67’s score comeback win over Frontenacs
The Ottawa 67’s claimed a 4-3 shootout win over the Kingston Frontenacs in front of a young and excited crowd at the CIH Arena in Rockland on Friday night. Graeme Clarke netted a pair and Tye Felhaber scored to force a shootout where the veteran centre wowed the crowd with his stick work sending Ottawa to the 4-3 win in the shootout.
“That shootout was fun to watch, but for us a team it is the 60-minutes that is most important. I really liked our intensity and how we progressed from our last game in Kingston,” said head coach Andre Tourigny. “There were a lot of positive things from tonight’s game. I liked the way out veterans showed up and our kids were really good.”
After a scoreless opening frame, the visitors got on the scoreboard first when Tyler Burnie buried the loose puck in front of goal. Two minutes later the 67’s pulled level when their 2017 first-round pick Graeme Clarke finished the opportunity in front of goal produced by some hard work from Quinn Yule and Mitchell Hoelscher.
Following Clarke’s goal, the recently acquired Olivier Tremblay made his debut in the Ottawa goal replacing Cedric Andree who was solid for the Barber Poles.
There was no shortage of offence in the final frame that started with a bang. Clarke netted his second of the game, this time on the powerplay, just 47 seconds into the third with Austen Keating and Matt Foget drawing the assists. The Frontenacs hit back just over two minutes later when Bernie tallied his second of the game to keep pace with Clarke and level that game at 2-2.
Sam Field sent Kingston into the league at the 8:15 mark of the third as the Frontenacs converted on the powerplay to take their second leave of the game.
Five minutes later, Tye Felhaber was sprung on the breakaway and the 67’s veteran turned the Frontenacs netminder inside-out before roofing the equalizer.
There was no overtime in this pre-season contest which went straight to the shootout.
Clarke scored for Ottawa while Felhaber scored the shootout winner sending the 67’s to victory six days ahead of their season opener.
The 67’s open their 50th anniversary season in less than a week when they the Barrie Colts on September 21. Following a stop in Mississauga on September 22, the 67’s will ready for their home opener on September 24 against the defending OHL champions, Erie Otters, as the celebrations of the 50th anniversary season begin.
