Running With the Colts
Published on March 12, 2007 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Barrie Colts News Release
WEEKEND RECAP: The Barrie Colts recorded three victories over the weekend to secure the franchise's third regular season Eastern Conference title..Now at 45-19-0-1 overall with 91 points on the season, the Colts secured the first place position thanks to their fourth straight victory, a 3-1 win Sunday afternoon in Ottawa..The Colts started the week off by posting a 5-2 Thursday at home to Toronto and then followed that up with a 8-6 victory Friday night in Kingston..The Colts have three regular season games remaining, and will have to wait to see what transpires between Brampton and Peterborough for the eighth playoff spot.The Battalion currently lead the Petes by four points, but with three games left, the Petes are still mathematically in with one game in hand...The victories over the weekend improved Barrie's home record to 22-9-0-1, while their record on the road is now 23-10-0-0
March 11 @ OTTAWA: The Barrie Colts recorded their fourth straight victory Sunday afternoon as they handed the Ottawa 67's a 3-1 decision in the nation's capital.....Leaders of the Eastern Conference for the entire regular season, the victory clinches their first Eastern Conference title since the 1999-00 season....It is the franchise's third regular season conference crown....Ryan Bellows (4), Cory McGillis (19) and Hunter Tremblay (34) led the way for the Colts as they broke a eight game slide in Ottawa that includes the post-season....Barrie outshot the 67's 45 to 29, and Andrew Perugini kicked aside 28 in goal to earn his 38th victory of the season
Shots- BAR: 45 OTT: 29
Powerplays- BAR: 1/6 OTT: 1/7
Attendance: 7,598
March 9 @ KINGSTON: The Barrie Colts overpowered the Kingston Frontenacs by a final score of 8-6 on Friday evening at the Kingston Memorial Centre...The Colts were once again led offensively by captain Bryan Little, who amassed five assists to eclipse Daniel Tkaczuk for the all-time franchise scoring lead... Little, in his fourth season with the Colts, has recorded 150 goals, 185 assists for 335 points in 244 career games with the club.In addition, the feat was also significant in that it marked the second consecutive season he has compiled 100 points.While now holding the franchise lead in goals and points, Little is only four assists short of completing the hat-trick...The record-breaking performances were not over yet, as goaltender Andrew Perugini earned his 37th victory of the season, establishing a new Barrie Colts mark for wins in a season by a goaltender. The previous high was 36, achieved by Brian Finley and Dan LaCosta.Three other players contributed with multi-point games, including Kris Sparre (2g-1), Hunter Tremblay (1g-2a) and Nick Plastino (0g-2a).After scoring his first OHL goal on Thursday versus Toronto, Shawn Frank collected his second in as many nights, while Stefan Della Rovere, Ryan Bellows, Andrew Marshall, and Thomas Battani rounded out the Colts goal scorers
Shots- BAR: 32 KGN:31
Powerplays- BAR: 1/5 KGN: 2/6
Attendance: 2,356
March 8 VS. TORONTO: The Barrie Colts were sparked by a pair of goals by Bryan Little (37,38) including his fourth game-winning goal this season against the Majors as they picked up a 5-2 victory Thursday evening against Toronto at the Barrie Molson Centre....Little also added one assist to his effort to bring his career point total to 330 (150g-180a) through 243 games, as he is just four points shy of tying Daniel Tkaczuk for the all-time franchise point lead.....Shawn Frank also chipped in on the offense Thursday as he beat Majors goaltender Wayne Savage to post his first career OHL goal at the 2:41 mark of the second period....Cory McGillis (18) and Kris Sparre (24) added insurance markers for the Colts, who increased their lead on first in the Eastern Conference to six points over the Mississauga Ice Dogs with five games left in the regular season schedule...Andrew Perugini made 28 saves in the game to improve his overall record to 36-16-0-1 on the season
Shots- BAR: 30 TOR: 32
Powerplays- BAR: 0/2 TOR: 0/5
Attendance: 3,770
SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT: Captain Bryan Little recorded eight points in the first two games of the weekend to put himself alone at the top of the franchise points list.He now leads the franchise with 336 points through 245 games, and is also first in goals with 150..He surpassed former Colts captain Daniel Tkaczuk, who established his lead in the category while he played for Barrie through four seasons that spanned 1995-99..Little needs three assists to tie Tkaczuk for the all-time lead in this category at 189
CONSISTENCY THROUGHOUT: Colts goaltender Andrew Perugini has established himself as Mr. Consistent night in and night out for the Colts this season..Currently in the top five in all goaltender categories, Perugini has stood tall to help maintain the league's fourth best total for goals against.Perugini has been in goal for 38 of the team's 45 victories, as Friday night he etched his name into the club record book for most goaltender wins in a single season..Perugini's 37th in Kingston surpassed Bryan Finley (1998-99), and Dan LaCosta (2005-06), who shared the old mark together
WHAT'S ON TAP: The Barrie Colts (45-19-0-1) have three regular season games remaining and will begin their week Wednesday night when they visit the Peterborough Petes (24-36-1-4) at the Memorial Centre (7:00 p.m.)..Each team has picked up a home victory in the season series thus far, with the latest being a 3-2 decision in favour of the Petes on March 1..The Colts and Petes will face each other again in Barrie's last regular season game on St. Patrick's Day at the Molson Centre (7:30 p.m.)..To celebrate St. Patrick's Day, the Colts will wear green sweaters decorated with St. Patty's items and the Colts logo..The Colts will host the Mississauga Ice Dogs (41-21-0-3) on Thursday evening (7:30 p.m.) in these two teams' last regular season meeting..The Colts have posted a 2-3 record this season against the Dogs, but have yet to win a game at the Molson Centre.The Ice Dogs outscored Barrie 9-3 in their two victories at the Molson Centre prior to Christmas
WEEKEND POINTS LEADERS: Bryan Little, 9 points (2g-7a), 6 points (2g-4a), Kris Sparre, 5 points (3g-2a)
PRACTICE SCHEDULE: The Colts will practices on Tuesday and Friday surrounding their three games this week.All practices are open for the public to attend
COMMUNITY NEWS: The Colts played with pink TPS hockey sticks in their home game on Saturday March 3 against the Sudbury Wolves to help raise awareness for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation...Prior to the game, each player presented his mother or billet mother with one of their pink sticks..During this game and the Thursday March 8 home game against Toronto, the sticks were auctioned off in a silent format that raised more than $4,000 dollars for the Foundation along with the Colts Education Fund
GOALS FOR AND AGAINST: The Colts have scored 252 goals through 65 games, placing them in a tie for eighth overall in the OHL in this category.Defensively, the team is fourth overall having given up 187 goals ..In terms of goals for and against per game, the Colts have scored 3.88 and allowed 2.88
ROSTER UPDATE: Defenseman Kyle van de Bospoort has missed the club's last 13 games with an upper body injury and is considered day-to-day but questionable for the second consecutive weekend..Defenseman Chris Purves returned to the lineup Friday after he served his six game suspension, and winger Tomas Marcinko did not dress at all on the weekend due to a flu virus
Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 12, 2007
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- Pyatt Signs with Rangers - Saginaw Spirit
- Knights update - London Knights
- Doughty Grand & Toy Player of the Week - Guelph Storm
- Running With the Colts - Barrie Colts
- Ryan Named Becker Shoes Attacker of the Week - Owen Sound Attack
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