OHL Niagara IceDogs

Troops Top the Dogs

Published on January 28, 2023 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Niagara IceDogs News Release


ST. CATHARINES, ON - The IceDogs entered Saturday's contest coming off a 5-1 victory on home ice vs the Erie Otters on Thursday. Niagara snapped their 10-game losing streak in the process and got contributions from 5 different goal scorers in one of their most complete efforts of the season.

The road would not be as easy on Saturday Night as Niagara welcomed in a formidable Central Division opponent in the North Bay Battalion, who came in to the contest sitting in 2nd place for the Eastern Conference and only one point behind Ottawa for the conference lead. The IceDogs came in 16 points back of the Sudbury Wolves for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The IceDogs would call up William Stewart once again from the Brantford 99ers for the contest while their scratch list included Landon Cato, Gerard Keane, Anthony Agostinelli, Juan Copeland, Andrew Wycisk, and Owen Flores.

A few formers were in the lineup for both teams as Pasquale Zito would make his return to Niagara for the first time since being traded by the IceDogs earlier this season, while Michael Podolioukh would welcome his former team as well.

Many NHL prospects dawned the away sweaters from North Bay on Saturday Night including Dom Divencentiis (Winnipeg), Josh Bloom (Buffalo), Matvey Petrov (Edmonton), Kyle Jackson (Seattle), Pasquale Zito (Detroit), as well as scratches Tnais Mathurin (Detroit), Justin Ertel (Dallas), and Liam Arnsby (Florida).

1st Period

Jacob LeBlanc would be called for interference as he took down Buffalo Sabres prospect Josh Bloom early in the contest. North Bay would capitalize as Kyle Jackson would come down the right wing and snap a shot that beat Rosenzweig short side to take the early 1-0 lead.

The IceDogs would kill off another powerplay opportunity for the Battalion and would build off the momentum as Daneil Michaud would wrist one that fooled DiVencentiis in the high slot to even the game up just before the midperiod break.

Josh Rosenzweig would be making back-to-back starts for the IceDogs and make a huge cross crease save on Ethan Procyszyn that kept the game tied at one a piece.

Kevin He was then called for a slash despite having his stick broken on the play, which would send North Bay back to the powerplay nearing the end of the opening period. Niagara escaped the period buzzer without any further damage. Shots were 8-6 in favour of the visitors after the first period.

2nd Period

North Bay would start the period with 35 seconds of powerplay time carrying over but weren't able to capitalize with that. Niagara would then be called for another penalty for too many men on the ice. Ty Nelson would take the give and go pass with Josh Bloom and place a perfect slap shot past Rosenzweig to give the Battalion the lead with a powerplay marker.

Kyle McDonald would take a wrister just before the midperiod break that beat Rosenzweig on the blocker side to extend the Battalion lead to two goals for his 2nd goal of the evening.

After the midperiod break a point shot by Jacob Therrian was potted in by Ethan Procyszyn as he made contact with Rosenzweig in the crease. The goal was reviewed for goaltender interference but the call was upheld to extend the Battalion lead.

The IceDogs would then create a 2on1 chance and a slashing penalty was called on Alexander Lukin, giving a man advantage to Niagara. A one timer by Zak Lavoie was stopped by the nob of DiVincentiis' stick to keep the IceDogs off the board. Niagara would then get another powerplay as Ty Nelson went to the penalty box for hooking.

Niagara were not able to do anything with the man advantage; however, they would be given another man advantage thanks to Winslow going to the box. Sabres prospect Josh Bloom would cut in shorthanded and deke out Rosenzweig for the highlight goal.

The IceDogs would respond as Daniel Michaud would pot in his 2nd goal of the evening with a powerplay goal that got Niagara within four going into the room. Shots after the middle period favoured North Bay 21-19.

3rd Period

Daniel Michaud would draw a penalty as Paul Christopolous would go off for hooking, which gave Niagara their fourth man advantage of the evening. A scramble in front of DiVincentiis was the most dangerous chance that the IceDogs would have, not being able to pot in the loose puck in the crease.

Nikita Tarasevich would take the pass in tight from Matvey Petrov; go to the backhand and put a puck that Rosenzweig sprawled and got a piece of but the puck just crossed the goal line to extend the North Bay lead to a five spot.

North Bay would complete a tick-tak-toe play as McDonald, Bloom, and Jackson would finish off the play for another Battalion goal. The Battalion would take this game 8-2 with the shots being 39-32 for the visitors. Niagara will finish their weekend in Erie on Sunday afternoon.

4,503 was the attendance at the Meridian Centre.

Goal Scorers

First Period

NB K. Jackson (26) A: M. Petrov, T. Nelson

NIAG D. Michaud (16) A: A. LeBlanc, J. LeBlanc

NB K. McDonald (20) A: J. Bloom

Second Period

NB (16) T. Nelson A: J. Bloom

NB (21) K. McDonald A: K. Jackson, T. Nelson

NB (5) E. Procyszyn A: J.Therrien, B. Hislop

NB (23) J. Bloom

NIAG (17) D. Michaud A: Z. Lavoie, D. Jesus

Third Period

NB (12) N. Tarasevich (12) A: M. Petrov, P. Zito

NB: (27) K. Jackson A: J. Bloom, K. McDonald

Check out the Niagara IceDogs Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 28, 2023


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