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OHL Erie Otters

Ready Eddy Edwards Two-Goal Night Highlights Depth Scoring in 7-4 Win

December 31, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


Erie, Pennsylvania - An Erie holiday tradition returns! The beloved annual New Year's Rockin' Eve (pres. by Printing Concepts) would close out 2023 for the Erie Otters. Before the countdown would begin and the ball would drop, the Otters would welcome a new-but-familiar foe in the Brantford Bulldogs to town. Brantford - formerly the Hamilton Bulldogs - would be off to a terrific start in their inaugural season in the Telephone City, standing atop the East Division standings. After a six-goal night on Saturday night for both teams, offense was to be expected coming into the night.

After a slower start to the period for either team's offense, Erie would start to string together solid offensive opportunities. As the period would near its halfway mark, Alexis Daviault (2) would make a heads up play and drive the net for a perfectly-placed Pano Fimis pass. Erie would strike first for the second-straight game. Just under three minutes later, Nick Lardis (26, PPG) would continue his impressive season by knotting things up at one. On an incredible individual effort, Brett Hammond (1) would drive the net himself and find a highlight-reel goal for his first-career OHL goal. After 20, Erie would hold a 2-1 lead with a 13-9 shot advantage.

The second period would start perfectly for the Brantford Bulldogs, as Mark Vanacker (14) would tie the game up just 1:25 into the period. The game would remain 2-2 for an extended amount of time, until two goals in 2:27 from Dylan Edwards (1) and Pano Fimis (11, PPG) would give the Otters their first multi-goal lead of the game. Erie would once again fire 13 shots on goal, and take a 26-15 shot advantage and a 4-2 lead into the final frame.

For the second-straight night, the third period would welcome three goals for the Erie Otters. Just :57 into the frame, Kaleb Smith (4) would net what would end up being the game-winning goal. Minutes later during four-on-four, a defensive play in the Otters' end would turn into a two-on-one for Bruce McDonald and Dylan Edwards (2) with the latter taking his second goal of the game. Erie would lead 6-2 with half the period gone by. On a power play opportunity, Mark Vanacker (15, PPG) would secure his second goal of the game, and give the Bulldogs a prayer in the final half of the period. The prayer would not be answered, as Bruce McDonald (7) would earn his second point of the night from a batted puck in front. A late goal from Patrick Thomas (9) would be the closest Brantford would come, as the Otters down the #2 team in the Eastern Conference in a 7-4 final - giving Erie the home-weekend sweep.

Happy New Year! The Erie Otters finish two games above .500 at the proverbial halfway point of the season, and look ahead to a jam-packed January of hockey. It's a short break for the Otters, as they prepare to head to London on Wednesday for a rivalry showdown, before returning home for a pair of games against Owen Sound on Thursday and Windsor on Saturday for Nickelodeon Night.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 31, 2023


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