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OHL Erie Otters

Slovakian Stars Shine Bright in Preseason Opener

September 1, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


Erie Otters on game night
Erie Otters on game night
(Erie Otters)

Erie, Pennsylvania - It had been 160 days since the last time the Erie Otters took the ice against an opposing team, when their season came to an end on March 25. In the time since the season finale, the upstart Western Conference team added a multitude of highly-touted new faces to match alongside a confident bunch of veteran returnees.

Even with a number of those notably named players out of the lineup during the game, the prospective offensive muscle of the Otters came out in full force on Friday night as the Brantford Bulldogs came to town.

A scoreless first period would not be from a lack of effort, as the Otters and Bulldogs would combine for a combined 21 shots, but see the other teams goaltender play a perfect first period from a defensive perspective. Erie would go to the box twice, and Brantford once, but neither team would find the back of the net from the man advantages. After the opening twenty minutes of the preseason, it would be a 0-0 game.

What the first period lacked in goals, it would make up for in a major way in the middle frame. Brantford would strike first just 2:29 into the frame as Noah Roberts (1) would score the first exhibition goal at the Erie Insurance Arena. Despite an early lead, the pride of Slovakia would take total control of the game as Ondrej Molnar (1,2) and Martin Misiak (1) would play tick-for-tack with three goals in five minutes - with assists to each other on the goals. Alex Messier (1) would continue the scoring streak with 10:41 gone by in the second period. Before the period would come to an end, Nick Lardis (1) would get Brantford a slice of returned momentum, but the Erie Otters would hold a strong 4-2 lead going into the last period.

The scoring wouldn't stop in the final period of play, as the home team would bookend scoring in the third period. Just over four minutes into the last frame, newly-signed Georgy Toroptsev (1) would hit paydirt for the first time in his OHL career to make it a 5-2 game in favor of Erie. With the game beginning to get out of reach, the two not-often-meeting foes would see Bruce McDonald and Ben Bujold dropping the gloves. With a game misconduct enforced to the latter, the name that all the Otters fan were waiting to see score delivered - 2023 OHL Priority Selection top pick Matthew Schaefer (1) would find the back of the net, and earn his first OHL goal in the preseason; his second point of the night. Kyle Downey would close out his relief role perfect in net to shut out the Brantford Bulldogs enroute to a 6-2 preseason opening victory.

The Erie Otters will play host for a neutral-site exhibition game between Saginaw and Brantford on Saturday afternoon, and return to the ice for their home preseason finale on Sunday afternoon to battle the Saginaw Spirit. Both games will be available to watch for free on the "Erie Otters Hockey Club" Facebook page. Erie won't return home until Saturday, September 30 for the team's 27th Home Opener (pres. by Erie County Community College of PA) when they battle the Mississauga Steelheads.

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Images from this story

Erie Otters on game night
Erie Otters on game night
   



Ontario Hockey League Stories from September 1, 2023


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