By: Brandon Caputo
(@BCaputo_AGM)
Photo Credit: @joshkimphoto
The Niagara IceDogs travelled to Barrie to take on a Central Division foe in the Colts on Saturday night, for their first of six head to head matchups this season.
Niagara's Starters:
LW Kevin He
C Alex Assadourian
RW Ryan Humphrey
LD Urban Podrekar
RD Andrew Wycisk
G Owen Flores
Daniil Sobolev and Ethan Czata were both out with minor ailment's for the game while Chris O'Flaherty and William Stewart were the other players healthy scratched for the contest.
^CLICK LOGO ABOVE TO FOLLOW OUR ICEDOGS X ACCOUNT FOR LIVE UPDATES AND EPISODE REPOSTS
THE DOG POUND PODCAST: THE OFFICIAL PODCAST OF THE NIAGARA ICEDOGS
1st Period
Niagara would begin the game with a hot start without any sort of bus legs as Bronson Ride would take a shot from the point that got through traffic and past West to open the scoring less than two minutes in. A start that the IceDogs needed after coming off a scoreless game against Mississauga on Thursday Night.
The Colts would battle back in the second half of the period as a pair of goals from Roenick Jodoin would help Barrie get the lead back. Not to be forgotten was the stellar play by Owen Flores, who made a breakaway stop and a few other flashy glove saves, despite only facing 10 Barrie shots through one period of play.
2nd Period
The middle period began with a special moment for the IceDogs; after Kevin He drew a penalty it was rookie Ryan Roobroeck who would cut in on the right wing and wrist one past West for his first career OHL goal on the powerplay.
The period would take a turn afterward as Beau Jelsma and Jacob Frasca scored on back-to-back shifts after the IceDogs got careless in their own end. Niagara would use their timeout after the pair of goals but the Colts would pile on again as Zach Wigle added the third goal of the period for the home side to extend their lead.
Niagara would kill off a late 5on3 advantage that lasted 1:30 of the remaining 1:36 of game clock for the period but trailed 5-2 after two.
3rd Period
The teams would trade goals in the final period thanks to Ryan Humphrey getting his first as an IceDog before Oliver Savard was rewarded with a fortunate bounce off the backwall that fooled Owen Flores. Zak Lavoie would then wrist a seeing eye shot past West for the IceDogs fourth goal, which resulted in a lengthy review for offside before being upheld.
Niagara would get a late powerplay thanks to the speed of Zak Lavoie cutting in and being hooked down. IceDogs needed a pair with 3:03 remaining in regulation and would shock the hometown crowd as Andrew Wycisk and Kevin He would both score on back-to-back shifts to even the game up at six apiece to force overtime.
The Colts would end it quickly in overtime as Jacob Frasca cut down the left wing and beat Owen Flores, adding insult to injury with a bird flap celebration across the ice, which the IceDogs took notice of as they stepped back on the ice to congratulate Owen Flores' effort . Niagara would battle back and earn their first point of the early season with a hard fought effort on the road following a three goal comeback in the final period.
The IceDogs will return home to play the Erie Otters next Thursday Night at Meridian Centre.
Niagara Employment Centre Scoring Summary
Bronson Ride (1) Assists: Ryan Roobroeck, Zakary Lavoie
Roenick Jodoin (1) Assists: Kashawn Aitcheson, Bode Stewart Roenick Jodoin (2) Assists: Bode Stewart
Ryan Roobroeck (1) unassisted
Beau Jelsma (2) Assists: Jacob Frasca
Jacob Frasca (2) Assists: Beau Jelsma Zach Wigle (2) Assists: Cooper Matthews, Olivier Savard
Ryan Humphrey (1) Assists: Mike Levin
Oliver Savard (1) Connor Punnett, Roenick Jodoin
Zak Lavoie (1) unassisted
Andrew Wycisk (1) Assists: Alex Assadourian, Ryan Humphrey
Kevin He (1) Assists: Mathieu Paris, Bronson Ride Jacob Frasca (3) Assists: Beau Akey, Beau Jelsma