Wolves Howl Stronger Than IceDogs Bark
January 18, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Niagara IceDogs News Release
ST. CATHARINES, ON - The IceDogs began their 4-game week at home with a rescheduled matchup with the Sudbury Wolves. Niagara will be playing 5 of their next 6 games on home ice.
AP call-up forward Andrew Vermeulen would be in the lineup for Niagara following a long list of inactives. Captain Landon Cato (upper), Andrew Wycisk (lower), Daniel Michaud (illness) would all be out of the lineup. As well, star rookie Kevin He would finish off his 2-game suspension, making him eligible to return tomorrow vs Mississauga.
Niagara entered the game 12 points out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference but had a chance to make up ground on the team they were chasing in Sudbury. Sudbury entered the game 8th place in the Eastern Conference, led by David Goyette (SEA) and Nolan Collins (PIT). The Wolves would be without their sophomore standout Quentin Musty, the 2021 1st Overall Pick in the OHL Priority Selection Draft, who is out indefinitely.
Niagara defenseman Bronson Ride was named among the top draft-eligible North American skaters in the upcoming NHL Draft by Central Scouting's Mid-Term Rankings, ranked at 210th overall.
Newcomer Alex Assadourian would play in his first game against his former Sudbury Wolves squad since coming over from on OHL Trade Deadline Day.
1st Period
Bad breaks consecutively to start the game as forward Anthony Agostinelli would be hit hard along the boards. The veteran would skate gingerly to the bench before leaving to the room shortly afterward. Then overage defenseman Gerard Keane would receive a hit in the open ice but got up laboring his wrist before heading off immediately to the room. Niagara, who came in to the game short a dressed forward, were now down two players less than five minutes into the period.
Just before the midperiod break a giveaway in the IceDogs end finds the stick of DeGrazia who buries it past Flores to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Juan Copeland would be called for a tripping penalty, giving the Wolves a powerplay coming out of the midperiod break. The Sudbury powerplay was short lived as some great work downlow by Valdemar William-Hull drew a tripping penalty in the Wolves zone, leading to the teams playing some 4on4 action.
Niagara would respond during 4on4 play as a point shot by Bronson Ride would find its way past Brassard tying the goal at one a piece. The big bodied d-man's first goal as an IceDog after coming over from the Windsor Spitfires at the Trade Deadline. Alex Assadourian would get the assist on the goal, playing against his former team for the first time.
The Wolves would respond right back as Marc Boudreau would come down the left wing taking the pass from Seattle Kraken draftee David Goyette and went short side on Flores to give Sudbury the lead right back.
Andrew LeBlanc would be called for a hooking penalty which gave the Wolves a late period powerplay opportunity. Jacob LeBlanc would join his brother in the penalty box for high sticking penalty that gave the Wolves a 2-man advantage with just over a minute remaining in the period. The IceDogs would manage to hold the visitors from scoring as the buzzer went for the opening period. Shots 12-6 in favour of Sudbury.
2nd Period
The middle period would begin with a cross ice pass finished off by DeGrazia for his second of the game on the blocker side of Flores. On the next shift a flurry in front of the IceDogs net was eventually potted in off a Wolves stick to give Sudbury a 4-1 lead. The play was reviewed for goaltender interference but upheld by the officials.
Alex Assadourian would cut down the right wing and roof a shot on the glove side of Brassard to get Niagara right back on the board, Assadourian's first goal as a member of the IceDogs. Moments later Juan Copeland would gain the zone on the left side and wrist a shot far side on Brassard that glanced off the post but then kicked back out for Valdemar William-Hull who put away his 1st career goal and cutting the Sudbury lead to 4-3 with quick back-to-back goals.
Brassard would be replaced in the net by Nate Krawchuk despite still being ahead in the game. A scary moment would ensue for the IceDogs as goaltender Owen Flores was run into by a Wolves forward cutting to the net and stayed down for several minutes holding his right leg. The IceDogs goaltender would leave under his own power and be replaced in the net by Josh Rosenzweig.
Rosenzweig would come out to challenge a hard-angle shot but the rebound would kick behind the net and put in on a wrap around by Dylan Robinson to extend the Sudbury lead once again to 5-3.
Niagara would receive a powerplay opportunity as Villeneuve would receive a penalty. The IceDogs would take advantage right away as a point shot by Zak Lavoie was kicked out right to Declan Waddick who buried it to get Niagara back within a goal.
Chase Couglan would be called for an interference penalty, giving Niagara another man advantage with less than five minutes remaining in the middle period but the home side was not able to capitalize on that chance. After two periods of play the Wolves led 5-4 on the scoreboard and had a slim shot advantage of 25-24.
3rd Period
The Wolves would open up the final period with a pass from Goyette that found the stick of Jakub Chromiak uncovered in the slot who buried it past Rosenzweig, establishing the visitors two goal lead once again. On the next shift Sudbury would come down and wrist a shot that would initially be called a goal but after further review it was determined that the puck never crossed the goal line.
Christopher O'Flaherty would be called for a hooking penalty, giving the Wolves another chance with the man advantage. A few sprawling saves by Josh Rosenzweig would keep Sudbury off the board on that powerplay opportunity.
Another bad break for Niagara as forward Juan Copeland was slow to get up and left down the tunnel under his own power, the IceDogs 4th injury of the night. Niagara would pull their goalie with under three minutes remaining in regulation, needing two goals. In a common theme for this game, Nathan Ribau would collide with Valdemar William-Hull at the blueline, forcing him to head down the tunnel as well late in the period. The IceDogs were not able to capitalize with the extra man and fell 6-4 to the Wolves. Shots 43-36 in favour of Sudbury. Goaltender Josh Rosenzweig stopped 8 of 9 shots in relief of Owen Flores.
Niagara will be back on home ice tomorrow night vs a Central Division foe in the Mississauga Steelheads, their second of three meetings in less than a week.
Goal Scorers
First Period
N. DeGrazia (SBY) A: L. McCallum - 9:04
B. Ride (NIAG) A: A. Assadourian - 11:58
M. Boudreau (SBY) A: D. Goyette - 12:46
Second Period
N. DeGrazia (SBY) A: D. Goyette, A. Pharand - 0:16
E. Larmand (SBY) A: E. Konyen, N. Yearwood - 1:12
A. Assadourian (NIAG) A: Z. Lavoie, J. LeBlanc - 3:04
V. William Hull (NIAG) A: J. Copeland, D. Jesus - 4:27
D. Robinson (SBY) A: N. DeGrazia, M. Mania - 11:37
D. Waddick (NIAG) A: Zakary Lavoie, A. Assadourian - 14:26
Third Period
J. Chromiak (SBY) A: D.Goyette, M. Boudreau - 1:37
Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 18, 2023
- Spirit Fall to Greyhounds, 6-3 - Saginaw Spirit
- Wolves Howl Stronger Than IceDogs Bark - Niagara IceDogs
- Spirit Fall to Greyhounds, 6-3 - Saginaw Spirit
- Wolves Host Bulldogs Friday - Sudbury Wolves
- Spirit Head North to Take on Rival Hounds - Saginaw Spirit
- Zanetti Signs Professional Contract with Switzerland's SCL Tigers - Peterborough Petes
- IceDogs Game Day Preview - Niagara IceDogs
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