OHL Erie Otters

Pair of Kitchener Hat Tricks Down Erie on the Road

Published on November 21, 2023 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


Kitchener, Ontario - Thus begins the gauntlet week for the Erie Otters - or, perhaps, it continues as an extension of the prior week. After facing the now-seven-straight-winner Saginaw Spirit on Friday night, Erie would host (and down) Midwest Division rival London in a 4-2 contest on Saturday. Now, Erie would have the Kitchener Rangers to look ahead to twice (at Kitchener Tuesday night, hosting Kitchener on Wednesday, November 29), the Soo Greyhounds, and the Mississauga Steelheads. Erie would invade Kitchener for the second time this season, taking on a Rangers team that hasn't seen a loss in their last seven games, and sits atop the entire Ontario Hockey League. Nearly a month ago, Erie took its first trip to The Aud, escaping with a stolen point in an overtime loss. That was the last time Jacob Gibbons started in net, and the former North York Ranger would make his return to the lineup in the same building Tuesday night.

A disastrous start to the game would see the Kitchener Rangers strike three times before the Otters would get their second shot of the period. The goals for Kitchener in the first would come from two players - Antonino Pugliese (5,6) and Filip Mesar (6,7) as Kitchener would attack for four goals on 14 shots. Erie would finally find its bout of momentum in the late first on a power play opportunity, as Martin Misiak (10) would notch his sixth on the man-advantage this season. The goal would extend Pano Fimis' point streak to eight-straight games. Before the period would end, Alex Messier would drop the gloves with Roman Schmidt. Erie would be outshot 14-6, and trail 4-1 after 20.

In the opening 11 minutes of the second period, it would seem as though the tide had turned entirely to the favor of the Otters. Keeping even-pace with the Rangers in terms of shot production, while massively limiting the opportunities for the Kitchener offense, Erie would take advantage of special teams' chances. 5:35 in, Owain Johnston (1,PPG) would laser his first goal of the season in to make it a 4-2 contest. Good would turn to great just minutes later, as on their second penalty kill of the night, Carey Terrance (16, SHG) would make it a one-goal game from a terrific Malcolm Spence feed. However, Kitchener would convert on the power play opportunity from Tanner Lam (5, PPG) to retake a two-goal lead, and increase it back to a three-goal lead as Filip Mesar (8) would complete the hat trick. Erie would be outshot 12-10 in the second, and trail 6-3 headed into the final period.

Kitchener would stop playing cat-and-mouse with Erie in the third period, as the #4 team in the Canadian Hockey League would nab four goals in the final 20 minutes. Antonio Pugliese (7,8) would complete his hat trick plus one, and goals would be added by Trent Swick (9) and Carson Rehkopf (25) as the Rangers would hand Erie its worst loss of the season, 10-3. The Otters would be outshot 40-19 in the contest, and drop to 9-9-3.

American Thanksgiving Week continues for the Erie Otters as they had home for, appropriately, Thanksgiving! Not just any Thanksgiving Celebration, but the 48th Annual Thanksgiving Game for Erie hockey on Thursday evening, as the team hosts the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds for the only time this season - and third-consecutive Thanksgiving in a row. Erie has won back-to-back Thanksgivings against the Soo, and has won three-straight games over the Greyhounds dating back to 2021. Erie will have an off day on Black Friday, before hosting the Mississauga Steelheads for the final meeting of the season at the 15th Annual Teddy Bear Toss (pres. by EHCA) on Saturday evening - looking to conclude their season-series with the Trout for the first time in the win column.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 21, 2023


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