Colts win despite Owen Flores’ strong goaltending performance
ST. CATHARINES, ON – The IceDogs opened their week with a rare Wednesday home game as they welcomed the Barrie Colts to Niagara for a Central Division matchup. The visitors peppered Owen Flores with shots but the IceDogs goaltender came up with a big 56-save performance to keep his team in the game despite not having the goal support on this night.
Starting Goaltenders: Owen Flores (NIAG), Anson Thornton (OS)
Owen Flores shut the door for most of the opening period until the last quarter of the opening period when a Barrie touch pass was finished off by San Jose Sharks prospect Ethan Cardwell, opening the scoring.
The IceDogs would go down a pair late in the period after not being able to clear the puck, leading to LA Kings prospect and Colts captain Brandt Clarke working it to Evan Vierling for the second goal of the game and a lead going into the 1st intermission.
Niagara would get on the board as Andrew LeBlanc would go in on net and find Juan Copeland for the redirection for his 9th goal of the season, as the IceDogs capitalized on a Colts turnover in the neutral zone.
Shortly after the IceDogs would be given back-to-back penalties in which the Colts were able to capitalize with the 2-man advantage to go back up by a pair heading into the middle break.
The Colts would extend their lead less than a minute into the final period as McDonnell would take the pass from Frasca for the redirection goal, making it an even deeper hole that the IceDogs needed to climb out of.
Michaud and McDonnell would drop the gloves as the IceDogs assistant captain tried his best to fire up his team and the crowd. The Colts would add another and defeat the IceDogs on this night in front of 3,667 at the Meridian Centre.
Niagara will be in Mississauga on Friday before returning home to face Sudbury for a Sunday afternoon matchup against another Central Division opponent. Shots were 61-21 in favour of the visitors.
Three Stars
- BAR Evan Vierling (2 goals, 1 assist)
- BAR Ethan Cardwell (1 goal, 1 assist)
- NIAG Owen Flores (56 saves)(
Goal Scorers
- BAR Ethan Cardwell (28) A: E. Vierling, C. Punnett
- BAR Evan Vierling (23) A: B. Clarke, E. Cardwell
- NIAG J. Copeland (9) A: A. LeBlanc, R. Vannetten
- BAR E. Vierling (24) A: J.Frasca, B. Akey
- BAR D. McDonnell (8) A: J. Frasca, B. Jelsma
- BAR C. Punnett (13) A: C. Grisolia, R. Jodoin
