Colts Buck Too Much for Attack in 5-2 Loss
The Owen Sound Attack closed out the 2023 calendar year with a New Years Eve matchup at the Sadlon Arena in Barrie. The Bears were looking for their third win of the regular season against the Colts, but were unable to come away with the victory dropping a 5-2 decision. Colby Barlow and Cedrick Guindon hit the scoresheet for the Bears.
The first period saw no sustained pressure from either side, with both teams limiting opportunities. Despite this, the Attack were able to pepper Ben West with 17 first period shots but were unable to slip the puck past the Barrie net minder. It was however, the Colts Riley Patterson who broke the ice late in the first period, when his shot from the point made it through a two player screen and made the score 1-0 for the Colts.
The late first period goal seemed to energize the Colts who came out strong in the second period, making it 2-0 for the Colts off the stick of Tai York just 20 minutes into the second frame. The Colts continued this momentum with strong play in the second period. The Attack got their power play working with just under four minutes to play in period, when Ethan Burroughs slid the puck across to Barlow who buried his shot past West for the Attacks first goal of the game. The Attack would get another powerplay opportunity late int he period, but unfortunately, it was the Colts who would capitalize when Sam Sedley was forced to slash Cole Beaudoin on a breakaway resulting in a penalty shot. Beaudoin made the most of the opportunity sliding the puck five hole and restoring the Colts two goal lead, 3-1.
Unfortunately for the Attack theme did not change much in the third period. The Bears continued to have penalty trouble which came back to bite them when Beau Jelsma quickly converted a cross ice pass at the side of the net, placing the puck in a small opening over George’s shoulder to make it 4-1 for the Colts. A little over two minutes later, Guindon completed a highlight reel pass from Sam Sedley to bring the Attack back with in two. This was as close as they would get with Olivier Savard finding the empty net with thirty seconds to play making the final score 5-2 for the Colts.
The Attack will put on some miles next week as they hit the road for the first two games of three games in three days. First they will hit the highway and head to Erie to take on the Otters on Thursday, January 4th, then to Niagara to take on the Ice Dogs on Friday, January 5th. They will then head home to take on the Guelph Storm on Saturday, January 6th at the Bayshore, where they will don the commemorative 100th Anniversary Owen Sound Greys jerseys for the first time.