Ula Scores First OHL Goal as Petes Fall to Bulldogs in a Shootout
It was Superhero Saturday presented by Mercedes-Benz Peterborough at the PMC on January 11, as the Petes hosted Nick Lardis and the Brantford Bulldogs in front of their 12th sold-out crowd of the season. The Petes and Bulldogs both came into the game having won their last two, with Peterborough (0-2-0-1) looking for their first win of the season series against Brantford (3-0-0-0). The Petes had been on fire at home as of late, having won six of their last seven at the PMC. Easton Rye got the start for the Petes, looking for his seventh win of the season. With both Zach Bowen (injury) and Masen Johnston (Stouffville, OJHL) unavailable, Petes 2024 ninth round pick and U18 Petes goaltender Luka Gelinas was on the bench backing up Rye.
It was a dreadful start for the Petes in this one, with Brantford skating to a 3-0 lead inside the first 10 minutes. At the 10:26 mark, the momentum would begin to swing as Jonathan Melee spun around and beat Buffalo Sabres prospect Ryerson Leenders to get Peterborough on the board. The game would stay 3-1 heading into the break, but the Petes were slowly picking up steam as time went on.
Halfway through the middle 20, Genc Ula fired home his first OHL goal to cut the Petes deficit to one. With the momentum building, it was only a matter of time before Peterborough tied the game. That time would be with just over six minutes remaining in the period. After Aiden Young brought the puck into the zone, he fed Colin Fitzgerald who ripped a beautiful shot past Leenders to tie the game at 3-3 heading into the final frame.
Just 1:22 into the third period, Martin Matejicek blasted a one-timer for the Petes fourth consecutive goal, giving Peterborough a 4-3 lead. Edmonton Oilers prospect Brady Stonehouse, acquired on Thursday from the Ottawa 67’s, picked up his first point as a Pete with an assist on the goal. Nine minutes later, Brantford would tie the game up on a goal by Washington Capitals prospect Patrick Thomas. The score would stay tied after regulation, sending the game to overtime.
It was the Easton Rye show in the extra frame. Rye made multiple game saving saves in overtime, keeping Brantford off the board. As the buzzer went, it was still tied, meaning the game would end in a shootout. After the first five shooters failed to score, it was Thomas once again scoring for the Bulldogs to secure the 5-4 win for Brantford.
Genc Ula scored his first OHL goal in the game, while Jonathan Melee, Colin Fitzgerald, and Martin Matejicek also scored. Francis Parish, Gavin Bryant, Aiden Young, Braydon McCallum, Liam Ladds, and Brady Stonehouse (first point as a Pete) all picked up an assist. Easton Rye stopped 40/44 in the loss.
Game Recap:
First Period:
- Brantford Goal (:19) – Thomas Budnick (4), Assists – Patrick Thomas (39), Cole Brown (19)
- Brantford Goal (7:50) – Nick Lardis (34), Unassisted
- Brantford Goal (9:12) – Luca Testa (6), Assists – Lucas Moore (11), Marek Vanacker (6)
- Peterborough Goal (10:26) – Jonathan Melee (13), Assist – Francis Parish (6)
Second Period:
- Peterborough Goal (10:26) – Genc Ula (1), Assist – Gavin Bryant (7)
- Peterborough Goal (14:25) – Colin Fitzgerald (8), Assists – Aiden Young (11), Braydon McCallum (12)
Third Period:
- Peterborough Goal (1:22) – Martin Matejicek (4), Assists – Liam Ladds (9), Brady Stonehouse (6)
- Brantford Goal (9:12) – Patrick Thomas (17), Assists – Jake O’Brien (30), Cole Brown (20)
Overtime Period:
- No Score
Shootout:
- PBO – Caden Taylor (No Goal)
- BFD – Jake O’Brien (No Goal)
- PBO – Colin Fitzgerald (No Goal)
- BFD – Cole Brown (No Goal)
- PBO – Brady Stonehouse (No Goal)
- BFD – Patrick Thomas (Goal)
The Petes are back in action on Sunday, January 12, when they travel to St. Catharines to take on the Niagara IceDogs for the final time this season. Puck drop is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at the Meridian Centre. Fans can catch the game on YourTV Peterborough and Freq 90.5.