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OHL Kingston Frontenacs

Jordan Frasca and the Frontenacs Beat the Steelheads 5-3

December 12, 2021 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kingston Frontenacs News Release


The Kingston Frontenacs (17-5-3-0) remained the hottest team in the OHL against the Mississauga Steelheads (15-7-1-1) with a 5-3 win after a five-goal first period extending a team winning streak to eight games and tying for the overall OHL points lead.

Lucas Edmonds remained red hot with five points(1G,4A) leading the way and Jordan Frasca scored a second consecutive hattrick taking over the team-lead in goals with 19.

The CHL's Ninth ranked Frontenacs and Mississauga were meeting for the sixth time this season with the top scoring Kingston team in the conference facing-off against the best defensive club in Mississauga for Teddy Bear Toss Day at Paramount Fine Foods Centre. The win gives Kingston 37 points and remains in first in the East Division and tied in both the Eastern Conference and overall OHL standings.

Philadelphia Flyers prospect Zayde Wisdom made his 2021-22 OHL debut for Kingston after returning from injury. The Kingston fan-fave played during the OHL hiatus with the AHL's Lehigh Valley Phantoms (28 GP - 7G,11A,18pts).

Workhorse Leevi Meriläinen was back in the Frontenacs goal making 40 saves for head coach Luca Caputi after Aidan Spooner was in for the win against Niagara on Saturday night. Roman Basran started in for the home team before being relieved.

Edmonds now has a 12 point, three-game streak with 4G, 8A with in his last 10 games to take over the OHL scoring lead from North Bay's Brandon Coe with 52 points.

First Period

The Frontenacs took a 5-0 lead on three powerplay goals in four chances while outshooting the Steelheads 18-10 setting the tone for an eighth road win on the season (8-1-1-0).

The Black and Gold took an early lead when Jordan Frasca (17) made a fortunate, but great play, taking the puck to the net potting his 100th career point after the puck deflected off a Steelheads player in front just 1:25 into the game. Lucas Edmonds and Jake Murray assisted as the Fronts came out hard outshooting the home side 5-1 early and a 1-0 lead.

The Steelheads responded with five straight shots on Meriläinen after the Fronts goal, but the Ottawa Senators prospect made a good save off Luca DelBelDelluz, before Chris Thibodeau was hauled down for Kingston's first powerplay of the game.

It was 2-0 after Edmonds took the puck to the net firing a backhand that Basran could not handle and Frasca (18) shelved the rebound for his second of the game. Edmonds earned his second point on the goal assisting at 7:47.

Edmonds continued his hot play scoring a goal on a bad angle on the Steelhead netminder for the three-goal lead. The goal was the third on ten shots, chasing Basran for Joe Ranger in the Steelhead crease. Defenceman Ben Roger, who had fired the initial shot on the Mississauga goal, got an assist in consecutive games on the 3-0 marker at 9:17.

Kingston took their first penalty with eight minutes left in the frame facing the league's second last powerplay percentage. Meriläinen made his best stop robbing an Aiden Preuter backhand from in close with four minutes left after the penalty had expired.

Mississauga then took a penalty as Preuter was called after a scrum. Lucas Peric fired a shot from the point with a screened shot on Ranger that was tipped by Arcuri (13) matching his number with the 4-0 goal at 17:49 with Edmonds getting another assist. The eventual game-winner was the fifth for Arcuri to tie for the OHL lead.

Another penalty with 55 seconds left sent Kingston to a third man advantage of the frame on a double minor, and Frasca (19) made it 5-0 in the last minute after Edmonds found him in front of Ranger for his second hattrick in two days. It was Edmonds fifth point in the opening 20 minutes (1G,4A) with Chromiak also earning a helper extending a 12-point eight-game point streak (6G,6A).

Second Period

A scoreless middle frame contrasted the five-goal outburst by Kingston in the opening 20 minutes with Mississauga outshooting the Fronts 17-9.

The Fronts had 1:14 of powerplay time to open the frame but was killed off by Mississauga to maintain a three-goal deficit. The first 10 minutes was much closer had a total of eight total shots by the two teams.

Mississauga had a pair of man-advantages late in the frame. First, going to a four-minute powerplay with seven minutes left not getting on the board. Meriläinen made a great stop on Luke Misa before Chromiak had three great chances shorthanded looking for the four-goal lead.

Another powerplay ended the second period with the second consecutive double-minor with 1:09 left in the frame. Hardie hit the post with a sprawling Kingston goalie, almost getting Mississauga on the board, but the 5-0 fronts lead remained intact with 3:51 of powerplay time for the Steelheads left to start the third. The teams were tied at 27 shots apiece heading to the second intermission.

Third Period

Preuter (8) was able to get the Bears finally tossed for the home fans getting the Steelheads on the board with a powerplay goal making it 5-1 just 39 seconds into the period. The goal came just before the first penalty from the first period had ended with the home side remaining on the man advantage for two more minutes.

The Steelheads took advantage of the second minor for a 5-2 score just over two minutes in when Zakary Lavoie (6) scored from Charlie Callahan on the second straight powerplay goal. A third penalty to Kingston sent the Steelheads back to a third man-advantage of the opening three minutes of the period but Kingston staved off any more early period strikes keeping a three-goal lead.

Braden Hache levelled Lavoie with under five minutes left keeping up the physicality not letting the Steelheads any free ice.

It was 5-3 when Zander Veccia (4) scored beating Meriläinen with a nice deke in close with under three left to make the game interesting late, but Kingston held on to win the third game in three days.

BMW of Kingston Hardest Worker

Lucas Edmonds (1G,4A)

Three-Star Awards

Jordan Frasca (3G)

Aidan Preuter (1G)

Zakary Lavoie (1G)

Game Notes

Chase Costantino listed as day-to-day

Lucas Peric has five points (5A) in a three-game streak

Captain Shane Wright is at Canada's World Junior Camp representing Canada

Goaltender Leevi Meriläinen will represent Finland's National Junior Team

LA Kings prospect Martin Chromiak has points in eight (6G,6A)

Named to the Slovakian National Junior Team this week

Forward Zayde Wisdom (Philadelphia Flyers - 2020 /4th Rd) made his 2021/22 OHL debut

Team Stat Pack - GP (25)

(17-5-3-0) - 37 points - Lead East Division / Tied East Conference Lead (NB) / Tied OHL Lead

.729 Winning percentage tops in OHL

Leaders (Top/3)

Goals - Frasca (19), Edmonds, (17), Chromiak, Arcuri (13)

Assists - Edmonds (35), Wright, Chromiak (19), Arucri (18)

Points - Edmonds (52), Frasca, (34), Chromiak (32)

PIMs - Haché (40), Poole (31), Budnick (25)

Shots- Edmonds (121), Chromiak (95), Wright (86)

Powerplay Points - Edmonds (19), Chromiak (14), Wright (13)

Rookie Points - Soto (16), Ludwinski (15), Thibodeau (7)

Defence Points - Murray (18), Peric (16), Budnick (5)

On The Front

The Frontenacs next home game is Friday, December 17, versus Jordan Frasca's brother Jacob as the Barrie Colts make their first visit of the season to Leon's Centre. The game is the last home game before the Holiday break.

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.

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 12, 2021


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