RELEASE THE BEARS! BULLDOGS WIN TEDDY TOSS GAME 5-3
HAMILTON, ONTARIO. The Hamilton Bulldogs hosted their 7th annual Teddy Toss Game on Saturday afternoon against the Windsor Spitfires who travelled east to the FirstOntario Centre for the first time since Game 7 of last years OHL Finals.
It didn’t take long for the bears to soar onto the ice in the Hammer! 3:05 into the first period, Marek Vanacker strode across the Windsor blueline and dropped the puck to Jorian Donovan who ripped a shot past the blocker of Mathias Onuska to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead on Donovan’s 8th of the season and ignited the reign of bears on the fastest goal in Bulldogs Teddy Toss History. Fresh off the momentum of the Donovan goal, the Bulldogs continued to apply pressure, and it only took them two and a half minutes after the first goal to notch a second. Defenseman Noah Van Vliet sped up the left side past the Spitfires defenseman and cut in front of the net, bringing the puck to his backhand and sliding it into the net to make it 2-0, on his 2nd of the year, for Hamilton. Windsor didn’t take long to respond however, as Ethan Miedema mirrored Van Vliet’s move, cutting to the front of the net and sliding it past the pad of Tristan Malboeuf to cut the Spitfires deficit to 2-1 with 13:31 remaining in the period. The game showed a physical edge with heavy hits thrown including a couple by Adrian Rebelo and a big hip check courtesy of Artem Grushnikov to bring the tempo up for the home side. With 2:37 left in the frame, Patrick Thomas circled around the offensive zone and dropped it to Jorian Donovan on the point, who stepped in and found Logan Morrison with a beautiful net front pass and an easy tap in for the captain’s 14th of the season giving the Bulldogs a 3-1 lead through 20 minutes and extending Logan Morrison’s scoring streak to 15-games.
The second period started quickly for Windsor with Matthew Maggio shooting far side past a screened Malboeuf to make it a 3-2 game at 3:19. Less than a minute later, Adrian Rebelo made a highlight reel diving stop on a wrap-around attempt saving a goal. Windsor’s pressure continued as Maggio chipped the puck past Gavin White, cut around the Bulldogs defenseman and flipped a shot short side over a sliding Malboeuf for his second goal of the period, tying the game at 3 at 6:22. The Bulldogs were able to put some pressure on the Spitfires in the ladder half of the period turning the momentum, but Mathias Onuska stood tall and made multiple quality saves, including a beautiful glove save on Logan Morrison, and a stick save on Marek Vanacker to keep the game tied at 3-3 despite the Bulldogs leading in the shot column 26-20 through 40 minutes.
The final frame opened with a wicked cross-crease save by Tristan Malboeuf to deny the chance for the red-hot Alex Christopoulos keeping the game knotted 3-3. The period remained scoreless until 8:44 remaining when Patrick Thomas battled the puck through a pair of Spitfires and threw it out from to Logan Morrison who backhanded it on net through the crowd and past Onuska for his second of the game to regain the Bulldogs lead. With his secondary assist on the goal, Avery Hayes extended his scoring streak to 14-games. Malboeuf was able to stop everything that came his way in the final frame, and Avery Hayes finished it off with an empty netter, after battling the puck through three Spitfires, sealing the Bulldogs 5-3 victory on his league leading 23rd goal of the season.
The Bulldogs host Military Appreciation Game against hosting the Kingston Frontenacs on Sunday at 4:00, wearing special Military themed jerseys that will be auctioned off after the game with proceeds being donated to Wounded Warriors Canada.
For more information on Hamilton Bulldogs 2022-23 Holiday Flex packages call 905-529-8500 or visit hamiltonbulldogs.com
