IceDogs 23/24 Milestone Moments – Gavin Bryant First Career Hat-Trick
NIAGARA, ON – The 2023/24 season was filled with firsts, and this weeks Milestone Moment highlights yet another; IceDogs captain Gavin Bryant’s first career hat trick!
On August 24th, 2023, the IceDogs sent Declan Waddick to Owen Sound in exchange for Bryant and a 3rd round pick. The centreman came into Niagara as a relative unknown to the fanbase; being on a western conference team, he had only played one career game in Niagara, and two overall against our franchise. That changed fast, as the forward quickly endeared himself to fans and members of the organization alike. It was clear from the start that the IceDogs acquired a player that every single team in the league wants to have; a natural leader with talent, work ethic, heart, and a great presence in the community. On the ice, his offensive game took off as he set career highs across the board, leading the team in points with 54 (21 goals, 33 assists). One moment in the year stands out though: a cold winter’s night on Valentine’s day at Erie Insurance arena, where Bryant notched the first OHL hat trick of his career.
It was the Dogs first game since a tough Northern Ontario road trip the weekend prior, and the team was looking to wash away the sour taste of that with a strong effort in Erie against the Otters. Who better to lead by example and start off the game on the right foot than the captain of the team? Just 2:16 into the game Bryant was awarded a penalty shot, and he made no mistake. Skating slowly and starting way wide, the IceDogs captain took the serpentine route to the net, opening up Erie goaltender Charlie Burns before firing a perfectly placed shot along the ice right through the five hole for his and the IceDogs first goal of the game.
Not even 15 minutes of game time later Bryant was back on the scoresheet. After an Alex Assadourian shorthanded goal extended the lead to 2-0, the IceDogs once again found themselves on an odd man rush. Kevin He, one of the most dangerous snipers in the league, flew down the wing and into the Erie zone with one defender back and teammate William Stewart driving hard to the net. He slowed up just inside the blue line, and both Otters back checkers followed Stewart below the hashmarks, leaving 3 defenders below the dots and a whole ton of space for Bryant, the trailer. The winger and 2024 NHL Draft hopeful slid a pass across and no more than a second after the puck was on his stick, Bryant fired a shot from the top of the circle that beat Burns and gave the IceDogs a 3-0 lead.
After two quick goals to start the game Bryant was on hat trick watch already, but we had to wait until 8 minutes left in the third period to see the clincher. Up 5-0 at this point, the Dogs were putting on a clinic with Bryant at the centre of it all and looking to complete career hat trick number one before the night was out. The play started deep in the Dogs zone, with Connor Federkow sending his patented flip out into the neutral zone for the forwards to pick up. Bryant carried the puck into the zone and the IceDogs got on the forecheck. The puck squirted out to the blue line where Ryan VanNetten picked it up, made a couple Otters defenders miss, walked in and slid the puck across the crease to a perfectly positioned Bryant, who tapped it into finish off the hat trick! A road hat trick doesn’t often see many hats on the ice, but you can be sure that Niagara fans watching from home were celebrating themselves as his 3rd goal of the night made it 6-0 and capped off an incredible victory for the Dogs.