Morning Skate: Veterans Ready for Memorable Night
Published on March 15, 2014 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Belleville Bulls News Release
BELLEVILLE, ON -ÃÂ The Bulls host the Sudbury Wolves tonight in what's sure to be a hard fought and in some aspects emotional night at the Yardmen Arena.ÃÂ Scott Simmonds and Cameron Brace suit up in their final OHL game and look to go out on a high note in front of a loyal Belleville crowd that has gone through a season of highs and lows with a young team.
Friday night's fast-paced encounter with the Oshawa Generals was nearly a success for the battlin' Bulls. They pushed the Oshawa Generals for 64:57, falling with three seconds left to go in overtime on aÃÂ Michael Dal Colle cannon from the top of the circle. The 3-2 loss featured plenty of offensive opportunities for the Bulls, who worked hard to create chances and were as good, if not better than their opponent in the game's final 30 minutes.
The standings are set from a Belleville perspective though, and the Bulls won't be making a trip to the postseason this year. There's still plenty of pride to play for tonight against a Sudbury Wolves team that will surely be in foul spirits after their Northern nemesis upended them on Friday for the Central Division crown.
The North Bay Battalion swooped in in the final weeks of the regular season to leapfrog a Wolves club that had led the Central for most of the season. Just 2-6-0-2 in their last ten, a segment that includes a 2-1 shootout loss to the Bulls, the Wolves have had a tough time finding their rhythm since the OHL's trade deadline in January.
A pair of goals fromÃÂ Brett McKenzie on Friday saw North Bay defeat Sudbury 5-3 in front of the Nickel Capital crowd. The division title sees the Battalion return to where the 1994 North Bay Centennials ÃÂ once were, finishing with the best record in the OHL before defeating the Detroit Jr. Red Wings in the OHL final.
The Wolves still have two games left on the weekend, playing in Belleville tonight before visiting Oshawa on Sunday. They're slated to face the Barrie Colts in the first round of the OHL Playoffs though home ice advantage still hangs in the balance with the Wolves and Colts tied at 75 points (with Barrie holding four more wins on the season than Sudbury).
The 22-38-4-3 Bulls are determined to go out on top. Come on out to the Yardmen tonight to see your 2013-14 Belleville Bulls one last time. Bring your cowbells and lets have some fun!
Game time is 7:05pm! Tonight's action is brought to you by Belleville Nissan! For tickets, contact the Bulls box office at 613-966-8338.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 15, 2014
- Toronto Jr. Canadiens and Toronto Marlboros to Play for OHL Cup - OHL
- 2013-14 Award Winners Announced - Soo Greyhounds
- Season Ends for Sting - Sarnia Sting
- Otters Clinch Third in West in Win over Sting - Erie Otters
- Saginaw Faces off with London at the Dow Event Center - Saginaw Spirit
- Whalers Top Spits to Wrap Regular Season - Windsor Spitfires
- Sting Fall in Guelph - Sarnia Sting
- Sting Win in Shootout Thriller - Sarnia Sting
- Steelheads Silence IceDogs - Brampton Steelheads
- Steelheads Preview - Brampton Steelheads
- Titlist Troops Host Desperate 67's - North Bay Battalion
- Battalion Captures Central Crown - North Bay Battalion
- Generals Drop Final Away Game - Oshawa Generals
- Generals Hand Bulls Overtime Loss - Oshawa Generals
- Game Day: Generals vs Bulls - Oshawa Generals
- Morning Skate: Veterans Ready for Memorable Night - Belleville Bulls
- Bulls Go Down Battling in 3-2 OT Loss - Belleville Bulls
- Wolves Drop 5-3 Decision to Battalion - Sudbury Wolves
- Eastern Conference Quarter Final Playoff Schedule Announced - Peterborough Petes
- Plymouth Whalers Draw Guelph Storm in First Round OHL Playoff Series - Plymouth Whalers
- Eastern Conference Quarter Final Playoff Schedule Announced - Kingston Frontenacs
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