Attack Begin Title Defense On Winning Note !
Our OHL Champion Owen Sound Attack 2011-2012 regular season home opener went pretty much just as the home opener did during their winning season last year. A resounding victory over their opponent with Brendan Childerley leading the way with a 1st Star performance. Last year Brendan scored 3 times in an 8-1 win over the Guelph Storm. Word must be out to watch out for this kid. Brendan was able to only score twice while leading his Attack to a 6-2 win over the Plymouth Whalers Wednesday night at the J.D. McArthur Arena.
Brendan jammed a puck short side on Whaler goaltender Matt Mahalak at 15:41 of the first period for the period’s only goal as the Attack outshot the Whalers 9-4. Penalties at the end of one were even at two minors apiece. For some reason, these teams would pick up the pace in the penalty department.
The Attack won this game with an offensive burst scoring 3 goals in a matter of 2 minutes and 6 seconds in period two. Steady overage defender Jay Gilbert put a puck on net that Gemel Smith finished at 7:26. With Keevin Cutting and Artur Gavrus getting the puck to the net, Brendan jammed another puck behind Mahalak at 7:58 and then “we welcome the Cat” after Daniel Catenacci snapped his first as an Attack from the slot at 9:32.
The Whalers were able to break the possible shut-out bid by Attack netminder JP Cesario at 18:07 when Stefan Noesen caught an Attack defender watching the puck one-on-one and fed Mitchell Heard for a powerplay goal. This Noesen boy – an Ottawa Senator draft – is a good looking player. One to keep an eye on. So too is our 2011 Attack 1st round draft pick. Zach Nastasiuk flipped in his 1st OHL goal in his 1st OHL regular season game just 28 seconds after the Heard goal to give his Attack the 5-1 lead after two periods of play.
Things got a little chippy at the end of period two and carried on in the third. The Whalers were able to dress only 16 of an allowable 18 skaters this game. There was a time in the third when 6 of those 16 were in the penalty box.
Our Attack chose left shooting center Joseph Blandisi in the 3rd round of the 2011 OHL Priority Selection Draft. Does this young man look like a steal. This writer can see shades of both Dan Snyder and Brad Richardson when they were also 17 year olds. Joseph came off the Attack bench while Owen Sound was playing shorthanded and with exhausted Captain Mike Halmo leaving the puck for him, raced down the left wall before deking Mahalak right to left for his 1st OHL goal at 2:13 of the third.
Andy Bathgate was able to read the play and steal the puck from an Attack defender and on the resulting breakaway, flip a puck 5-hole on JP Cesario at 8:11 to complete the night’s scoring.
Final score Owen Sound 6– Plymouth 2. The Attack team skated to center ice and saluted their fans !
The Centennial Windows and Doors 3 Stars of the Game were:
1st Star – Brendan Childerley with JUST 2 goals !
2nd Star – Daniel Catenacci with a goal and an assist.
3rd Star – JP Cesario with 29 saves.
The Dickie’s Clothing Hardest Working Attacker of the Game was Jay Gilbert.
The Kelsey’s Neighbourhood Bar and Grill Attacker of the Game was Jarrod Maidens.
The Attack will be unveiling the 2011 MidWest Division Champion Banner and the 2011 Wayne Gretzky Western Conference Champion Banner on Saturday, September 24th when they play host to the Saginaw Spirit. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
The team will play in Guelph the night before, Friday, September 23rd. That game can be heard on Grey Motors Bear Radio with an air time of 7:15 p.m.. https://www.560cfos.ca/
The Attack box office is open Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday game days 10:00 a.m. through to the end of the second intermission. Wednesday games 8:30 a.m. through to the end of the second intermission.
Phone orders at 371-7452 or toll free 1-866-5ATTACK.
Internet orders at www.attackhockey.com.
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