OHL Barrie Colts

Running With the Colts Update

Published on December 20, 2005 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Barrie Colts News Release


The Colts finished off their last weekend before the Christmas break with a 1-1 record in a pair of home games.They head into the holidays with a 22-10-1-2 record with 47 points, good for first place in the Central Division and third overall behind London and Peterborough . The club extended their home record to 10-5-0-2 and their away record to a league best 12-5-1-0 on the season..The Colts still have a franchise high eight game road win-streak in tact heading into their next game scheduled for Friday December 30 in Kitchener against the Rangers (7:30 p.m.)..December 15 vs. OWEN SOUND: ..In a battle of goaltending, the Owen Sound Attack established a 3-1 victory Thursday night at the Barrie Molson Centre.The victory improved their record at the Molson Centre this season to 2-1, as Jeff Kyrzakos broke a 1-1 tie on an Attack powerplay with just 5:48 left in the third period..Mike Angelidis added an empty-net goal, and Bob Sanguinetti also scored for the Attack..Alexander Eaton (2) scored for the Colts in his first game with the team after he was acquired on waivers Wednesday from the Sudbury Wolves..Also playing in his first game with a new club, Attack goaltender Michael Ouzas made 38 saves for the victory, and on the other end, Dan LaCosta kicked aside 40 shots for the home side...December 17 vs. OTTAWA: The Colts capped off the weekend with a 4-1 victory against the visiting Ottawa 67's.The win improved the Colt's record to 2-0-1-0 this season with Ottawa, as four different players hit the scoresheet...Matthew Bragg (8), Bryan Little (25), with the eventual game-winner, Ryan Hamilton (17) and Kris Sparre (1), with his first OHL goal, each tallied for Barrie, and Dan LaCosta posted another busy night as he made 45 saves for the victory to improve his overall record to 17-7-1-2..He had the shutout effort spoiled as Bryan Bickell of the 67's capitalized on a 5-on-3 effort with just 1:40 left in the third period.Andrew Marshall chipped in with a pair of assists, and Nick Plastino, Matthieu Methot, Brett Oliphant and Nathan Martine also recorded assists for the home victors

WHAT'S ON TAP: The Colts will enjoy a 12 day break between games but return to a busy weekend of three games in less then three days..Friday December 30 they travel to Kitchener (7:30 p.m.) for their second and final regular season meeting with the Rangers (19-12-0-1), who have posted an impressive 7-3-0-0 record throughout their past ten games.. The Rangers previously defeated the Colts 1-0 back on November 10 in Barrie..The Colts skate into the game on the heels of eight straight road victories, a franchise record that was established with a 2-1 victory December 10 in Saginaw.The last record was established through a seven game period from February 9, 2000 - March 11, 2000.The team will travel back to Barrie in preparation for their annual New Year's Eve game scheduled for 7:30 p.m. when they host the Saginaw Spirit (19-3-0-0)..They will have little time to rest as they begin 2006 with a New Year's Day matinee game (2:00 p.m.) in Owen Sound against the Attack (17-13-2-3).The Colts this season have struggled against the Attack with a 1-3 record through four meetings, as their last one is scheduled for February 22 in Owen Sound

COLTS NEAR THE TOP: Here is a list of Colts in the top ten throughout the league in various statistical categories:

Goals Against Average: 1st - Dan LaCosta, 2.27 Save Percentage: 1st - Dan LaCosta, .928 Wins: T 3rd - Dan LaCosta, 17 Shutouts: T 1st - Dan LaCosta, 3 Points - Defensemen: 3rd - Andrew Marshall, 38 (18g, 20a) Goals - Defensemen: 1st - Andrew Marshall, 18 Overall Points: 4th - Bryan Little, 63 (25g, 38a) Overall Goals: 5th - Bryan Little, 25 Overall Assists: 5th - Bryan Little, 38 Rookie Points: T 3rd - Vladimir Nikiforov, 30 (8g, 22a) Powerplay Goals: T 5th -Andrew Marshall, 14; T 6th - Bryan Little, 13 Game-winning Goals: T 1st - Bryan Little, 6 Plus/Minus: T 3rd - Bryan Little, +18, T 4th - Nick Plastino, +17

