Niagara IceDogs Year in Review
IceDogs Top 10 moments of 2021
As 2021 comes to an end, we look back at the season so far. Here’s to the top 10 moments of 2021, and to many more highlights to come!
January 15: 20 IceDogs alumni gear up for shortened 2021 NHL season
Jack Studnicka (Centre) – Boston Bruins, Brett Ritchie (Right-winger) – Calgary Flames, Dougie Hamilton (Defenceman) – Carolina Hurricanes, Alex Nedeljkovic (Goaltender) – Carolina Hurricanes, Andrew Shaw (Right-winger) – Chicago Blackhawks, Jamie Oleksiak (Defenceman) – Dallas Stars, Jason Robertson (Left-winger) – Dallas Stars, Carter Verhaeghe (Centre)– Florida Panthers, Ben Vanderklok (Goaltender coach) – Nashville Predators, Ryan Strome (Centre) – N.Y. Rangers, Vince Dunn (Defenceman) – St. Louis Blues, Mike Van Ryn (Assistant coach) – St. Louis Blues, Alex Pietrangelo (Defenceman) – Vegas Golden Knights, Andrew Agozzino (Centre) – Anaheim Ducks/San Diego Gulls, Akil Thomas (Centre) – Los Angles Kings/ Ontario Reign, Ivan Lodnia (Right-winger)- Minnosota Wild/ Iowa Wild, Phil Tomasino (Centre) – Nashville Predators/Chicago Wolves, Josh Ho-Sang (Right-winger) – N.Y. Islanders/Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Sam Miletic (Left-winger) – Pittsburgh Penguins/Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Ben Jones (Centre) – Vegas Golden Knights/Henderson Silver Knights.
June 5: Highest drafted goalie in IceDogs history, Joey Costanzo
2021 OHL Priority Selection 23rd overall pick Joey Costanzo signed a Standard Player Agreement, committing to the team on June 22nd, 2021. The 6’1″ goaltender played the past two seasons with the Greater Toronto Hockey League’s (GTHL) Toronto Marlboros AAA.
Costanzo was regarded as the top goaltender of the 2005-born draft class.
September 10: IceDogs acquire first round pick Aidan Castle
The team acquired the 2020 first-round draft pick through a trade with Oshawa. Castle is a 5’11”, 168lb forward, who played the 2019-20 season with the Greater Toronto Hockey League’s (GTHL) Toronto Jr. Canadiens. In 62 games, the January 2004-born Mississauga native collected 70 points (35 goals, 35 assists).
October 1st: IceDogs add Danil Gushchin – highest import player
Gushchin committed to the Niagara IceDogs for the 2020-21 season. He was selected 4th overall in the 2020 CHL Import Draft, and was selected by the San Jose Sharks with the 76th overall pick of the 2020 NHL Draft.
In October he was officially reassigned from San Jose.
He currently has 17 goals, and 12 assists on the season with the IceDogs.
October 9th: Dropped the puck for our first home game in 580 days
After the remainder of the 2020 season was cancelled due to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the IceDogs hit home ice for the first time in 580 days for the season’s Home Opener on October 9th, 2021.
October 9th: IceDogs win 4th consecutive Home Opener
IceDogs take a 3-2 win against the Oshawa Generals in Shootout.
October 19th & November 19th : Five IceDogs named to the NHL’s Central Scouting List
October: Castle, Fimis, Dionicio, Leonard, and Cooke.
November: Castle, Fimis, Dionicio, Cooke and Roobroeck.
October 21st: 100 Career Wins (GM/Head Coach) for Joey and Billy Burke
The IceDogs 8-5 win over the Barrie Colts marks Billy Burke’s 100th career win as head coach and Joey Burke’s 100th career win as GM.
December 2nd: Joey Costanzo wins gold with Hockey Canada at the Capital City Challenge
Team Canada Black takes the win 5-4 over Team Canada Red in OT to win gold.
December 4th: IceDogs set franchise record for most bears during Teddy Bear Toss
Over 7000 teddy bears were collected from the annual Teddy Bear Toss. IceDogs players teamed up with the NRP and Victim Services to deliver the bears to Niagara Health Systems for Children in the ward.
Thank you IceDogs fans for sharing all these incredible moments with us, and Happy New Year! See you in 2022!
