Attack Win Two Of ThreeThis Weekend
After dropping their first game of two in Erie, our Owen Sound Attack bounced back to earn 4 of an available 6 points this Thanksgiving Weekend. Splitting games in Erie, Pennsylvania Friday and Saturday nights, the boys won a highly entertaining game at home Monday afternoon. A 6-3 victory over conference rivals, the Saginaw Spirit.
Jordan Binnington got the start in net for our 4-4-0-0 Attack. Jake Paterson for the 1-6-0-0 Spirit. Our Attack defeated the Erie Otters in Erie Saturday night by a score of 6-3. The Spirit lost in Guelph Sunday night. The Storm winning 6-3. There was a time when OHL Junior B games would be decided by scores like 6-3. Major Junior might be more like 3-2 or 2-1. All about the ability to look after assignments. Wow, has the ability to look after your assignment changed with today’s speed and overall skill level.
Belarus born Artur Gavrus was Attack General Manager Dale DeGray’s 1st round CHL Draft Pick for 2011. Is Artur looking to be a great pick by Mr. DeGray. This early 1994 (January 3 ) born left shooting right winger is fitting in perfectly with Attack overage Captain Mike Halmo on the left wing and sophomore Gemel Smith down the center. Together they would put 8 scoring points on the game scoring sheet.
Our Attack jumped out to a 3-0 first period lead by the 11:07 mark. Just 1:26 into the affair, Mike Halmo did a nice job of controlling the puck in the Saginaw slot area till hearing someone yell “Halmy”. Mike found Artur on the right side of Paterson. Artur could of slammed that pass into the net , but carried across Paterson before tucking the puck around Jake for his 1st of the game and 2nd of the season.
At 10:47, Daniel Catenacci raced out of the penalty box after serving a cross-check minor, scouped up a loose puck, went in alone on Paterson and snapped his 5th of the season 5- hole.
Saginaw veteran defender Brandon Archibald was handed a tripping penalty at 10:53.
17 seconds later, with all kinds of traffic problems in front of Patterson, Mike Halmo and Chris Bigras are found pilled up in front of the Saginaw net when the puck popped loose right side. Artur knows enough to be there to support, but don’t get too tight and the puck comes right to him. Gavrus slammed his 2nd of the game on the power play.
This Saginaw hockey club is off to a bit of a slow start, but they have a good group of very competitive and talented players and are expected to be a front runner in the OHL Western Conference. Jordan Binnington made back-to-back big saves around the 13:30 mark as the Spirit were working to get back into the game.
The Spirit got on the scoring board at 14:07. A blast from the left point by Jamie Oleksiak was deflected by Peter Hermenegildo for Peter’s 2nd of the season.
Working a Saginaw PP, Michael Fine snuck behind the Attack defence and taking a long up-ice pass from John McFarland, scored stick side on Jordan Binnington at 15:40. 3-2.
Less than a minute later, the Spirit were on the PP. Half way through that PP, Mike Halmo and Gemel Smith tipped, kicked, pushed and kneed the puck out of their own end and through the center ice area. 2-on-2 they were across the Spirit blueline. The result was Gemel using big 6’7″ Saginaw defenceman Jamie Oleksiak as a screen and wiring his 3rd of the season past Paterson at 17:25.
4-2 after one period of play. The Attack outshot the Sprit 17-10.
Matt Petgrave blasted a shot from the left point that deflected off John McFarland and at 8:08 of the second period, our Attack held a 5-2 lead. Jay Gilbert and Daniel Catenacci assisted on the
PP goal.
Three goal leads are great. Two goal leads are not so good. At 16:37, 1994 born and 6’4″ Spirit forward Justin Kea just plain wired a wrist shot over the stick side shoulder of Jordan Binnington for his 1st of the season from the right side face-off circle. 5-3 after two periods of play. Next goal could be big.
“Next goal could be big”. Both hockey clubs took penalties early in the third. If Saginaw scores, it is a one goal game. If Owen Sound scores, this one is probably over.
Attack center Daniel Catenacci was acquired by trade with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds before the start of this season. Coming to our OHL Champion Attack as a 1993 born and former OHL 1st Overall Draft Pick with point scoring expectations, it may have been a bit of a difficult situation for Daniel. Not a problem. Our top scorer (5-9-12) is settling into his surroundings and expectations very well.
Attack fans want “the next goal”. Daniel didn’t get that, but around the 9:00 mark and with some special effort and skill, Daniel ripped two back-to-back wrist shots off the top right cross bar of the Saginaw net behind goaltender Jake Paterson. The first shot lifted the net off it’s moorings. The second into the upper fan protective mesh.
Artur gave his team the three goal lead at 13:45 with another of his beauty wrist shots from the left face-off circle for his hat-trick and this baby was over.
Final score Owen Sound 6 – Saginaw 3. Final shots on net 47-37 Owen Sound.
The Centennial Windows and Doors 3 Stars of the Game were:
1st Star – Artur Gavrus with 3 goals.
2nd Star – Daniel Catenacci with a goal, an assist and an announced 2 crossbars.
3rd Star – Mike Halmo with 3 assists.
The Dickie’s Clothing Hardest Working Attacker of the Game was Brayden Rose.
The Kelsey’s Neighbourhood Bar and Grill Attacker of the Game was Artur Gavrus.
Our Attack are on the road for a couple of games. Thursday, October 13th they are guests of the Eastern Conference Peterborough Petes. Their only regular season to Peterborough. A 7:05 p.m. start. Friday our Attack are guests of the Kitchener Rangers. Game start in Kitchener is 7:30 p.m.
Find those games on:
Radio – Grey Motors Bear Radio on 560 CFOS
TV – Rogers Local Channel 53
Livestream – https://ohl.neulion.com/ohl/
Next home game for our Attack is Saturday, October 15th when the Kitchener Rangers travel to Owen Sound to complete a two game weekend set between the two hockey clubs.
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.
