OHL North Bay Battalion

Vande Sompel Scores Gens' Overtime Winner

Published on March 11, 2016 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
North Bay Battalion News Release


OSHAWA, Ont. - Mitchell Vande Sompel scored on the power play 38 seconds into overtime to give the Oshawa Generals a 2-1 Ontario Hockey League victory Friday night over the North Bay Battalion.

Eric Henderson also scored for the Generals, who got 30 saves from goaltender Jeremy Brodeur. Oshawa improved its won-lost-extended record to 25-31-8 for 58 points, fourth in the East Division and eighth in the Eastern Conference, four points ahead of the idle Hamilton Bulldogs for the last conference playoff berth.

Jacob Ball scored his first OHL goal and goaltender Jake Smith faced 19 shots for the Battalion, 32-22-10 for 74 points, second in the Central Division and third in the conference.

North Bay, which played the fourth of five straight away games and the middle date in a three-game road trip, is four points up on the Niagara IceDogs, who hold a game in hand and host the Battalion at 7 p.m. Saturday.

After a scoreless third period, the Troops opened overtime shorthanded. Mike Baird was sent off at 20:00 of the third stanza for roughing on defenceman Vande Sompel, who struck for the winner when his wrister from the top of the left-wing circle eluded Smith, screened by Henderson.

Henderson gave the home side a 1-0 lead at 10:32 of the first period, driving to the net to convert the rebound of a shot by Anthony Cirelli, who assisted on both Oshawa goals. Vande Sompel had the second assist before a season-high crowd of 6,048 at the General Motors Centre.

Rookie Ball tied it at 16:53 when he beat Brodeur high to the glove side from deep in the right circle on assists by Steve Harland and Brett Hargrave.

The Battalion held a 9-7 edge in shots in the fast-paced frame. Each team had one power play but failed to generate a quality scoring chance with the advantage. Sullivan Sparkes misfired deep in Battalion territory with Oshawa on a three-on-one rush in the third minute.

North Bay outshot the Generals 12-6 in the second period. The Troops, who were whistled for four minor penalties, had a number of shorthanded chances.

Mike Amadio seized a turnover in Oshawa territory in the fourth minute and created an opportunity in the 11th after eluding several defenders and driving in on Brodeur. Seconds later Zach Poirier emerged from the penalty box, ending a two-man disadvantage lasting a minute, and broke in alone, forcing Brodeur to make a fine save with his left pad. Mathew Santos fired the puck over the net on a solo break in the 18th minute.

The period exacted a toll on both teams, with Poirier receiving a game misconduct at 11:37 for an alleged racial slur, which he denied, uttered to Jalen Smereck. Battalion coach Stan Butler said he will contest supplementary discipline on the grounds that Poirier's comment was innocuous and misheard.

Oshawa's Sean Allen was assisted off the ice at 6:10 after twisting his left leg in a collision with Baird, who went to the bench favouring his left leg in the 15th minute after colliding with teammate Brett McKenzie. Baird returned and was atop Domenic Commisso when he slid heavily into the boards in the 19th minute. Commisso returned for the start of the third period.

The game at Niagara can be seen live in North Bay on CogecoTV Channel 12 and heard on Country 600 CKAT.




Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 11, 2016


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