Fetterolf Stops 28 As Ottawa Blanks Sarnia 5-0
By Carl Chimenti
Rookie goaltender Ryder Fetterolf was perfect, as he turned away all 28 shots he faced and the Ottawa 67’s (41-14-1-3) shut out the Sarnia Sting (18-34-7-1) 5-0 Sunday afternoon in front of 4,042 at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena.
Fetterolf made seven saves in the first period, 10 in the second, and 11 more in the third, including his best stop with less than four minutes remaining in regulation, robbing Jack Van Volsen with a sprawling save.
The shutout was Fetterolf’s league-leading fifth of the season, earning him first star honors as he continues to make a strong push for OHL Rookie of the Year.
Former London Knights forward Sam McCue (Toronto Maple Leafs) had a goal and an assist to secure second star honors. Rookie forward Teddy Spitznagel was named third star with three assists for the 67’s. Zach Houben also contributed a goal and an assist.
Matthew Manza led the Sting with five shots on goal, while Jacob Reese added four. Ottawa out-shot Sarnia 34-28.
On the power play, Ottawa went 1-for-6 while Sarnia was 0-for-4. The 67’s held a slight edge in the face-off circle, 31-26.
Patrick Quinlan stopped 14 of 18 shots over forty minutes of play and could not be faulted on any of the goals that beat him. Kale Osipenko played the third period and was nearly perfect, turning aside 15 of 16 shots.
Ottawa out-shot Sarnia 9-7 in the first period and scored three goals from three different players.
McCue opened the scoring at 4:29 from Spitznagel and Houben. Just 37 seconds later at 5:06, Frankie Marrelli made it 2-0 from Filip Ekberg (Carolina Hurricanes) and Nic Whitehead.
The third goal, like the first two, came at even strength as Vandenberg scored at 13:03 with Spitznagel drawing the lone assist.
The Sting nearly responded late in the period when Cameron Aucoin broke in on a partial breakaway, but his shot sailed high over the net.
The opening frame also featured a quick bout between Ottawa’s Nic Sima and Sarnia’s Mitch Young, with both players landing punches.
Sarnia out-shot Ottawa 10-9 in the second period, but the 67’s scored the lone goal in the final minute. Houben lit the lamp at 19:17 from Spitznagel and McCue.
