Fronts Win School Day Game in Ottawa
The Kingston Frontenacs earned a crucial two points against division rival Ottawa on Monday morning in Ottawa, as the Fronts downed the 67’s on their second annual school day game, beginning at 10:30AM, where over 9,000 school kids packed the Rona Centre in Ottawa. “It was different getting ready for a game this early, but the atmosphere was really good,” said Head Coach Doug Gilmour.
The pre-game rituals of all players was definitely out of whack and it showed, as both teams combined to score three goals in the first three minutes of action. Ryan Martindale opened the scoring surprising Philipp Grubauer with a quick shot off the forcheck just 37 seconds into the game. Kingston responded less than two minutes later with a power play goal from Ethan Werek, as he took a pass and fired a quick shot over the shoulder of Petr Mrazek in the Ottawa net. Ryan Hanes then tipped home a nice pass from Tyler Toffoli, freezing everyone with a fake shot and then finding Hanes on the backdoor for the go ahead goal. That would be the last time that Grubauer was beaten for the day, as he finished the night with 28 saves.
Alan Quine got the Fronts back on even terms scoring Kingston’s second power play goal of the afternoon late in the first period to tie the game heading to the second period. Kingston went 2 for 3 on the power play in the first period and then came up big on the penalty killing side of the special teams play in the second period, killing off five straight penalties in the second period. “Our special teams was the difference in the hockey game today. Our power play was good and our penalty killing was even better,” said Gilmour.
Gritty forward Conor Stokes, scored his third goal in the past four games late in the second period, banging home a rebound in front of the Ottawa goal, which would hold up as the game winner. Nathan Moon would add an insurance marker with six minutes left in the game to give the Fronts the 4-2 victory. Moon also had a goal called back, after kicking a puck between the legs of Mrazek just prior to his actual team leading tenth goal of the season.
Kingston has gone four and one on their current road trip, which is not clear just yet, as they will travel to Peterborough on Thursday evening, before returning home to the K-Rock Centre for the first time in two weeks, to host the Barrie Colts.