PRACTICE SCHEDULE: Players will begin to arrive from their respective hometowns for the club's first practice back after the holidays scheduled for December 27.The team will also practice on December 28 and 29 in preparation for their first game scheduled for December 30 in Kitchener (7:30 p.m.).All practices begin are scheduled at the Molson Centre from 3:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. and are open to the public to attend

INJURY & ROSTER UPDATES: Defenseman Kyle van de Bospoort is still recovering from the after-effects of mononucleosis and is practicing with the team..His expected return is another two weeks away... Michael Lombardi has served two games of a four game suspension stemming from a major penalty for charging on December 9 in Sarnia, and is eligible to return on January 1..Defenseman Blake Parlett is healthy after missing the club's last nine games with an upper body injury, and he will be attending the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Regina, SK from December 26-January 4..Overage left-winger Alexander Eaton joined the club for his first game on Thursday after he was acquired Wednesday off waivers from the Sudbury Wolves..18-year old left-winger Kris Sparre was called up from Couchiching for the second time this season and scored his first OHL goal on Saturday, and Bryan Little also returned to the lineup after he missed Thursday's game while he attended the World Junior Tryout Camp in Vancouver, BC

CURRENT PLAYER STREAKS: Bryan Little has recorded points in his last 14 games dated back to November 12 with (11g-20a-31) totals throughout this span.Ryan Hamilton recorded a point in consecutive games over the weekend with two points (1g-1a), and Hunter Tremblay had a season-high nine game points streak broken Thursday.The 19-year old right-winger recorded 15 points (6g-9a) through a nine game span dated back to November 18

SPECIAL TEAMS SUMMARY: Barrie's powerplay dropped from seventh to eight last week as they have scored 58 goals through 294 opportunities for an efficiency rate of 19.7%....The penalty kill remained at fifth in the OHL, as the club's units have killed off 223 of 268 total shorthanded situations through 35 games.58 of the team's 122 goals have been scored on the powerplay, while 45 of their 93 against have been scored on the opposition's man-advantages

IN THE GOALS DEPARTMENT: The Colts have scored 122 goals this season and have allowed 93, placing them eleventh and second alone respectively in these categories

WEEKEND TOTALS: Colts goaltender Dan LaCosta posted more impressive numbers over the weekend as he lowered his goals against average from 2.33 to a league best 2.27 and raised his save percentage from .924 to league high .928..LaCosta made 85 saves on 88 shots through two games for a weekend save percentage of .966

ON AN INTERNATIONAL LEVEL: Head Coach Marty Williamson will take his duties to an international level over the holidays as he will man the helm for Team Ontario at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Regina, SK from December 26-January 4..Director of Hockey Operations Gregg Carrigan and Assistant Coach Darrell Woodley will run the bench through this stretch

RAISING THE LEVEL: Several Colts through 35 games this season have already posted individual highs in various statistical categories.Andrew Marshall has recorded 18 goals and 38 total points, breaking his totals of 3 goals and 17 total points he established through 63 games last season.Matthew Bragg has eclipsed his goal total of three through 28 games last season..He posted his eighth of the season on Saturday..Bryan Little has passed his assist total of 32 last season as he now stands at 38..Ryan Hamilton tied a career high with his 17th goal in his 31st game against Ottawa on Saturday.He scored 17 through 46 games in 2003-04 and recorded 13 through an injury plagued 31 total games last season.Nick Plastino recorded his seventh point of the season on Saturday, eclipsing his total of six he established last season, and Todd Perry has recorded two goals so far this season, as he was held scoreless through 29 contests in 2004-05

WHAT'S IN STORE FOR THE SECOND HALF: The club has played 35 games of a 68 game regular season schedule thus far and have established 47 points through a 22-10-1-2 overall record and winning percentage of .671..Of the club's remaining 33 games, 17 are scheduled home dates and 16 are away..22 of their 33 games are against Eastern Conference teams, and they play the Peterborough Petes four times and the London Knights once

ATTENDANCE & TICKET INFO: The Barrie Colts have averaged 3,657 fans through 17 home games so far this season..Tickets for upcoming home games can be purchased through Ticketmaster by calling (705)-722-6587, in person at all Ticketmaster outlets or on-line at barriecolts.com

Check out the Barrie Colts Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 20, 2005


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