IceDogs Set to Host the Steelheads in 2024/2025 Home Opener
NIAGARA, ON – As announced by the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), the Niagara IceDogs will host the Brampton Steelheads on Sunday October 6th for their 2024-2025 season home opener.
The IceDogs come into the 2024-2025 season with a ton of excitement, as the home opener will mark the first opportunity for the home fans to catch the highly anticipated, Braidy Wassilyn in action for the IceDogs, alongside of Max Crete, Nick Frasca and Matthew Humphries who are all signed by the club. In addition, Ryan Roobroeck will be looking to build off of his record breaking rookie season (28 goals, 51 points) and 2024 NHL draft prospect, Kevin He is looking to top his career high season (31 goals, 53 points).
The Steelheads finished fourth in the Eastern Conference with a record of 38-22-8, recording a franchise record 84 points in the 2023-2024 season. They would ultimately fall in five games to the Sudbury Wolves in the first round of the 2024 OHL playoffs. They hold a top 2025 NHL Draft prospect in Porter Martone and a plethora of NHL affiliated players.
Past Home Openers:
The IceDogs opened up the 2023-2024 season at home against the London Knights, as they participated in a home and home series to kick off the season. After dropping a close 2-1 decision the previous night in London, the IceDogs were looking for revenge against the eventual OHL Champions in front of 4,365 fans. Midway through the second period the IceDogs had found themselves in the lead, 2-1, after a few firsts, including Mike Levin’s first career OHL goal and Ryan Roobroeck’s first career OHL point. Levin would tie the game at one, whereas the eventual captain of the IceDogs, Gavin Bryant gave the IceDogs the lead for his first in the red, black and white. However, the Knights would storm back in third to take the game 5-2.
The 2022-2023 season saw the IceDogs open up at home against the Steelheads as former IceDogs captain, Zak Lavoie played overtime hero for the Steelheads. Recording a hat-trick on his overtime goal, beating Owen Flores in the process, in front of 3,737 fans at the Meridian Centre.
Prior to the 2022-2023 season the IceDogs captured a win on their home opener in four consecutive seasons from 2017-2018 to 2021-2022 (2020-2021 season was cancelled due to Covid-19).
2017 saw the IceDogs defeat the Erie Otters 4-1 as current NHLer and former IceDogs captain, Akil Thomas earned first star honours. A outstanding attendance of 5,300 for the 2018 home opener as the IceDogs took down the Kingston Frontenacs by a score of 3-1 with Nashville Predator, Phil Tomasino getting on the score sheet with an assist. He would go on to be selected in the first round by the Nashville Predators in the following NHL Draft. The IceDogs opened up their 2019-2020 campaign with a high scoring 6-3 win over the Sudbury Wolves. The aforementioned Tomasino earned second star honours with a three point performance (2 goals and 1 assist). Finally, they took home the win in their 2021 season home opener after defeating the Oshawa Generals in a shootout that saw goalie, Tucker Tynan take home the first star with 32 saves on 34 shots.
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