New Colts Lead Team to 6-3 Win Over Attack
For the third time this season, the Colts and Attack faced off. Previously, the teams had met on Barrie’s turf playing at the BMC. Wednesday night was the first time the Colts traveled to Owen Sound, looking for their third win against the Attack.
The Colts found themselves down two goals quickly, but they battled back, putting up five goals of their own before the Attack would have anything else to show for. Ultimately, the Colts put up six goals en route to a 6-3 win over the Attack.
In only his third game with the Colts, Anthony Stefano scored his first hat trick of his OHL career, while Justin Scott and Cordell James also had three-point nights. Scott scored twice and added an assist, and James had one goal and a pair of assists. Brandon Prophet, Roy Radke and Rasmus Andersson each had an assist in the win.
In goal for the Colts, newly acquired David Ovsjannikov got off to a rocky start but came back strong stopping 41 shots in his first start with the Colts.
The Attack would grab a quick 2-0 lead in the first half of the first period. They got on the board first when Thomas Schemitsch threw the puck on net from the blue line, and after a few deflections, the shot beat Ovsjannikov. Kevin Hancock and Trenton Bourque assisted Schemitsch’s fourth goal of the season. Then, 9:43 into the period, after Santino Centorame’s one-timer was stopped by Ovsjannikov, the puck got to the point and Josh Sterk fired a shot for his 6th goal of the season. Centorame and Bryson assisted the Attack’s goal to make it 2-0.
Less than one minute later, Scott intercepted an Attack pass on the Colts blue line and took off down the ice. Scott beat Daniel Dekoning to make it 2-1 on a breakaway for his eighth goal of the season, quickly cutting the Attack lead in half.
Nearly two minutes later, the Colts grabbed an equalizing goal when Stefano scored his first of three goals on the night. After James, Labanc and Stefano were pressuring the Attack zone, Labanc brought the puck behind the Attack net, quickly feeding the front of the net. Stefano buried on the backhand to tie it up at 2-2.
The second period would see the Colts get their first lead of the game. Prophet fed Scott the puck going into the Attack zone, and after Scott got the puck on net, Stefano picked up the puck and put it home for his second of the game. Only six minutes into the second period and the Colts would make it 3-2.
James would double the Colts lead 8:46 into the second period. After Labanc and Stefano each batted at the net in the crease, the puck bounced out into the slot. James found the loose puck and buried his 12th goal of the season, giving them a 4-2 lead. James’ goal also prompted the Attack to change their goalies, having Michael McNiven replace Dekoning.
The third period would see the Colts add a pair of goals, while the Attack were only able to find the back of the net one more time.
Over the halfway mark of the period, Radke got the puck to Andersson who was driving low. Andersson in turn wrapped the Attack net and fed Scott in the slot, and Scott then one-timed a shot home for his second goal of the game, ninth of the season.
Less than a minute and a half later, the Attack answered back, scoring their first goal after the Colts put up 5 straight. Matthew Struthers scored his second goal of the season to make it 5-3 with just over 7 minutes to play in the period.
But, despite their best efforts, the Attack wouldn’t be able to get any closer to catching the Colts. With 43 seconds to play, James dug the puck out of the Colts corner, and got the puck up to Labanc on the sideboards. Labanc made a cross ice pass to Stefano, breaking out of the Colts zone, and Stefano found the back of the empty net for his first hat trick as a Colt.
The Colts are back in action Thursday night when they return to the BMC to take on the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. For tickets to that game, visit the BMC Box Office or www.ticketbreak.com.
