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OHL Kingston Frontenacs

Meriläinen Leads Kingston to a Shutout Victory over Oshawa on Teddy Bear Toss Night

December 4, 2021 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kingston Frontenacs News Release


The Kingston Frontenacs beat the Oshawa Generals 5-0 on Teddy Bear Toss Night at Leon's centre coming away with a fourth consecutive victory. Martin Chromiak scored twice in 54 seconds in the second period bolstering the Fronts offense with Shane Wright, Jake Murray, and Francesco Arcuri all registering multi points in the five-goal win. Team scoring leader Lucas Edmonds also had two assists to sit second in OHL scoring with 40 points to remain two points back of North Bay's Brandon Coe for the OHL lead.

Finnish netminder Leevi Meriläinen got his first OHL shutout back in the Kingston goal for head coach Luca Caputi after a one game hiatus for his 11th win on the season. Aidan Spooner backstopped the Fronts in the win over Peterborough on Thursday. Patrick Leaver would face the Fronts shooters as has been the case in the previous two games between the East Division foes.

Defenceman Ben Roger was also back in after missing two games with injury and was in the opening lineup paired with Braden Hache. Enjoyed his new playing partner, Hache said: "It's a huge pickup for us, he's a skilled and smart player and I love playing with him. I think we're starting to gel, so the sky is the limit for us." Meriläinen commented on Roger as well, "I like him so far, he's done great job. He is a very good addition to our team and is what we needed in another big, strong dman."

A pre-game ceremony was held for the Capital City Challenge honouring Oshawa's Calum Ritchie and Kingston's Mason Vaccari for winning the tournament. Fronts Matthew Soto and Quinton Burns were also recognised for their tournament appearances.

First Period

Kingston would take a tight checking 9-6 lead on the shot clock with both teams getting limited chances on the respective netminders in a scoreless opening period. A tentative, but free flowing start, with only four whistles in the first 10 minutes was had for both on four combined shots in first seven minutes with lots of neutral zone play. Shane Wright had a chance at 12:40 but Leaver kept the game scoreless before Meriläinen stopped Oshawa's Cooper Way on a breakaway in the games' best early chances.

Jackson Stewart made solid hit on Lleyton Moore in the Oshawa zone in a period featuring multiple hits. The Gens leading goal-scorer Ryan Stepien was checked into the Fronts bench on a nice hit by Stewart with just over five minutes left in the frame.

Brett Harrison let a one-timer from the circle, but Meriläinen again made a nice save not allowing a rebound smothering up the blistering shot.

Kingston went to the games first powerplay with 4:46 left in the period, but the teams went to four-on-four for 1:21 with the Fronts getting called on their first penalty of their own. Martin Chromiak made a great play with 1:35 left breaking up a great Generals set up off the rush.

Things heated up a notch when Daniel Michaud hit Quinton Burns in the neutral zone. Burns was slow to get up but remained in the game. Braden Hache would engage Michaud in a post-whistle scrum with Hache and Cooper Way getting coincidental minors in the periods' last minute.

Jordan Frasca hit the post with 45 seconds left almost sending the Fronts to the intermission lead, but a scoreless board was set-up for the second frame.

Second Period

Kingston would take a commanding 3-0 lead in the middle frame on two powerplay goals less than a minute apart late in the stanza.

Jordan Frasca (12) got fans off their hands and toys in the air early in the stanza with the 1-0 tally to touch off the Teddy bear Toss in the arena. Francesco Arcuri recorded an assist for his 10th straight contest with a point (7G,8A) on the goal 2:57 in. Assistant captain Lucas Edmonds added to his team-leading point total with a helper (40) and remains two points back of North Bay's

Defenseman Ben Roger saved a Generals goal seven minutes in as the hulking rearguard used his long reach to grab a puck from just going over the line

Meriläinen made a nice save midway through the frame snuffing out a Generals crease chance with two big stops including a three-on-one opportunity.

Kingston had their second man advantage of the game with just over four minutes to go in the period, with another Gens penalty sending the Fronts to a five-on-three for 47 seconds. The Black and Gold put the visitors on their heels on a two-goal 54 second outburst by Martin Chromiak.

