Morning Skate: Bulls Take on Top of the East
Published on November 1, 2014 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Belleville Bulls News Release
BELLEVILLE, ON - The Belleville Bulls open up a home-and-home series this weekend with another East Division rival, the Oshawa Generals. Following a bizarre shootout victory over the North Bay Battalion, the Bulls look to continue finding ways to win when they host the Generals on Saturday night at the Yardmen Arena.
Oshawa currently sits on top of the OHL's Eastern Conference with 23 points and is led by 19 year old centre Cole Casssels, who has buried 6 goals and added 20 assists in 14 games played. The Vancouver Canucks prospect, who is wearing a "C" for the Generals this year, was named the OHL and CHL player of the week for the week ending October 19th and is fourth on the OHL points list.
Sophomore Mitchell Vande Sompel and rookie Tobias Lindberg have also been key players for the Gens, collecting 18 and 17 points respectively. Right winger Hunter Smith leads the way in the goal category for his club with 10 markers thus far. Smith posted a hat-trick in Oshawa's 4-2 win over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds on October 19th. Netminder Ken Appleby is in his fourth season with the Generals and continues to lead all OHL goaltenders with a 1.82 goals against average. Oshawa has recently been ranked 8th on the BMO CHL top 10 list.
"Well they are the best in the east right now, there's no question they have had a terriffic start. They play a high pace game, they play physical and they are getting great goaltending so we will have to be at our best." said Head Coach George Burnett.
"We feel that we are capable of playing and competing on a much better, more consistent level. It's great to be finding ways to get points but we know that our game has to improve and I think the next two days will provide us with a good indication of where we fit in." added Burnett.
The Bulls are fresh off another shootout win, this time over the Central Division leading North Bay Battalion. Adam Laishram scored one of the most bizarre shootout goals you will ever see, keeping the Bulls alive in the sixth round. Forward turned defenceman Stephen Harper scored in the tenth round to seal the win for Belleville. Goal scorers in regulation were Jake Marchment and Jordan Subban.
Dallas Stars prospect Remi Elie still leads Belleville with 9 goals and 9 helpers in 13 games played. Subban has pitched in with 7 goals and 9 assists. Toronto native Charlie Graham made 48 saves in the win over North Bay, improving his save percentage to 0.931, the highest among all OHL goaltenders. Graham will have his work cut out for him against a very talented Oshawa team.
"He was terriffic in North Bay, we don't get any points there without Charlie. He made some big saves that were very timely and the shootout speaks for itself. We need to take a little pressure off him by being better as a group in front of him and or Connor (Hicks)." said Burnett.
-- Saturday night is Loyalist College night at the Yardmen Arena. Students from various Loyalist programs are taking over game night activites and have lots of fun in store for the whole family! Show up early and try your luck at our Halloween Spin to Win! Puck drop is set for 7:05pm, you can get full play-by-play coverage with Jack Miller on 800 CJBQ starting at 6:50pm. Remember to follow along on Twitter (@OHLBulls) for all in game updates.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 1, 2014
- Bulls Drop Round 1 vs. Generals - Belleville Bulls
- Marner Hat-Trick Gets Knights Past Spits - Windsor Spitfires
- Otters Take Seventh Straight Victory - Erie Otters
- Rangers Win Shootout in Owen Sound - Kitchener Rangers
- Saginaw Spirit Defeat Sault Ste. Marie 5-4 at the Dow Event Center - Saginaw Spirit
- IceDogs Fall to Wolves - Niagara IceDogs
- Addison Scores Twice in Loss to Otters in Erie - Ottawa 67's
- Wolves Fall to Sting - Sudbury Wolves
- Morning Skate: Bulls Take on Top of the East - Belleville Bulls
- Miller Scores a Pair, But Hounds Fall in London - Soo Greyhounds
- Santos, Smith Stellar in Troops' Victory - North Bay Battalion
- Sting Top Wolves 4-1 - Sarnia Sting
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