WEEKEND PREVIEW: Back in Familiar Surroundings

Erie, Pennsylvania. — The Otters are back in the EIA for the weekend, taking on the Brantford Bulldogs on Thursday evening and, after taking a day-long breather, getting back to work on Saturday as they face off against the North Bay Battalion to conclude the weekend at home. 

This action-packed weekend held in Erie will be a showcase of two tough battles with a pair of out-of-conference rivals, hopefully resulting in another couple of Otters wins, as the team is finding themselves seeing some recent success and moving up in the conference rankings.

AHEC YEAH!

NWPA AHEC’s Weekend Preview brings the latest news, promotions, and what YOU need to know before YOU go further into the new year.

Northwest Pennsylvania Area Health Education Centre is a non-profit organization committed to helping communities in Northwest Pennsylvania meet their primary health care needs and enhance the quality of health in our region, especially the rural and underserved communities.

‘AHEC’ maintains partnerships with community, government, and educational agencies and institutions that will connect students to careers, professionals to communities, and communities to better health.

Head to nwpaahec.org to learn more or to apply!

 LAST TIME OUT

The Erie Otters entered Owen Sound chasing a three-game winning streak but were overpowered in a 6–2 loss to the Attack on Friday night. Owen Sound controlled the first period, outshooting Erie 20–9 and taking a 2–0 lead with goals from Easton Mikus and Caden Taylor on a 5-on-3 power play. The Attack extended the lead to 3–0 in the second period before Michael Dec finally put Erie on the board with a highlight-reel midair bat late in the frame.

Erie opened the third period strong, as Gabriel Frasca scored a power-play goal to cut the deficit to 3–2. However, the momentum quickly swung back to Owen Sound, which responded with three goals in rapid succession from Lenny Greenberg, Noah Nelson, and Pierce Mbuyi to seal the game. Despite a more competitive shot total of 44–34, the Otters couldn’t complete the comeback. The teams conclude their annual two-game weekend series on Saturday, and Erie returns home on December 11 to host Brantford.

The Erie Otters closed out their two-game weekend in Owen Sound with an impressive bounce-back performance, defeating the Attack 5–1 on Saturday. After a tough loss the night before, Erie opened the game with strong energy, taking a 1–0 lead in the first period on a goal from Dylan Edwards while goaltender Charlie Burns turned aside every Owen Sound chance. The Otters outshot the Attack 12–7 in a controlled opening frame.

Owen Sound tied the game early in the second thanks to David Bedkowski. Still, Burns weathered the pressure that followed. Erie regained the lead when Michael Dec scored against his former team, then added another late on a power play—Dec’s second of the night and third of the weekend—to carry a 3–1 advantage into the third period.

The Otters continued to dominate in the final frame. Alex Misiak scored just 20 seconds in to extend the lead to 4–1, and Tristen Trevino added a power-play marker later to make it 5–1. Burns finished with 32 saves as the teams ended even at 33 shots apiece. With the win, Erie finished its road trip, taking two out of three possible points before returning home on December 11 to host the Brantford Bulldogs.

For Jim!

In Saturday night’s battle with the Battalion, the late owner of the Otters, Jim Waters, will be celebrated, his legacy being remembered with a pre-game ceremony to highlight his great impact on the community and on the game. 

WHO TO WATCH

Michael Dec, newly acquired from the Attack in late October,  has quickly become perhaps the most interesting forward to watch. In the recent two-game road swing in Owen Sound, Dec factored in six of Erie’s seven goals, recording a goal in each game and finishing the weekend with a 3-3–6 line. He currently carries a strong per-game scoring rate: in 12 games this season, he has 6 goals and 7 assists, for 13 points, an average of over a point per game. Expect Dec to remain a central offensive driver: his knack for finding open space, quick release, and ability to produce under pressure make him a likely candidate to lead Erie’s scoring as the season progresses.

