Colts fall to Generals in season opener
The Barrie Colts opened up their 20th anniversary season against the Oshawa Generals at the Barrie Molson Center. In the pre-game ceremony, the Colts honoured past Colt and fan favourite, Luch Nasato. Nasato played three seasons with the Colts, from 1995 to 1998 and finished with 657 penalty minutes.
In their 2014-2015 season home opener, the Colts fell 5-2 to the Generals. The Colts held a 2-0 lead going into the first, but couldn’t generate any offence in the last two periods to match the Generals five unanswered goals.
Last season the Colts and Generals split their four game series at two a piece.
The Colts opened up the scoring with a goal from C.J. Garcia. Kevin Lebanc got the puck up to Garcia on the point and Garcia put it home through traffic in front for his first goal of the season.
Just over halfway through the first, Joseph Blandisi put home a short-handed goal for his first of the year. Cordell James sent Blandisi on a rush and Blandisi beat three Generals before putting it past Ken Appleby to give the Colts a 2-goal lead.
The Generals dominated the second period, scoring four unanswered goals and taking a 4-2 lead.
Less than two minutes in to the second, Joe Manchurek was able to throw the puck in front to Tobias Lindberg. Mackenzie Blackwood was out of position from pursuing the rebound, and Lindberg put it home. Josh Sterk was also credited with an assist on the play. Then with 7:19 left in the period, Adrian Wallace tipped home Mitchell Vande Sompel’s shot in the slot to tie the game at 2.
In the last minute of the second period, the Generals were able to capitalize again on the power play when Jacob Busch walked off the boards and took a wrist shot. The rebound came to Sam Harding in the slot and Harding put it home to give the Generals their first lead of the game. Stephen Desrocher assisted on the Generals go-ahead goal. With 15 seconds left in the period, the Generals extended their lead when Bradley Latour went top shelf on Blackwood. Chris Carlisle and Cole Cassels had the assists on Latour’s goal.
The Generals outshot the Colts 14-6 in the second period and led 4-2 going into the third.
Despite having their chances, the Colts couldn’t answer back in the third period. The Generals would add an empty net goal from Cole Cassels, and they would take the game 5-2.
The Colts are back in action tomorrow night in North Bay at 7:00pm. They will be back home on Saturday, October 4th to host the Ottawa 67’s. Click here for tickets.
