Morning Skate: Bulls Battle Top of the East
January 17, 2015 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Belleville Bulls News Release
BELLEVILLE, ON - After snapping a four game losing streak, the Belleville Bulls return home to take on the number one team in Canada, the Oshawa Generals in the middle of a three game weekend. The Generals dropped a tilt with the Kitchener Rangers on Friday night and will be looking to bounce back against a team they haven't had any problems with this season. The Bulls have yet to take down the Gens but they will get another shot when the puck drops at 7:05pm.
The Rangers evened up the season series as they handed the Eastern Conference leading Generals just their 7th road loss of the campaign. Left-winger Kenny Huether and blue liner Chris Carlisle were the goal scorers for Oshawa. Starting netminder Ken Appleby made 23 saves in the loss that also kicked off a three in three weekend.
The Generals were fairly active around the OHL trade deadline acquiring 6'2", 190-pound left-winger Matt Mistele from the Plymoouth Whalers and Michael McCarron and Dakota Mermis from the London Knights. Mistele was drafted in the sixth round to the Los Angeles Kings in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft while McCaron was selected 25th overall in the first round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft to the Montreal Canadiens and signed a three-year entry-level contract with the club in July 2013. Mermis, an overager and defensemen has scored a goal and added 10 assists for the Knights this season.
Veteran forward Michael Dal Colle leads the club offensively with 25 goals and 34 helpers in 32 games played. 1995-born centre Cole Cassels has also been a consistent offensive threat posting 15 goals and adding 34 assists in 30 games played thus far. Ken Appleby has been strong between the pipes all season long and continues to lead all goaltenders in the OHL with a .922 goals agasint average. The North Bay, Ontario native has also recorded 4 shutouts thi season.
The Bulls earned their first road win of the New Year on Friday night, downing the Mississauga Steelheads 5-3. The starting line of Niki Petti, Stepehen Harper, Brett Welychka, Alex Yuill and Jordan Subban carried the load for Belleville. Petti, Subban (2) and Harper were all goal scorers in the win. Adam Laishram added the other. Welychka and Yuill both picked up 2 assists. Charlie Graham made 37 saves.
Subban, the Canucks prospect, leads his team with 17 goals and 19 assists in 41 games played. Petti has pitched in with 14 goals and 17 assists in 41 games played as well.
The Bulls look to add another two points as they try to climb back up the tight Eastern Conference standings.
-- Don't forget to follow along on twitter (@OHLBulls) for all game updates. Stop by the Bulls Box Office and pick up your Weekend Pass! Purchase a ticket to Saturday night's game and get Sunday's game for just $10. Call (613) 966-8338 for all ticket information.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 17, 2015
- Otters Outlast Troops in Overtime Thriller - North Bay Battalion
- Depleted Sting Fall to Knights - Sarnia Sting
- Robinson Scores Shootout Winner for Rangers - Kitchener Rangers
- McDavid Overtime Hero for Otters - Erie Otters
- Sonny Night in Plymouth: Plymouth Whalers Beat Sudbury, 7-1, on Saturday - Plymouth Whalers
- Fronts Beat IceDogs in Overtime - Niagara IceDogs
- Overtime Win for the Generals in Belleville - Oshawa Generals
- Saginaw Finish Weekend With Loss to Guelph - Saginaw Spirit
- Morning Skate: Bulls Battle Top of the East - Belleville Bulls
- Sting Top Whalers 5-2 - Sarnia Sting
- Day Nets Two, Sets Career High in Loss - Brampton Steelheads
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