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OHL Owen Sound Attack

Owen Sound Throttles Flint

March 14, 2018 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Owen Sound Attack News Release


The Owen Sound Attack exploded for seven goals south of the border for a big win on Wednesday, Mar. 14, defeating the Flint Firebirds by a score of 7-1.

Led by the line of Alan Lyszczarczyk, Brett McKenzie, and Ethan Szypula, the Attack scored six straight goals over the game's final 40:00 of action to draw even with the London Knights for 4th place in the Western Conference - although the Knights have a game in hand.

Owen Sound got off to a good start on Wednesday night, using a gorgeous goal by their 4th line to jump out to an early 1-0 lead.

After icing the puck and being forced to retreat to their own end for a faceoff, the Attack were able to take control of the puck thanks to a solid win by Mitchell Russell, who chipped the puck out into the neutral zone for a streaking Daylon Groulx.

Groulx, sitting at nine goals on the year, picked up the pill on the right win boards and started tracking towards the post to the left Luke Cavallin in the Firebirds' goal, forcing the keeper to drop down to his knees. Almost on top of the goal line, Groulx deftly lifted the puck up in the air, over Cavallin's shoulder, and into the back of the net for his 10th of the season and a 1-0 lead at 3:12 of the 1st period.

Flint responded in the waning moments of the first, though.

A bobbled puck at the offensive blueline forced the Attack into retreat mode and Sean Durzi, making his return to the lineup after missing two months with a high ankle sprain, was tasked with defending a two-on-one that saw Ethan Keppen and Jack Wismer play catch before Wismer eventually tapped the even-up goal into the cage with 5:55 to play in the opening frame.

The tie held through the end of the first period, but when play resumed in the middle stanza it didn't take the Attack long to restore their one goal lead.

This time, it was Ethan Szypula setting up Alan Lyszczarczyk for the easy tap in at the 1:21 mark of the frame after Szypula drove so hard to the net that Flint rearguard Riley McCourt took out his own goaltender, allowing Lyszczarczyk to pick up his 20th of the season.

Trent Bourque also assisted on the play, chipping the puck up to Szypula in the neutral zone, starting what would become a goal scoring barrage for the Bears.

With 7:22 gone in the frame, Jonah Gadjovich lifted a puck cross ice in the neutral zone to a streaking Kevin Hancock who picked up the pass, crossed the blueline, and dropped it for Nick Suzuki who ripped his 37th goal of the year into the back of the net to make it 3-1.

Then, less than 2:00 later, Alan Lyszczarczyk would pick up his 2nd of the evening after Brett McKenzie missed the net with his shot before picking it up and feeding Lyszczarczyk for another easy tap in on top of the blue paint.

And they weren't done there either.

Just out of the 2nd period TV timeout, Daylon Groulx joined Lyszczarczyk with his 2nd of the night, pouncing on a loose puck in the crease to chase Luke Cavallin from the net with 8:12 remaining in the 2nd period.

The Firebirds netminder exited the game having made 15 saves on 20 shots on the night, paving the way for Garrett Forrest to play the remaining 11:48 of the frame before the teams headed to the dressing rooms with Owen Sound leading 5-1.

When play resumed for the 3rd period, it was apparent that the Attack weren't about to lay off and let Flint get back into it.

Like they did in the first two frames, Owen Sound scored an early goal, this time making the Firebirds pay for icing the puck.

Just 1:27 into the 3rd, Ethan Szypula won the puck back to Alan Lyszczarczyk who immediately fed it back to Szypula below the goal line.

Noticing the front of the net was empty, Brett McKenzie made a bee-line to it, taking a pass from Szypula and eventually banging his 20th of the year into the cage to make it 6-1 for the Attack.

Owen Sound did cool off for a little bit, but the scoring wasn't done at just six goals for the Bears.

With the Firebirds chasing in their own zone, Sean Durzi found a wide open Ethan Szypula with a hard slap pass that Szypula immediately blasted into the back of the net for his 18th of the year and a 7-1 lead.

Brett McKenzie also assisted on the play, giving the entire line of Lyszczarczyk, McKenzie, and Szypula three points each on the evening.

That combined nine points would allow the trio to sweep the Mac Taylor Corporation 3 Stars of the game, with Lyszczarczyk, Szypula, and McKenzie being named 1st, 2nd, and 3rd stars respectively, as Owen Sound held onto that 7-1 score until the final buzzer.

Olivier turned aside 28 of the 29 shots that he faced on the evening to earn the win, while the Mark McDade Chestnut Park Shots on Goal concluded at 36-29 for the Bears on the night.

The Attack will play their final game of the season against the Spitfires in Windsor on Thursday night in a 7:05pm start at the WFCU Centre.

Fans can tune into the game live on Kia of Owen Sound/Terry's Trailer Service Bear Radio on 560 CFOS or by watching on Rogers Local 53.

Owen Sound will then conclude their season at home on Saturday night against the Sarnia Sting. Tickets are limited to standing room only and can be purchased at the MacVicar & McComb ReMax Attack Box Office.

Fans can also purchase tickets for Home Games 1 and 2 of their 2018 Ontario Hockey League Western Conference Quarter Final Playoff Series against the London Knights at the MacVicar & McComb ReMax Attack Box Office, online at www.attackhockey.com, or by calling 519-371-7452.

A full schedule for the first round series will be released once it is finalized.

This season of Attack Hockey is brought to you by Lerners Personal Injury Lawyers and Bertrand & Muzzell Paralegal Services.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 14, 2018


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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