while penalties were reviewed and handed out. When the dust settled, and just over a minute after play resumed, Gavin Bryant made a great play on the penalty kill, swooped into the offensive zone, won the puck and found some space in the corner, drove to the net and scored a brilliant goal to get the IceDogs on the board. For the next ten minutes it was raining teddy bears at the Meridian Centre! That was also the IceDogs 9th shorthanded goal this season, which ranks FIRST among all OHL teams! Then, with less than half a minute in the period, Kevin He grabbed the puck off a draw, turned and scored his 5th goal in the last five games to even us up with one period to play. Unfortunately, the Spirit would take a 3-2 lead two minutes into the third period and never let it go, picking up the win in a heavily contested game.
Coming up this week, your Niagara IceDogs have a four day break before they play the Brantford Bulldogs here at home on Thursday November 23rd- make sure you get your tickets to see the battle between the Dogs! Then, they embark on a Michigan swing to take on the Flint Firebirds on Saturday, before a rematch with the Spirit in Saginaw on Sunday. The IceDogs are only home for one game this week, so be sure to show your support and get your tickets for Thursday night!
Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 22, 2023
- Firebirds Fall to Spirit, 6-3 - Flint Firebirds
- Spirit Bump Win Streak to Eight Games with 6-3 Win in Flint - Saginaw Spirit
- IceDogs Week in Review - Niagara IceDogs
- Attack and Cancer Society Raise $64,000 for Hockey Fights Cancer Night - Owen Sound Attack
- Two Chances to Watch Spirit Rising on WNEM TV5 - Saginaw Spirit
- Local Goaltender Jaeden Nelson Commits to 67's - Ottawa 67's
- Firebirds Host Spirit in Game 4 of I-75 Divide Cup - Flint Firebirds
- Spirit Head to Flint for Thanksgiving Eve Showdown - Saginaw Spirit
- Two Hat Tricks as Kitchener Thumps Erie - Kitchener Rangers
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