OHL Brantford Bulldogs

Wolves Trip Up Bulldogs 6-2 In Season Opener

Published on September 29, 2023 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Brantford Bulldogs News Release


SUDBURY, ONTARIO. The Brantford Bulldogs opened the new season and the franchise's new era with a trip to the north for a pair of games beginning in Sudbury against the Wolves on Friday night.

The first period got off to a dream start for the Bulldogs just 34-seconds in with Jorian Donovan taking a puck through the Brantford zone. With a perfect out pass, Donovan sent Florian Xhekaj in flight on the right side where the power-forward fed a streaking Nick Lardis left. Lardis barreled in on Wolves netminder Jakub Vondras beating him with shot inside the post to give the Dogs a 1-0 lead. Matteo Drobac took over the opening frame from there making a brilliant sprawling save on David Goyette as he attempted to elude the veteran netminder at the near post. Drobac followed that save with a showstopping split save to deny defenseman Owen Protz in the crease and keep the Bulldogs up a goal. With the Bulldogs on the power-play at 18:59 Keiron Walton found Nick Yearwood on a shorthanded 2-on-1 to equal the game 1-1 through minutes.

The Bulldogs got back on top 2:14 into the middle frame with a shorthanded goal of their own. Matteo Drobac directed the puck towards Jorian Donovan where the Bulldogs defender raced up the ice creating a 2-on-1 with Marek Vanacker. Donovan looped a perfect pass onto Vanacker's tape to allow the Delhi product to lift the puck over Vondras and put the Bulldogs up 2-1. Sudbury's dynamic offense responded in succession with Chase Coughlan stealing a puck from behind the Bulldogs goal and batting his 2nd opportunity past Drobac to tie the game once more at 8:22. Sudbury nosed ahead for the first time at 17:10 with Evan Konyen and David Goyette working the puck to Kocha Delic who snuck the puck over Drobac's short side shoulder making it 3-2 for the hosts. At 17:54, the Wolves doubled their lead with Delic & Goyette combining this time to set Konyen to make it 4-2. With just under 2-minutes to go, Cedricson Okitundu appeared to be slew footed and have a fight instigated upon him, only to have the game remain 5-on-5 after lengthy review.

Into the final frame the Wolves added another pair. Despite a 7 for 8 night on the penalty kill for the Bulldogs, Ryan Pryce found a loose puck in the slot on the power-play to fire his 1st OHL goal, giving the Wolves a 5-2 lead at 4:20. The scoring came to a close at 10:21 after Chase Coughlan found a rebound of a David Goyette shot through the skates of a series of battling players in front of the Brantford goal and collected his 2nd of the night sealing the Wolves 6-2 win.

The Brantford Bulldogs return to action on Saturday, September 30th visiting the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds at the GFL Memorial Gardens at 7:07pm. The Bulldogs host their home opener on Saturday, October 7th welcoming the Oshawa Generals to the Brantford Civic Centre at 7:00pm.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from September 29, 2023


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