THREE STARS: Three Performers Shine After Three-Game Week
Erie, Pennsylvania – In a week that would go down in Erie hockey history, the next-stars-up would show up on the scoresheet.
The Erie Otters clawed out a 5-4 OT win over the Guelph Storm on the road before returning home to play in front of the best hockey player in the world.
On Connor McDavid Night, in front of the best Otter to ever do it, the Otters fought hard in front of a sold-out crowd before falling 6-2 to a hot Saginaw Spirit. In the Otters’ final game of the week in front of future sports stars, the Otters battled back-and-forth for sixty minutes before falling 5-3 to the Sarnia Sting.
Here are the players who made this week happen.
THIRD STAR: CAREY TERRANCE
After bringing home some hardware from the World Juniors, Captain Carey Terrance returned to Erie to remind the OHL what they were missing.
In his first game back from representing his country, Terrance earned Second Star Honors against the Saginaw Spirit with a rip-roaring goal to cut the Spirit lead 2-1. After trailing in both goals and momentum through most of the first period, Terrance sent a sold-out crowd into a frenzy by putting the Otters on the board and making it a one-goal game.
Against the Sarnia Sting, Terrance helped find Sam Alfano in the opening two minutes of the third period to both cut the Sarnia lead 3-2 and give the Otters their first goal since the first period.
SECOND STAR: DYLAN EDWARDS
Dylan Edwards was the driving force in Erie’s OT victory with two goals to propel the Otters into extra periods and claw out the win. Edwards opened the scoring just under two minutes into the first period to give the Otters their first lead of the game.
It wouldn’t be until the start of the third period that the Otters scored again, and it would be none other than Ready Eddie to do it. With his second goal of the night cutting the Storm lead 3-2, the Otters would start the comeback campaign and eventually win it in overtime.
FIRST STAR: SAM ALFANO
With three goals and two assists on the week, Sam Alfano was a force of nature on the ice for the Otters.
Against the Guelph Storm, Alfano scored late in the third period to tie the game up at 4-4 and send the Otters into extra periods. Just three minutes into the extra frame, Alfano and Alexis Daviault would team up to find Pano Fimis on a power play opportunity to give the Otters the win.
At home on McDavid Jersey Retirement Night, Alfano found Carey Terrance more than halfway through the first for the first Otters’ goal of the night to cut the Spirit lead 2-1.
In Erie’s final game of the week, Alfano earned Second Star honors with a two-goal performance. In less than 90 seconds in the third period, the new kid on the block Quinn McCall and Carey Terrance, would find the Big Rig to make it a one-goal game. Alfano would find his second of the night and period twelve minutes later.
Alfano now gets the opportunity to suit up on behalf of the Erie Otters in the Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game presented by Enbridge Gas in Brantford, Ontario on Wednesday.
The Otters hit the road for a tough three-in-three week, where they’ll try and conquer the East Division. It will also be a week of firsts for Erie as this will be the first time they will play these teams on the road.
On Friday, the Otters will take on the Ottawa 67’s. They’ll take to the bus again on Saturday to play the Peterborough Petes before finishing out their weekend on Sunday against the Kingston Frontenacs.
