Sports stats

OHL Erie Otters

Schaefer Strikes Twice as Otters Go Perfect in Home Exhibition

September 3, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


Erie Otters react after a goal
Erie Otters react after a goal
(Erie Otters)

Erie, Pennsylvania - An impressive preseason debut for the Erie Otters in Friday night's win over Brantford brought fans back to the Erie Insurance Arena with a noticeable excitement. Erie powered to a 6-2 victory over the visitors from Brantford, who would go on to down the Saginaw Spirit 4-2 in a Saturday afternoon neutral-site contest. The Otters would welcome Saginaw in as their opponent for the home preseason finale on Sunday afternoon.

Shades of similarity would strike period one for most of the stretch, as the two teams would battle to a scoreless start. Erie's power play woes would continue early in the game, going 0/1 in period one. The Saginaw Spirit would be the scorers of the game's first goal, as Luke McNamara (1) would convert passing from Valentin Zhugin and Josh Glavin for a 1-0 lead late in the first. After a small amount of shots through most of the frame, Erie would start to pile on opportunities near period's end, but trail 9-6 in shots and by a goal after 20.

A penalty-heavy middle frame would be the catalyst for heavier scoring for either side. A back-and-forth period of shot exchanges would inevitably lead to Joey Willis (1) being on the receiving end of a penalty shot opportunity. A fancy set of moves would allow the forward to score his first of the preseason, and give Saginaw a 2-0 lead. Nearing the end of the frame, Erie would finally strike as Matthew Schaefer (2) would net his second goal in as many games for the Otters to make it 2-1. 40 minutes in the books, and the Otters were finally warming up with a 19-16 shot advantage.

Enter period three, and enter the Otters offense. Wasting no time in the opening seven minutes, Matthew Schaefer (3) would continue to showcase why he was the first-overall pick with his second of the game on the power play. Moments later, yet another defensemen would join the scoring party as Spencer Sova (1) would snipe the leading-goal past. Just over eight minutes into the frame, Saginaw would finally break up the Otter offensive flurry as Valentin Zhugin (1) would earn his second point of the night and make it a 3-3 game. Just past the halfway point of the game, Pano Fimis (1) would draw a power play and score the power play goal within eight seconds of each other for the eventual game-winning goal. For the cherry on top, rookie Wesley Royston (1) would scoop-and-score in the empty net. Erie would complete the comeback to earn a 5-3 victory over Saginaw.

Erie would defend exhibition home ice with a 2-0 record, and will load the bus up for Cornwall on Friday to battle the Kingston Frontenacs on Saturday night. The Otters will not make a return to the Erie Insurance Arena for game action until Home Opener 2023 (pres. by Erie County Community College of PA) when they host the Mississauga Steelheads. Fans are invited to attend the free Fan Fest starting at 3:00 P.M. on the front lawn of the EIA. For more information, head to OttersHockey.com.

Check out the Erie Otters Statistics




Images from this story

Erie Otters react after a goal
Erie Otters react after a goal
   



Ontario Hockey League Stories from September 3, 2023


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.

Other Recent Erie Otters Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central