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OHL Brantford Bulldogs

Shorthanded Bulldogs Fall Short in Sauga

March 6, 2024 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Brantford Bulldogs News Release


MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO. With a very rare 11am start time, the Bulldogs made their last trip to the Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga on Wednesday morning to meet the Steelheads in their School Day Game.

The Bulldogs entered the game loosing one and gaining one as center Ben Bujold, who was unable to finish Saturday's matchup with the Fronts was unavailable, while Luca Testa who sat out both of last weekends matchups returned to the Brantford lineup. The opening period was a tight back and forth period with both Matteo Drobac & Jack Ivankovic providing their sides with a strong 20 minutes. After the Bulldogs successfully killed off the period's only penalty, the Steelheads were able to strike on a counter attack with Jakub Fibigr sending Marc Boudreau up the left wing side, dragging through the skates of Daniel Chen and hitting the top corner just inside the post to give the Steelheads the edge at 8:49.

Boudreau's was the only shot of 10, to bet Drobac in the first as the Bulldogs keeper of the crease denied both Adam Zidlicky & Luke Misa in tight in the frame to keep the game 1-0. Jack Ivankovic was called upon 7 times in the period, with his finest coming on a net front tip by Marek Vanacker and a five-hole shovel attempt from Zakary Lavoie to keep the hosts ahead at the first intermission.

The affair turned sour in the middle frame for the Bulldogs, despite out shooting the Steelheads by a 13-10 margin the visitors were denied at every opportunity by Jack Ivankovic, including a brilliant save on a three-way passing play as Zakary Lavoie sent the puck to the right wing for Jake O'Brien who delivered a perfect pass left for Marek Vanacker flying net front but Ivankovic, splitting out, somehow kicked the puck aside to keep the Steelheads ahead in the game. Late in the second period, after Angus MacDonell had been run over in neutral ice, he managed to get net front for a Parker von Richter right circle drive that Matteo Drobac stopped while being run into and MacDonell pushed the puck over the goal line for his 27th of the year giving the Steelheads a 2-0 lead at 17:00. Though the Bulldogs asked for a review the goal was deemed to stand. At 17:28, Florian Xhekaj through a board rattling hit on Finn Harding in the offensive zone, the hit was deemed a check from behind and Xhekaj handed a 5-minute major and game misconduct stretching the shorthanded Bulldogs even further. On the major power-play at 19:57, Dean Loukus picked out Jack Van Volsen on a cross crease pass for his 18th of the season to give the Steelheads a 3-0 lead through 40 minutes.

The Bulldogs were further tested in the final frame as Daniil Sobolev did not emerge from the tunnel putting the Bulldogs down to 15 skaters and depriving the team of their entire intended top defense pair. The Steelheads bubbled the lead once more before the major power-play was up as Jack Van Volsen emerged on a loose puck at the right side of the Bulldogs net after a pair of Matteo Drobac stops to collect his 19th of the season and 2nd of the game at 2:01. The Bulldogs managed to crack Jack Ivankovic's shutout bid on a power-play of their own at 7:06.

Patrick Thomas from the top delivered the puck low on the left side for Marek Vanacker, his initial shot was turned aside but in the thicket on the rebound, Zakary Lavoie was able to locate the loose puck and toss it up over Ivankovic to collect his 29th of the season, matching his career high in goals. With fatigue setting in late for the Bulldogs, the Steelheads were able to capture one more to seal the game, with Finn Harding sending Mason Zebeski away on a sneak away for a backhand over Drobac to collect his 18th of the season at 15:56 and close the game with the Steelheads taking a 5-1 win.

The Bulldogs continue their 3-game week with back to back home games, beginning with a clash for the top of the East division on Friday night with the Oshawa Generals in a 7:00pm start. The Bulldogs will close the weekend squaring off with the Peterborough Petes on Sunday with a special 4:00pm start time at the Brantford Civic Centre.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 6, 2024


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