It didn't take long for Chromiak (10) to get the 2-0 score moments after the puck dropped in the Oshawa zone while the first penalty had not yet expired. The Slovakian native rifled a top shelf shot past Leaver after Wright and Arcuri traded the puck setting up an open lane.

The LA Kings prospect (11) then made it 3-0 with his second of the night as the Frontenacs scored again on the man advantage taking a feed from Edmonds before skating in a couple of strides and wiring a pro-wrist shot past Leaver. Wright also drew an assist at 18:06.

Third Period

The Frontenacs sealed the win with two more goals in the final frame. Paul Ludwinski took an awkward fall into the boards as he tried to cut to the net and crashed full speed into the boards. The rookie forward shook it off and remained on the bench and would tally an assist on his next shift.

It was 4-0 when Jake Murray (1) scored his first of the year with Lucas Peric and Ludwinski tallying assists at 8:01 before the Fronts took a 5-0 lead on a Matthew Soto (5) goal at 10:15. The recent representative at The Capital City Challenge added to his team-leading freshman scoring after beating Leaver from the hashmarks assisted by Wright and Murray.

Oshawa had a powerplay with under eight minutes remaining, but the Kingston penalty kill units and Meriläinen would not budge holding the Gens off the board making one of his 28 saves on the night sealing the 5-0 shutout.

After Thoughts

Defenceman Ben Roger was also back in after missing two games with injury and was in the opening lineup paired with Braden Hache. Enjoyed his new playing partner, Hache said: "It's a huge pickup for us, he's a skilled and smart player and I love playing with him. I think we're starting to gel, so the sky is the limit for us." Meriläinen commented on Roger as well, "I like him so far, he's done great job. He is a very good addition to our team and is what we needed in another big, strong d-man.

Head coach Luca Caputi was pleased with his team's effort but knows they must keep the pedal to the medal. On the teams first shutout the coach was pleased with the players efforts utilizing things they've practiced. "We've been doing a lot of good things defensively so it's nice to have the goalie get rewarded for it", he said after the win. "He's kept us in some games so far and worked hard in practice and always getting better. I'm extremely happy for the team, however, our work is not done this weekend."

Braden Hache was on the ice the last time the toys were thrown on Leon's Centre ice in 2019-20 and recalled the excitement in the arena. "We love playing in front of a packed house and to get a 5-0 win in front of the big crowd is huge on a night like tonight," said the Florida Panthers prospect. "It's an exciting goal, a fun one; I was just about to jump on the ice again, so it was funny as I was almost out there for another one."

BMW of Kingston Hardest Worker

Jackson Stewart - KGN

Three Star Awards

Leevi Meriläinen - KGN (28 save shutout)

Martin Chromiak -KGN (2G)

Jake Murray - KGN (2A)

Notes

Forward Francesco Arcuri extended to a ten-game point streak on 16 points

Chase Costantino is listed as day-to-day

Captain Shane Wright will be at Canada's World Junior Camp in Calgary, AB on December 9-12, 2021

Forward Matthew Soto and Defenceman Quinton Burns returned to action on Thursday after competing at the Capital City Challenge

Forwards Nathan Poole and Gage Heyes are from Oshawa

Team Stat Pack - GP (21)

(13-5-3-0) - 28 points

Leaders (Top/3)

Goals - Edmonds (13), Frasca (12), Chromiak (11),

Assists - Edmonds (27), Wright (17), Arcuri (16)

Points - Edmonds (40), Wright (27), Arcuri (26)

PIMs - Haché (29), Poole (27) Budnick, Callens (23)

Plus/Minus - Arcuri, Edmonds, Murray (10), Frasca (9)

Shots - Edmonds (95), Wright (83), Chromiak (78)

Powerplay Points - Edmonds, Wright (13), Chromiak (11)

Rookie Points - Soto, Ludwinski (14), Thibodeau (7),

On The Front

On Sunday, December 5, the Fronts hit the road in Ottawa, taking on the 67's in a matinee affair at 2:00 pm.

The next home game is Friday, December 10, when the Hamilton Bulldogs make their first visit to Leon's Centre at 7:00 pm.

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.

The arena is now operating at 100% capacity, following all Provincial health guidelines.

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 4, 2021


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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