Colts take down the league’s best 6-3
The Barrie Colts picked up the biggest two points of their season so far Thursday night.
Starting the night sitting 5 points back of the North Bay Battalion for the final playoff spot the Colts charged into this one taking down the league leading Ottawa 67’s with a 6-3 victory.
With what started off with a lucky bounce from centre ice, Tyson Foerster’s two goals gave the Colts the start out the gate they needed.
Also leading on the scoresheet was Tyler Tucker collecting four assists, as well as Ryan Suzuki helping on three while Ben Hawerchuck would find the back of the net twice.
Jet Greave’s was solid once again turning aside 29 shots to pick up his 7th win of the season.
Prior to the opening faceoff former Colts forward Lucas Chiodo was recognized for his contributions and time spent over four seasons with Barrie. The local Barrie native who also spent his minor hockey playing in Barrie was moved to the 67’s prior to the trade deadline.
The Colts would get the first lucky bounce of the game to get the start they needed. While on his way off the ice for a change Foerster dumped the puck on net, but an unfortunate bounce for 67’s starter Cedrick Andree would go off his pad and wind up in the back of the net.
With just over seven minutes remaining in the opening period the Colts would go up by two. While on the powerplay Tucker and Suzuki played catch at the point before sending a shot towards the goal. Right on the doorstep was Foerster burying his 2nd of the night and 7th if the year.
Into the second, the colts would draw another powerplay just over a minute in and increase the lead to three.
Working the puck around on their second powerplay of the night Tucker would tee up Hawerchuck in the right circle to blast home his 25th of the season. Suzuki would pick up his second assist on the play as the Colts lead 3-0 early in the middle frame.
The Colts would continue to make the most of their opportunities and just past the midway point of the second Victor Hadfield would finish off a beautiful tic tac toe with Tucker and make it 4-0.
Ottawa’s head coach André Tourigny quickly called a time out following the goal to halt the onslaught and the 67’s would quickly respond. Sam Bitten sneaking in on the back door would tap in a pass to get on the board. Chiodo would pickup an assist on the play.
The Colts holding on to the three goal lead through forty minutes, skated into the third looking to keep things going.
Austen Keating would strike early in the final frame on Ottawa’s own man advantage to cut the lead in half, but that was as close as the league’s top team would get.
With just over six minutes remaining in the game Jack York restored the Colts three goal lead ripping a shot over the glove of Andree for their third powerplay goal of the night and York’s 7th of the season. Dalton Duhart and Sam Rhodes would collect the helpers.
Ottawa would take another penalty with just over four minutes to go and once again lead to a Barrie powerplay marker. A bouncing puck would come to Hawerchuck in the slot, and he’d quickly fire his 2nd of the night to widen the lead to four. Tucker and Suzuki again picking up the assists.
The 67’s would add a late goal in the third, but that would be it.
The win brings the Colts to within three points of the North Bay Battalion, but with plenty of work still to go in the weekend the boys will now head to Mississauga tomorrow night before another tough battle with the Central Division leading Niagara Icedogs Saturday night back at home.
Tickets for all Barrie Colts home games can be purchased online, by calling 1-888-655-9090, or in person at the Colts Store located inside the Barrie Molson Centre.
