Dionicio’s five point night leads Spirit to 7-6 victory in Barrie
Photo: Barrie Colts
Barrie, Ont. – The Saginaw Spirit (38-13-0-1) traveled to Sadlon Arena to take on the Barrie Colts (21-26-3-0) on Thursday, February 15th. Rodwin Dionicio ended the night with five points (2G, 3A) as Nolan Lalonde extended his franchise record win streak to 15. Lalonde stopped 24 of 30 shots for the Spirit while Sam Hillebrandt stopped 29 of 36 shots for the Colts.
The Barrie Colts were the first to score with 16:55 left in the first. Tai York battled for the puck on Saginaw’s doorstep eventually making a short pass to rookie Riley Patterson. Patterson smashed the puck into the roof of the net for the first goal of the game which was also a power play goal.
The Spirit soon responded, scoring with 13:37 left in the first. With some fancy footwork skating past multiple defenders, Rodwin Dionicio fired right in front of Hillebrandt, sending the puck right over his shoulder into the net.
The Barrie Colts regained their lead with 8:41 left in first. Kyle Morey made a long pass to Tai York who then fired the puck from the slot.
The first period ended with Barrie leading, 2-1, but the Spirit outshot the Colts, 14-12.
With 17:30 left in the second period, Rodwin Dionicio scored his second goal of the game, tying it at two. After receiving a pass from Nic Sima, Sebastien Gervais then passed to Dionicio who took a shot from the right faceoff dot. The puck squeaked right between Hillebrandt’s legs for a 2-2 tie.
After a skirmish in Barrie’s zone, Hunter Haight, Michael Misa, and Kashawn Aitcheson were all sent to the penalty box for roughing, giving the Colts a 4-on-3 power play opportunity. Riley Patterson went on a breakaway, firing from between the inner hash marks and sending the puck through Lalonde. Cole Beaudoin and Beau Jelsma both received assists on this goal with 15 minutes left in the second.
With 13:33 left in the second period, Saginaw managed to tie the game up again. Rodwin Dionicio made a cross-ice pass to Josh Bloom who then took a shot from the right circle. Hillebrandt made a dive for the puck, but it flew right over him, landing in the net with an assist from Owen Beck.
With 5:31 left in the second, Saginaw scored again, grabbing their first lead of the night. Josh Bloom passed to Zayne Parekh who then found Owen Beck. Beck smashed a one-timer that sent the puck just out of reach of Hillebrandt, giving the Spirit a 4-3 lead.
With 4:13 left in the second Saginaw extended their lead. After a scramble in front of the net, Nic Sima passed to Parekh, who tipped the puck in right over Hildebrandt’s pads through the traffic.
The second period ended with Saginaw leading Barrie, 5-3, as well as outshooting them, 27-16 (13-4 in the second period).
Two minutes into the third period, Kyle Morey made a short pass to Roenick Jodoin at center ice and Jodoin took off. The center made a short shot just a few feet in front of Lalonde, sending the puck right over his shoulder. Kashawn Aitcheson was also credited with an assist as the Colts created yet another one-goal-game.
Kashawn Aitcheson was sent to the penalty box for checking to the head with 3:35 left in the game. Shortly after this penalty, Matyas Sapovaliv won the face-off in Barrie’s zone, with Rodwin Dionicio collecting the puck. Dionicio passed to Owen Beck, who ripped a shot from the point right past Hillebrandt’s glove.
The Barrie Colts weren’t done though, as they’d add another goal with two minutes left in the game. Jack Brauti fired a shot from the right faceoff dot with Evan Passmore and Cole Beaudoin getting the assists.
With 30 seconds left in the game, Cole Beaudoin attempted a shot on goal, but it glanced off teammate Tai York. Thomas Stewart was there for the rebound and simply guided the puck right into the net.
Saginaw killed the final seconds of a Braden Hache penalty to defeat the Barrie Colts, 7-6.
The Spirit will remain on the road, heading to the Sudbury Community Arena to take on the Sudbury Wolves on Friday, February 16th. Puck drop is at 7:05pm.
