NIAGARA NIPS BULLDOGS
HAMILTON, Ontario – Jordan Maletta had two goals, including the overtime winner, for the Niagara IceDogs (27-18-3-3) as they defeated the Hamilton Bulldogs (19-27-6-0) 3-2.
The Bulldogs would host their annual School Day game on Wednesday morning against the Niagara IceDogs. It wouldn’t take long for Niagara to get on the board in this one as Jordan Maletta would take a quick pass from Josh Ho-Sang and snap one high over the glove of Bulldogs starter Connor Hicks. The goal would come at 1:05 of the first period.
Hamilton would respond before the period was out as Matt Luff would keep up his hot scoring touch. The Oakville native was left all alone in front of the net and would convert a pass from Matthew Strome for his fourteenth goal of the season. Ondrej Kachyna would get the secondary assist on the goal at 16:57.
A long 5-on-3 penalty kill in the second period would give the IceDogs some momentum and it would be Ho-Sang that put Niagara in front. The IceDogs leading point getter would be stationed at the side of the net in perfect position to put the puck past Hicks. Ho-Sang’s sixteenth of the year would be assisted by Blake Siebenaler at 13:32.
The score would remain 2-1 until deep into the third period when Luff would score to notch his second consecutive two goal game. The second year forward would outwait the sprawling Alex Nedeljkovic to make the game 2-2. Strome would get the assist on the tying goal at 15:49.
That would send the game into overtime where Maletta would give the IceDogs the extra point. At 3:11 he would take a pass from Brendan Perlini and bury the game winner. Vince Dunn would also get an assist on Maletta’s twenty-ninth of the year.
Nedeljkovic would make 30 saves in the win, while Hicks would make 37 saves in the loss.
Despite the loss ‘Dogs goalie Connor Hicks said the noise level created by the 9,000 plus kids in attendance was something special. “I have never heard a game that was as loud as that. I couldn’t hear anything all game including the D off the faceoffs,” Hicks added. “Having all that noise really helps to keep your energy high and I can’t wait to hear it every day.”
The Bulldogs head to the Barrie Molson Centre tomorrow night to take on the 31-16-0-2 Barrie Colts. Game time is set for 7:30pm. Hamilton will be back at the FirstOntario Centre on Saturday night to battle the 24-21-2-4 Peterborough Petes. Puck drop is 7:00pm.
3 Stars
1-Connor Hicks (37 saves)
2-Matt Luff (2G)
3-Jordan Maletta (2G, GWG)
Dan Lawrie Premium Player of the Game (Hardest Working Player): Ondrej Kachyna
For more information on Hamilton Bulldogs flex tickets, group tickets and single-game tickets call 1-866-DOGS-TIX (364-7849) or visit hamiltonbulldogs.com.
Listen to all Bulldogs regular season games live on Hamilton’s AM 900 CHML, on 900chml.com or watch all home games and over 30 away games live in HD on Cable 14 or online or demand at cable14now.com.
