OHL Kingston Frontenacs

Troops Down Frontenacs 5-2

February 6, 2022 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kingston Frontenacs News Release


The Kingston Frontenacs (24-11-3-0) lost 5-2 to the North Bay Battalion (23-15-3-3) on Sunday afternoon at the Memorial Gardens. Mitch Russell had three points (1G,2A) and Joe Vrbetic made 22 saves for his 19th win. Rookie forward Mitchell Brooks earned his first OHL point with Paul Hughes and Shane Wright scoring for Kingston.

After taking a 1-0 lead, the Battalion stormed back with five unanswered goals to beat the Frontenacs for a third time this season in three games. North Bay's special teams scored on the powerplay and shorthanded enroute to the win. Kingston would go 0-3 on the powerplay.

Frontenacs netminder Leevi Meriläinen got the call making 24 saves against Montreal Canadiens prospect Joe Vrbetic in the North Bay crease who got his 19th win tying the Kingston netminder.

Kingston maintains a three-point lead in the East Division standings on the Hamilton Bulldogs, who play later today. The Fronts will be back home on Wednesday night versus Peterborough after 2-1 three-game northern road swing.

First Period

The opening half of the frame was tightly contested with space a premium through the neutral zone and both teams collapsing in front of their goaltenders. North Bay would lead in shots 10-6 in the offensively challenged period with both teams getting on the board.

Kingston rookie Paul Hughes (2) scored to open the scoring midway through the period. A chopped puck came to Mitchell Brooks who backhanded a feed to a streaking Hughes in the North Bay crease. A bouncing puck of the defender in front came to Hughes who banged it past Vrbetic for the 1-0 tally. Quinton Burns also assisted at 10:22.

Paul Hughes scores his second of the season.

Assists: Mitchell Brooks and Quinton Burns.

North Bay had a second powerplay shortly after the Hughes goal and took advantage tying the game 1-1 on a Kyle McDonald (20) strike. After a point shot by Matvey Petrov was deflected in front of the Kingston net, McDonald pounced on the puck wrapping it around a sprawled Meriläinen. Mitchell Russell also assisted on the powerplay goal at 11:44.

Meriläinen made a good save of North Bay's Anthony Romani from close range with under two left keeping the game square.

Kingston got their first chance with the extra skater late in the period. The Fronts would leave 1:15 of powerplay time to open the second.

Second Period

The Troops scored two of their five consecutive goals including the game-winner by Brett Bouchard in the middle stanza to take a 3-1 lead to the second intermission.

Shane Wright had a good shot on Vrbetic during the period opening powerplay for Kingston, but Vrbetic made a good save to keep it tied before North Bay got their third man-advantage.

The Troops would score two quick goals to open the game up. It was 2-1 after North Bay took their first lead of the night when Russell (24) took advantage of Kingston turnover beating Meriläinen unassisted on a deke at 6:21. Just over two minutes later, North Bay went up a pair. The 3-1 goal came off a deflection in front of the Frontenacs net by Bouchard (1), redirecting a shot by Wyatt Kennedy. Romani also got an assist at 8:32.

Burns was called for a second penalty giving north Bay a fourth powerplay chance. With 44 seconds left in the powerplay North Bay took a too-many-men penalty and the teams played four aside. When Kingston got on the powerplay, they were called on a quick penalty and the teams went back to four-on-four before North Bay had the remaining balance of time for a fifth powerplay.

Third Period

Brandon Coe (27) put the Battalion up 4-1 with a wicked wrister at 3:23 with Russell earning his third point of the game.

Jackson Stewart hit Paul Christopoulos as the energy player continued to keep up. Chris Thibadeau was stoned by Vrbetic eight minutes in

Kingston's third powerplay saw Wright fire a good shot that forced the blocker of Vrbetic to be quick to keep it a three-goal lead leading to another North Bay goal. Midway through the final frame, Dalyn Wakely (12) scored the 5-1 goal from Paul Christopoulos and Grayson Ladd on a semi-break beating Meriläinen shortside at 10:41.

Francesco Arcuri hit the post with under six minutes left before Wright (17) scored with 42 seconds remaining after Edmonds and Arcuri scooped up a loose puck that found its way to the captain off the side of Vrbetic's crease. Arcuri extended a point streak to six games with the assist at 19:17 to close out the 5-2 score.

Shane Wright scored his 17th of the season late in the third period.

BMW of Kingston Hardest Worker

Mitchell Brooks (1A, +1)

Three Star Awards

Mitchell Russell - NB (1G,2A)

Dalyn Wakely - NB (1G)

Kyle McDonald - NB (1G,1A)

Notes

Francesco Arcuri extended his point streak to seven-games late in the third (4G,5A)

Maddox Callens listed day-to-day

Seven regulars out of the lineup including leading goal scorer Jordan Frasca and the top defensive pairing of Jake Murray and Lucas Peric.

On The Front

Kingston has a busy three-game week back at the Leon's Centre. The next home game is Wednesday, Feb 9 at 7:00 pm versus the Peterborough Petes.

Mississauga Steelheads are then in the Limestone City on Sat Feb 12 at 7:00 pm, before a Sunday matinee at 2:00 pm versus the Hamilton Bulldogs.

Listen to all the action on 104.3 Fresh Radio with Frontenacs play-by-play voice Jim Gilchrist. Fans can also follow along with team social media channels at Twitter, Facebook and IG for updates. Watch the games on YourTV Kingston (channel 700) or on CHL TV/OHL Live.

Check out the Kingston Frontenacs Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 6, 2022


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