Colts Send the IceDogs to the Pound on Saturday; Win 6-1
Jason Willms’ hatrick volts the Barrie Colts past the Niagara IceDogs 6-1 on Saturday night.
This was the first matchup of the season between the two Central division foes who came in #1 and #2 in the division.
The game didn’t start great for the Colts as less than two minutes into the game during four on four play Brady Johnson got a nice cross ice pass and slid it past Leo Lazarev for his first of the season to make it 1-0.
Moment later off the ensuing faceoff, Joey Keane used his speed to get around a Niagara defender but was stopped by Stephen Dhillon who denied the tying goal.
Late in the period on a Barrie powerplay the boys would strike. It was Joey Keane lighting the lamp for the third game in a row and for his fourth goal of the season. He beat a screened Dhillon to tie the game at one through twenty minutes of play. Kyle Heitzner and Justin Murray drew the assists on the tying goal.
The second period would start off a lot better for the home team than the first period did. After hemming the IceDogs in their own zone the puck worked it’s way to the point where Chris Cameron slapped the puck along the ice, which was tipped in by Willms who parked himself in front. The goal was his 8th of the season and put the Colts in front 2-1. Kirill Nizhnikov tallied the other assist on the go ahead goal.
The flurry would continue, as the Colts would celebrate a first on Saturday night. After a great set of passing move the puck down low Sam Rhodes was alone on the doorstep chipping it in the back of the net for his first career OHL goal. Heitzner and Keane were credited with the assists on the Virgina natives milestone.
Later in the period on a Barrie powerplay, an unfortunate bounce lead to a Niagara breakaway where Johnny Corneil got the break but Lazarev came up huge denying him twice and keeping the two goal lead heading to the break.
Another quick start for the horses in the third period. On a five on three man advantage Ben Hawerchuk would blast a one-timer home to extend Barrie’s lead to 4-1. Kade Landry and Lucas Chiodo would assist on the goal.
The boys, they kept on coming. It was Willms again striking fear into the Niagara defense. He kept jamming away at the puck which eventually slid in and across the line. Jaden Peca grabbed the lone assist.
The best mustache on the Colts didn’t stop. Just moments later the stache would strike again! After a perfect cross crease pass from Nizhnikov the hats were sent flying. Willms hammered home the hat-trick so push the Barrie lead to 6-1. Nathan Allensen also recorded an assist on the goal.
The win completed a perfect weekend after the overtime victory in Sudbury a night prior. Next week the Colts will stay at home for games on Thursday and Saturday before heading to Oshawa on Sunday to wrap up the weekend.
The team will also be welcoming back Ryan Suzuki who’s fresh off a finals appearance at the U-17 championship and will add another spark back in the lineup.
