Attack Ice Dogs in 5-1 Win
The Owen Sound Attack fought hard and earned a critical two points in the standings Wednesday night against the Niagara IceDogs. Elliot Arnett potted his first career OHL goal, while Declan Waddick, Easton Mikus, Ben Cormier and Cole Zurawski all contributed to the Attack’s goalscoring. Zurawski continues to have a strong rookie campaign, being the lone multi-point performer for the Attack tonight. Blake Arrowsmith was the lone goal scorer for the IceDogs. Carter George had a strong outing in between the pipes turning away 42 of 43 shots in the win.
The first period fans got to see both teams fly out of the gates while both goalies made the saves needed to keep this game close. The Attack we’re able to crack the IceDogs code only ten minutes in when Arnett potted the first of his OHL career. Jake Crawford was able to create a turnover in the defensive end, that Lenny Greenberg got a hold of and made a hard pass back to a breaking Crawford up the ice. Crawford bursted into the IceDogs zone with momentum and with the attention of the four IceDog defenders, he quickly slid it over to a wide open Arnett who had more than enough time to rifle the puck by the pad of Hayden Jeffery and a 1-0 lead. The Attack continued to find success, just a minute later on the power play when Greenberg took advantage of his time and space on the point and passed it to Zurawski who was open along the boards but quickly got hounded by three IceDog defenders. Zurawski reacted perfectly, sliding it to a wide open Waddick in the slot. Waddick who had more than enough time to get it by Jeffery to give the Bears a 2-0 lead.
The flood gates opened in the second period for the Attack. Four minutes into the period Harry Nansi created a turnover at the IceDogs blueline. He started carrying the puck in the zone with force and waited for the open man. Mikus was that man, crashing the net hard rewarded him with an easy tap in goal due to a beautiful cross crease pass, potting his 3rd goal of the season and extending the Attack lead to 3-0. The pace of play continued to be fast but the goals slowed down until the five minute mark. Unfortunatley, Niagara was able to find an answer for George momentarily. Matthew Virgillio carried the puck into the Attack’s zone, toe dragging around the Attack defender. The Attack tried to force the turnover but unfortunatley, Virgillio was able to slide it behind him to Kevin He who made the cross crease pass to a wide open Blake Arrowsmith for the Dog’s first goal of the game and his tenth of the season. The Bears reacted quickly, getting back at the IceDogs not even a minute later. Gabriel Smith found time and space in his own zone for a breakout, Smith saw Ben Cormier bursting up the left wing with a load of momentum and hit him with the breakout pass. Cormier quickly made his way in and sniped it above Jeffery’s shoulder for his 12th goal of the season and a 4-1 lead. Not even two minutes later, Cole Zurawski decided he wanted to get in on the fun. He walked into the IceDogs zone quickly after receiving the pass from Antonio Tersigni and put his wicked wrist shot on display for the Bayshore, rifling the puck top shelf for a 5-1 lead and his 13th goal of his OHL rookie campaign.
The third period slowed down for action with only a few scoring chances created. Even with the strong offence from both teams in this frame, Carter George and Hayden Jeffery stood tall in their creases not allowing any shots by them in the final period. The Attack came together and earned themselevs a 5-1 win over the Niagara IceDogs, and a critical two points in the standings.
The Owen Sound Attack will be in action again this Friday at the Canada Life Centre to take on the London Knights at 7pm. They will then return home to finish off their week for another 7pm matchup with the Kitchener Rangers. Friday’s game can be seen on Rogers Television Georgian Bay Channel 53, streamed on CHLtv or heard on 560CFOS Bear Radio. Ticket’s for all Attack home games can be purchased at the MacVicar & McComb Sutton Realty Attack Box Office, over the phone at 519-371-7452 or online at tickets.attackhockey.com
