Bleicher Scores First in 3-1 Loss to Wolves
The Owen Sound Attack finished up their 5-game homestead with a 3-1 loss to the Sudbury Wolves on Sunday afternoon at the Bayshore. Max Bleicher scored his first career Ontario Hockey League goal and Carter George made 45 saves for the Attack, while Sudbury countered with goals from Ondrej Molnar, Nathan Villeneuve and Rowan Henderson.
Both teams were showing effects of playing two games in less than 24 hours early in the first period. The Attack were put on their heels early by a Wolves team looking to atone for a tough Saturday night in Barrie. The Bears began to establish their offensive effort and the best scoring chance came when Bruce McDonald was fed a cross ice pass and narrowly missed, hitting Nate Krawchuk’s pad. With under two minutes to play in period one it was looking like the game was destined to head to the break as a scoreless draw, but the Wolves began to establish their cycle in the Bears end which resulted in a cross ice pass to Ondrej Molnar who made no mistake beating Carter George glove side to make it 1-0 a score that would hold until the first intermission.
The Attack came out firing in the second period pinning the Wolves in their end, before a parade to the penalty box for both sides ensued. The teams combining for 14 penalty minutes in the middle frame. Despite some solid chances the Attack were not able to solve Krawchuk. The Wolves, however, were able to increase their lead when Molnar chased down a rebound from a shot off the end boards and slid the puck across the front of the net to a seemingly forgotten about Nathan Villeneuve who one-timed it home to make it 2-0 Wolves midway through the period.
In the third, the Attack continued to push and were rewarded when a point shot from rookie defenceman Max Bleicher had a pair of eyes on it and beat Krawchuk to bring the Bears within one just over two minutes in. Both sides continued to have their chances including a crazy sequence that should challenge for play of the year, where George robbed Gavin Ewles and Villeneuve on a 2-on-0 breakaway, then fired the puck the length of the ice to spring Sam McCue on a breakaway, where Krawchuk made an outstanding save to hold the Wolves lead at 2-1. The Attack pulled George in the final minutes to try and tie the game. A breakdown at the Wolves blue line allowed Rowan Henderson to slap it the length of the ice into the empty net, to make the final 3-1 Wolves.
The Attack will now hit the road for three games in Eastern Ontario, first against the Peteroborough Petes on Thursday, November 14 at 7:05pm, the Kingston Frontenac’s on Friday, November 15 at 7pm and the Ottawa 67’s on Sunday, November 17 at 2pm. All of these games will be carried on Rogers Television Grey County, streamed on CHLtv and broadcast on the radio on 560 CFOS Bear Radio. The Attack’s next home game is Saturday, November 23 at 7pm against the Oshawa Generals. It is also Toys for Tots night with the Attack parntering with the Owen Sound Fire Fighters and the Salvation Army for the teams annual toy drive. Fans are asked if they are able to bring a new unwrapped toy to support the cause. Monetary donations will also be accepted.
Tickets for all Attack home games can be purchased at the MacVicaar & McComb Sutton Realty Attack Box Office, over the phone at 519-371-7452 or online at tickets.attackhockey.com.
