OHL Erie Otters

Lockhart's Pair Enough in Shootout on the Border

Published on November 4, 2021 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


St. Catharine's, Ontario - Crossing the border for the first time in 2021, the Erie Otters looked to turn around their recent string of misfortune. Taking on geographic rival, the Niagara IceDogs, the Otters looked to see what their team looked like in competition with international foes. Thursday night's game would represent the 79th regular season meeting between the two teams, and the first game over the border for Erie since March 8, 2020 - when the Otters played at Niagara.

The Otters couldn't have asked for much better of a start to the weekend, or the game. Controlling the puck and the offensive end from the jump, Erie would eventually be rewarded for its efforts offensively, as Canucks' prospect Connor Lockhart (1) would net his first goal of the season, scoring off a rebound in front of an open net. After a pair of back-to-back penalties, the Otters would get busy on the PK. Near the end of the second kill, Erie would be given a power play opportunity, and would finally find paydirt on the man-advantage, as overage-forward Brendan Hoffmann (3) would find the back of the net, and give Erie a 2-0 lead after 20. The Otters would lead in shots 13-7, and all the momentum would be all on their side heading into the intermission.

To start the second period, things continued at status-quo for Erie. 3:58 into the frame, Brendan Hoffmann (4) would redirect a Nathan Sauder shot for his second goal of the night. Back on an extended 5-on-3 power play, Spencer Sova (1) would score his first career Ontario Hockey League goal to make it 4-0. The IceDogs would start their comeback effort just past the halfway mark, as team-leading scorer Danil Gushchin (9) would score a redirect goal from a blue line shot to make it 4-1. Just over five minutes later, the Otters would see a goal from Brice Cooke (4) on the other side of a power play. Even with a 12-4 shots advantage, the Otters and IceDogs would see the same amount of goals in the period, as Erie took a 4-2 lead into the final period, leading in shots 25-11.

After allowing back-to-back goals in the second period, the Otters misfortune would continue. Aidan Castle (4) would go one-on-one down the ice, and come away with a goal to make it 4-3. Connor Lockhart (2) would score his second of the season near the halfway mark of the period to take a two-goal lead once again. 4:11 later, Cameron Snow (1) would beat Lalonde for his first goal of the season, and once again make it a one-goal game. With the net-empty, and the Otters on a penalty kill, Erie's Owain Johnston (1) would score his first goal from nearly 200 feet away to give Erie the insurance, the empty-netter, and the win.

The Otters snap a three-game skid with the win, and now have won three-straight over the IceDogs dating back to last season. Erie now improves to 3-6, as they load up the bus and ship out west to Windsor for a date with the Spitfires on Saturday night. Erie will close the road trip on Sunday afternoon in Sarnia.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 4, 2021


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