Dylan Edwards continues to show why he belongs among Erie’s core forwards. Through 28 games this season, he has contributed 14 goals and 17 assists for 31 points, putting him near the top of the team’s scoring charts. Edwards has built a reputation for consistency and clutch production: in the road win over Owen Sound he scored the opener, setting the tone early ,and throughout the season he has proven capable of driving play and creating chances night in and night out. As a senior forward and veteran presence, Edwards is someone to watch for leadership on offense, especially in tight games or during pressure moments when experience matters.

KNOW THE FOE

The Brantford Bulldogs have emerged as one of the OHL’s top teams this season, entering December with a dominant 21–2–4–1 record and one of the league’s best goal differentials. With 139 goals scored and only 73 allowed, the Bulldogs have shown they can control games at both ends of the ice. Leading the charge is rookie standout Adam Benak, whose early-season scoring surge quickly placed him among the league’s top offensive threats. His speed and playmaking have energized Brantford’s attack. On the blue line, Adam Jiříček anchors a strong defensive core, combining shutdown ability with reliable transition play. With high-end skill, depth, and strong defensive structure, the Bulldogs look like a legitimate contender and one of the toughest opponents any team will face this season.

The North Bay Battalion enter December holding a 15-11-1 record, placing them firmly near the top of the Central Division and keeping them in the early playoff picture. With 89 goals scored and 85 allowed, the Battalion have shown they can stay competitive in tight, low-margin games while continuing to develop their young offensive core. Goaltender Mike McIvor remains one of the team’s most reliable performers, giving North Bay consistency in net and keeping them in games even when they’re outshot. Up front, forward Lirim Amidovski has emerged as a key player to watch, bringing speed, creativity, and a scoring touch that adds energy to the lineup. With strong goaltending and promising young talent driving the offense, the Battalion has positioned themselves as a steady, hard-to-play-against team capable of pushing deeper into the standings as the season progresses. 

HOW TO WATCH, LISTEN, & FOLLOW ALONG

The new home of Otters hockey is Flo Hockey!

Delivering a high-quality viewing experience, Flo Hockey provides access to more than 700 OHL games, and games from the QMJHL, AHL, ECHL, and more, streamed across a range of platforms, including PC and Tablet on Safari and Google Chrome web browsers, as well as iOS and Android mobile devices.

Fans can also see the NHL’s stars of tomorrow on the Amazon Fire, Apple TV, V and Roku platforms – right from the comfort of their homes!

For more information, head to flohockey.tv!

:

• PC and/or Tablet on Safari and Google Chrome web browsers
• iOS / Android mobile devices.
• Amazon Fire
• Apple TV
• Roku platforms

Flo Hockey provides live game action all season long, plus free-to-access video-on-demand content and a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate. For more information, head to flohockey.tv.

 

LISTEN

Listen to Otters Hockey all across Erie County with iHeart Media Erie and the Otters broadcast network!

Every game can feel like a home game as a fan with the Otters Radio Network. With live-game broadcasts of all 68 Regular Season games, fans can always hear the action as it happens. Thanks to the Broadcast Home for Otters Hockey, iHeart Media Erie, fans can listen to every game LIVE on the iHeart App from ANYWHERE in the world! From Pennsylvania to Transylvania and everywhere in between, you’ll always be in range to hear Otters Hockey.

• iHeart Media(Erie, PA) is the Flagship Station for the Otters on WJET 1400 AM, and home to Otters Hockey in Pennsylvania. Games can be heard on terrestrial radio on 96.7 FM/1400 AM in Erie and the surrounding communities of NWPA, or can be livestreamed worldwide on the iHeart App.

FOLLOW ALONG

If you want to follow along in real-time to the weekend’s games, make sure you’re following the Otters on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. From live tweets of the action, scoring updates, photos, and highlights, the Otters’ social media is the best way to keep up with the team wherever they are.

UP NEXT

The Otters will stay home, continuing a four-game homestand that will take them to the half-way mark of the season and into the holiday break with games against the Sarnia Sting on December 19 and Flint Firebirds on December 20.