Colts
A visit to the Powerade Centre Sunday afternoon to take on the Brampton Battalion saw the Barrie Colts come out on the losing end. The Colts drop to 1-4-0-0 this season against Brampton after getting off to a fast start.
Just 2:23 into the hockey game Erik Bradford would capitalize giving his team the 1 – 0 edge. Brendan Lemieux dished the puck out from behind the Battalion net right to Bradford, who put it past Jake Smith from the slot. Goaltender Alex Fotinos was also credited with an assist. Barrie increased their lead at 13:07 of the first period when Mark Scheifele scored his 30th goal of the season. With the two man advantage Ryan O’Connor teed one up for Scheifele who blasted home the one timer.
Before the end of the opening period, Brampton would cut the deficit to 2 – 1. Battalion captain Barclay Goodrow scored on the power play at 17:34 for the first of four unanswered Brampton goals. Barrie out shot Brampton 7 – 6 in the opening frame.
The second period got off to a slow start for Barrie as the Battalion scored just 2:01 in. Matt MacLeod squeaked one in short side on netminder Alex Fotinos to tie the game at two. A few minutes later Brampton would take their first lead of the game when a Patrik Machac re-directed a Brandon Robinson pass through the five hole. Just seven seconds after that, forward Brandon Robinson broke up the middle of the ice before shoveling in his 14th of the season. All three Battalion goals came within the first five minutes of the second period.
Colts head coach Dale Hawerchuk then called a time out which seemed to settle things down for Barrie. Late in the second period Mitchell Theoret made some nice moves at the blue line before getting a shot off, beating Jake Smith blocker side to bring the Colts within one. Brampton would once again spoil the Colts momentum as Brendan Childerley scored with just 44 seconds left in the second. The Battalion outshot the Colts 16 – 6 in the second period and headed into the final twenty minutes up 5 – 3.
Mathias Niederberger came out in the third period for the Colts in relief of goaltender Alex Fotinos. The game tightened up defensively in the last period making it difficult for Barrie to gain any traction. Despite having the 7 – 2 edge in shots the Colts were held scoreless and suffered a 5 – 3 loss to the Battalion. Defenceman Aaron Ekblad did not suit up for the Barrie Colts as he is out with a lower-body injury.
The Colts (36-17-1-2) will finish off their third game in three days when they take on the Belleville Bulls Monday afternoon. The Bulls remain one point back of the Colts for 1st place in the Eastern Conference Standings. Puck drop is 2:00 at the Yardmen Arena.
