67’s welcome IceDogs to Ottawa for home opener
The wait is finally over; the Ottawa 67’s take to the ice on Friday night to kick off the 2024-25 regular season in their home opener against the Niagara IceDogs.
The preseason schedule was equally short for both clubs, playing just four games in preparation for the real thing. The Barber Poles faired slightly better during the exhibition schedule, splitting games, and going 2-2. The IceDogs won only one of their games, but earned three points after dropping a shootout decision to the Peterborough Petes.
Ottawa finished the 2023-24 season occupying the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference after winning 36 games, before taking down the Brantford Bulldogs in six games in the first round. They were swept away by the Oshawa Generals in the conference semi-final.
Returning for the Barber Poles is a large contingent of their talent from a season ago, including goals and points leader, Luca Pinelli. Henry Mews remains a big part of the blue line after being selected by the Calgary Flames in the most recent NHL Draft, while Nathan Amidovski, Kohyn Eshkawkogan, and Filip Ekberg are added to what is a relatively young roster in the nation’s capital.
Niagara finished last in the league a season ago, recording 17 wins and 42 points, but their young roster looks to be a formidable force in 2024-25. Names like Kevin He, Ryan Roobroeck, Gavin Bryant, and Mike Levin have the Dogs’ offence looking credible, returning to the fold after impressive seasons a year ago.
Over the offseason, they added big potential players, including fourth-overall pick in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection Braidy Wassilyn, and third-round pick Nick Frasca.
Tickets for the home opener can be found here. Fans looking to follow along with the action can do so on CHL.tv, or on the radio with Kenny Walls on TSN 1200.
What they’re saying
Paul Stoykewych, Assistant Coach, on the challenge posed by the IceDogs: “They’re a team that’s going to be able to score. Last year, they had some firepower, and they were young, but now they’re all a year older. It’s going to be a real test to open the season, and we know we got our hands full, so we’re looking forward to that.”
Norm Milley, Assistant Coach, on the focus of the group: “The biggest thing is challenging ourselves right now, our game, our focus on us. We don’t know much about them right now, it’s early in the season, so our biggest thing is going to be on us and how we play, and our systems.”
Nathan Amidovski, forward, on the juggling of lines in the early days of the season: “We’ve been mixing up the lines in the preseason games and in practice, so I think I’ve got used to most of the players, and I think anybody that they put me with, I’ll be good.”
By the numbers – 2023-24 regular season
| Ottawa 67’s | Player | Total | Niagara IceDogs | Player | Total |
| Goals | Luca Pinelli | 48 | Goals | Kevin He | 31 |
| Assists | Henry Mews | 46 | Assists | Gavin Bryant | 33 |
| Points | Luca Pinelli | 82 | Points | Gavin Bryant | 54 |
| Powerplay goals | Luca Pinelli | 15 | Powerplay goals | Gavin Bryant | 4 |
| +/- | Frankie Marrelli | +30 | +/- | Kevin He* | -13 |
*Among players who played more than half of the regular season games, and ended the season with the team.
Frankie’s Keys to the Game
- Work ethic
This early in the season, the extra effort in the corners and in front of the net goes a long way.
- Set the tempo
The IceDogs have something to prove this season, and they’ll want to get out of the gates quickly. The 67’s need to be the ones setting the pace, and dictating the flow of the game.
- Be physical
Niagara has some good size on their roster, but so do the 67’s. They’ll need to use that size to keep the Dogs’ top options in check.
