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OHL Erie Otters

McDonald Grabs Sixth Career Goal in Loss at Niagara

January 26, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


St. Catharines, Ontario - The final trip to the Niagara Region would come on Thursday night for the Erie Otters, and represent the team's final game of both a four-game road trip and final road game of January. Fortune had favored the Otters in their two previous trips to the Meridian Centre this season, as the team won both games in come-from-behind 4-3 overtime fashion. With an upstart Otters team taking the ice after a solid weekend outing out west, Erie would hope to get things taken care of in regulation for their last trip to St. Catharines.

10 minutes into the first period, the story of the opening period would be the goaltenders, as Kyle Downey and Josh Rosenzweig would grab 15 total saves. This successful play would continue for the goaltenders through most of the period, especially for Niagara, as Rosenzweig would stop 12/12 against Erie. Downey would stop 9/10, as Bronson Ride (3) would put the IceDogs on top after 20 thanks to a power play goal and his second of the season for Niagara. Erie would lead in shots 12-10 after the first, but trail 1-0.

In the middle frame, Erie would once again outshoot Niagara - this time 9-7 - but once again see the first goal come from the IceDogs. This time around, it would be Declan Waddick (14) to score the goal 3:27 into the period. Niagara would jump up 2-0. In an anticipated retribution for New Year's Eve's hit against Brett Bressette, Zakary Lavoie would have to drop the gloves with Erie's Owain Johnston for an early second period fight. Erie would fight the rest of the period, but it would still be the Josh Rosenzweig show as he would stop all 21/21 Otters shots through 40.

The third period would see the Niagara IceDogs take over and take off from their 2-0 lead. 4:48 into the period, Daniel Michaud (15) would put the IceDogs up 3-0, while Alex Assadourian (7) would move it up to a 4-0 Niagara lead. Erie would finally get on the board just past the halfway mark of the period, as Bruce McDonald (6) would corral a Spencer Sova shot. Erie's comeback would only come that close, as Kevin He (12) would put the game on ice, 5-1. Rosenzweig would stop 34/35 enroute to the Niagara victory.

After an off-day on Friday, the Erie Otters will return home for UPMC Member Appreciation Weekend on Saturday and Sunday to close out January. Erie will welcome the Kitchener Rangers in on Saturday for Hockey Fights Cancer (pres. by UPMC), taking the ice in specialty HFC jerseys. Following the game, the jerseys will be auctioned off to benefit the Hillman Cancer Fund at Hamot Health Foundation. Erie will return the hosting favors for Niagara on Sunday for the final Sunday Family Funday of the 2022-23 season. The first 500 kids in attendance will receive a free popcorn & drink, while all fans will be invited to ice level for a post-game skate with the team - fans must provide their own skates and helmets.

Check out the Erie Otters Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 26, 2023


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