OHL Brampton Steelheads

Jimmy Lodge Providing Spark for Steelheads Offence

December 4, 2014 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Brampton Steelheads News Release


When the Mississauga Steelheads traded for Saginaw Spirit forward Jimmy Lodge on November 21st, the team was in the need of another playmaker to put points on the board. After five games, it looks like they found the right player for the job.

Since the trade, the Steelheads have gone through an offensive resurgence that has been paying dividends throughout the line-up. Since trading for Lodge the team has averaged 3.6 goals per game, up from 2.4 prior to the trade, while picking up key wins against Peterborough, Belleville and most recently a 6-2 win over perennial powerhouse, London.

Steelheads General Manager, James Boyd is impressed with what he has seen from Lodge so far. "Jimmy plays a high speed game that compliments the players around him. Some chemistry is developing with (Bryson) Cianfrone and (Sam) Babintsev early on and it will be interesting to watch moving forward." It is no secret that Lodge was acquired as a top line talent and after only a few games, he has helped to solidify the top line for the Steelheads. In five games as a Steelhead, Lodge is averaging just over a point per game with 4 goals and 2 assists. His line mates have also enjoyed the same success as Cianfrone has recorded 6 assists, while Babintsev has 2 goals and 5 assists in that same span. As a line, the trio has combined for 19 points in five games.

The bi-product of a clear cut first line is the stability it creates for all the other lines, and the energy and production created by the first line has been felt throughout the Steelheads line-up. The second line of Michael McLeod centering Damian Bourne and Nathan Bastian, has clicked since the three were put together. McLeod's confidence as an OHL centre continues to grow in his rookie season and it's now showing on the score sheet, as he has 2 goals and 1 assist in the past 5 games. Nathan Bastian continues his strong sophomore season with 1 goal and 1 assist in that span while Damian Bourne has notched 3 assists as well.

One of the pleasant surprises amongst the forwards of the Steelheads since the trade with Saginaw, is Everett Clark's scoring touch. The second year centreman has already matched his point total of last year (10 points) and has scored 4 goals and 1 assist over the past five games, including a hat trick against the London Knights this past Sunday. His 7 goals on the third line provide crucial secondary scoring and have him tied with Babintsev for third on the team in goals scored.

On the backend, the decision to put Josh Burnside on defense is paying major dividends for the Steelheads. Burnside has been one of the top point producers for the Steelheads over the past 5 games scoring 1 goal and 5 assists from the blue line while sporting an impressive +7 rating. The rest of the Steelheads defensive core has been productive over that span as well with Brandon Devlin recording 3 goals and 1 assist, Stefan LeBlanc with 3 assists, and Sean Day with an additional 2 assists

Hockey is a sport where one decision can drastically affect a team for the rest of a season for better or for worse. In this case making the trade for Lodge has thus far worked out for the better as he has been the offensive spark plug the Steelheads offense needed. The change to the roster has the team playing with more confidence as the lines and defensive pairings continue to build chemistry with one another and with the recent success against tough opponents, this year's Steelheads team has shown that they are a team not to be taken lightly.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 4, 2014


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