IceDogs Take Down First Place 67s In A Thriller
NIAGARA, ON – Gavin Bryant and Alex Assadourian record three points each and Ethan Czata pots his first career OHL goal as the IceDogs defeat the top team in the Eastern Conference, the Ottawa 67s.
Final Score: NIA 7 – OTT 5
Starting Goaltenders: Max Donoso (Ottawa) – Owen Flores (Niagara)
It wouldn’t take long for the games first goal to come after the 67’s were awarded a penalty shot just 1:35 into the game. 67s forward, Will Gerrior would beat Owen Flores to give Ottawa the early lead. The IceDogs would be awarded a penalty shot of their own after Brody Crane split the Ottawa defenceman and was hauled down on the breakaway. Crane would make no mistake on penalty shot, beating Max Donoso low glove to tie the game up at one. This would be Crane’s first goal of the season in his first game back after battling a lengthy injury. The goal scoring wouldn’t stop there as Ethan Czata would find himself on a breakaway, making a nice move to beat Donoso and give the IceDogs the lead. Czata would get the monkey off his back, scoring his first career OHL goal. The opening frame would end with the IceDogs leading 2-1.
The middle frame would feature a flurry of goals from both sides as both teams would combine for five goals in the period. Going back and forth all period long, the 67s would get the first blow as Will Gerrior tied it up with his second of the game. Mike Levin would answer only 1:28 later for the IceDogs as he put them right back into the lead after a Zak Lavoie shot went wide and bounced right to Levin. Once again the 67s would tie it up after Luca Pinelli scored off of a Owen Flores breakaway save. Now tied at three the IceDogs would get their lead back as Evan Klein jammed the puck home to make it 4-3. Ethan Czata would make a great effort on play stealing the puck in the neutral zone and attempting a wrap-around that was cleaned up by Klein. With the 67s looking to rebound and tie the game again, the IceDogs would be awarded a powerplay. They would make no mistake on this one as Alex Assadourian beat Max Donoso through the five hole to make it a two goal game in favour of the IceDogs.
Cooper Foster would get the scoring started in the third period as his 13th of the campaign would get Ottawa within one. However, minutes later the IceDogs would once again find themselves on the powerplay looking to regain their two goal lead. They would do just that as Gavin Bryant would find the back of net to make it 6-4. Ottawa wouldn’t go away easy though as once again they would bring the game back within one as Brad Gardiner scored to make it 6-5 with roughly eight minutes remaining. With only 1:59 remaining in the game the 67s would head to the powerplay looking for an equalizer. The IceDogs would shut the door and add an empty netter via Alex Assadourian, scoring his second of the game to seal the win.
First Period Scoring Summary:
1-0 (Ottawa Goal): Will Gerrior (11) Penalty Shot
1-1 (Niagara Goal): Brody Crane (1) Penalty Shot
2-1 (Niagara Goal): Ethan Czata (1): Assists: Ryan Roobroeck (7), Zak Lavoie (5)
Shots: OTT 15 – NIA 12
Second Period Scoring Summary:
2-2 (Ottawa Goal): Will Gerrior (12), Assists: Thomas Sirman (1), Brad Gardiner (14)
3-2 (Niagara Goal): Mike Levin (10), Assist: Zak Lavoie (6), Owen Flores (3)
3-3 (Ottawa Goal): Luca Pinelli (22), Assists: Brad Gardiner (15), Matthew Mayich (7)
4-3 (Niagara Goal): Evan Klein (4), Assist: Ethan Czata (6)
5-3 (Niagara Goal): Alex Assadourian (4), Assists: Gavin Bryant (10), Kevin He (7) PPG
Shots: NIA 32 – OTT 24
Third Period Scoring Summary:
5-4 (Ottawa Goal): Cooper Foster (13), Assists: Luca Pinelli (10), Frankie Marrelli (6)
6-4 (Niagara Goal): Gavin Bryant (8), Assists: Kevin He (8), Alex Assadourian (11)
6-5 (Ottawa Goal): Brad Gardiner (7), Assists: Thomas Sirman (2), Henry Mews (21)
7-5 (Niagara Goal): Alex Assadourian (5), Assist: Gavin Bryant (11)
Shots: NIA 42 – OTT 31
Three Stars of the Game:
- Alex Assadourian (2 goals, 1 assist)
- Gavin Bryant (1 goal, 2 assists)
- Ethan Czata (1 goal, 1 assist)
Full Game Box Score Here!
