IceDogs Milestone Moment – Robertson First IceDogs Shutout
Up until now, the Milestone Moments have all been about goals. First career goals, hat tricks, goal streaks, and the like. This week however, we’re going to shine some light on a guy who makes his living preventing goals, and who picked up his first shutout as an IceDog with a stellar performance on March 17th this year!
Charlie Robertson came to Niagara via a trade with the North Bay Battalion on January 7th, 2024. With ties to the area already (being the grandson of Tom Rankin, the founder of Rankin Construction), and having played at Ridley College, Charlie was a natural fit in the cage for Niagara. His first start as an IceDog came against his former team and he endeared himself to the fanbase right away, stopping 34 of 36 shots en-route to the victory. Fast forward to the afternoon of March 17th, our St. Patrick’s Day game, when Robertson made his signature performance of the year.
The Barrie Colts were in town that night, a playoff team boasting plenty of talent on the roster. They came out strong and tested Robertson early with eleven shots in the first, and Charlie turned them all aside. None, however, were better than the ten bell save he made with 4 minutes left in the period. The Colts came in on a three on two and worked the puck cross ice to one up a one timer for Bode Stewart, but Robertson slide across the crease and stretched out to deny a sure goal with the shaft of his stick. Highway robbery, grand larceny, whatever you want to call it; Charlie kept the score even at zeroes.
The IceDogs dominated the second period, winning the shot battle 13-7 and taking a one goal lead midway through the period. Robertson was solid as usual, making the saves he had to make and preserving the lead. Saving his best for last, Charlie stood tall against the Colts onslaught in the third period as they tried desperately to come back. He stopped all 12 shots in the frame to lead the Dogs to a 3-0 victory and earn first star honours on the afternoon. A well-deserved accolade, as Charlie’s heroics were the reason the Dogs walked out with two points!
Robertson would not stop there; in his next start, March 21st at home against the Mississauga Steelheads, he put forth perhaps an even better performance than his shutout on the 17th. Charlie stopped all 43 shots he faced through 51 minutes of game time before getting injured and having to leave. Making save after save, and submitting a Save of the Year candidate by diving across the net to deny Angus MacDonnell with the blade of his stick, Robertson stood on his head to give his team a chance against a powerhouse Steelhead team.
Had he not been injured in the third period, it could’ve been back-to-back shutouts and gone down as one of the great goaltending performances in recent IceDogs memory. It’s clear to see that the crease is in good hands for the foreseeable future!
