Friday Highlights: Finishing touch

(Photo Credit: Cianfrone, Dermott – OHL Images / Valentini – Gino Donato)

Friday January 8, 2016

A busy Friday night in the OHL featured overtime winners from Owen Sound’s Bryson Cianfrone, Erie’s Travis Dermott and Sudbury’s Ryan Valentini.

Elsewhere, fresh faces got situated in new places as Sarnia’s Travis Konecny buried a hat-trick in his Sting debut while Peterborough’s Brandon Prophet and Ottawa’s Sasha Chmelevski both found the back of the net with their new clubs.

Here’s a look at Friday’s nine games around the league.

OWEN SOUND 5 SARNIA 4 OT – With a little help from the goal post, Bryson Cianfone helped the Owen Sound Attack overshadow what was a sensational performance by Sarnia newcomer Travis Konecny who buried a hat-trick in a 5-4 overtime loss. Cianfrone provided the powerplay winner 1:11 into overtime, beating Justin Fazio off the post and in to help the Attack end a three game skid. Ethan Szypula led the way for Owen Sound with a pair of goals while Kevin Hancock added a goal and two helpers. Konecny earned first star honours with his first hat-trick of the season in the loss.
GAME SUMMARY • HIGHLIGHTS

SUDBURY 3 NORTH BAY 2 OT – Ryan Valentini continued to pay dividends for the Sudbury Wolves, scoring in his third straight game while coming through with the overtime winner in a 3-2 win over North Bay. Wolves goaltender Zack Bowman was outstanding, making 49 saves while North Bay’s Jake Smith had a work out as well, making 42 at the other end. Valentini scored 2:09 into overtime on assists from Patrick Murphy and Danny Desrochers. Dmitry Sokolov and Brady Pataki also scored for the Wolves while Brett McKenzie and OHL Defenceman and Rookie of the Month for December Cam Dineen responded for the Battalion.
GAME SUMMARY

ERIE 2 SAULT STE. MARIE 1 OT – Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Travis Dermott tied the game with 4:43 remaining in the third period before giving Erie a 2-1 victory with a powerplay goal 1:55 into overtime as the Otters edged Sault Ste. Marie. Dermott’s first OHL multi-goal performance helped Erie bounce back from a Thursday night loss in North Bay. Otters goaltender Jake Lawr made 24 saves, being beaten just once off the stick of Boris Katchouk in the second period. Brandon Halverson made 34 saves for the Greyhounds.
GAME SUMMARY

LONDON 3 FLINT 1 – The London Knights skated to a 3-1 win over the visiting Flint Firebirds on Sportsnet’s Friday Night Hockey. Matthew Tkachuk, Cliff Pu and Mitch Marner scored for the green and gold, who outshot Flint 42-18 enroute to their third straight win. Will Bitten’s 20th goal of the season was the lone marker for Flint while goaltender Brent Moran earned second star honours with 39 saves in the loss.
GAME SUMMARY • HIGHLIGHTS

GUELPH 5 BARRIE 2 – The Guelph Storm have earned back-to-back wins for the first time this season after James McEwan had a goal and an assist in a 5-2 win over Barrie on Friday. Draft eligible winger Givani Smith had a pair of goals and an assist against his old club while veteran goaltender Michael Giugovaz made 35 saves. Barrie’s Kevin Labanc extended his current point streak to seven games, scoring his 25th goal of the season in the loss. Colts defenceman Kody Gagnon scored his first career OHL goal. The Storm are now 3-1-1-0 under new head coach Jarrod Skalde.
GAME SUMMARY • HIGHLIGHTS

KINGSTON 5 OSHAWA 2 – Michael Dal Colle came armed with his best against his old mates, scoring twice while adding three assists for the Kingston Frontenacs as they defeated Oshawa 5-2. Another former General in defenceman Stephen Desrocher added two goals and an assist while Los Angeles Kings prospect Spencer Watson chipped in with a goal and three helpers in Kingston’s third straight win. Alexandre Renaud and Kenny Huether scored for the Generals who continue to hold down a six point lead on the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
GAME SUMMARY • HIGHLIGHTS

KITCHENER 4 HAMILTON 2 – Brian Brosnan provided the third period winner as the Kitchener Rangers doubled up the Hamilton Bulldogs 4-2 behind Jeremy Bracco’s goal and an assist. Elijah Roberts and Ryan MacInnis also struck for the Blueshirts who improve to 27-6-4-0. Niki Petti and Trent Fox had goals for the Bulldogs who suffered their fifth straight loss.
GAME SUMMARY • HIGHLIGHTS

NIAGARA 3 SAGINAW 1 – The Niagara IceDogs outshot the Saginaw Spirit 44-17 in a 3-1 victory. Saginaw goaltender Evan Cormier turned aside 41 shots but his efforts weren’t enough to save the Spirit on Friday as Graham Knott, Johnny Corneil and Jordan Maletta all scored for the IceDogs who collected their third straight win. Tye Felhaber provided the lone goal for Saginaw.
GAME SUMMARY • HIGHLIGHTS

OTTAWA 3 PETERBOROUGH 2 – Ben Fanjoy’s 10th goal of the season stood as the winner as the Ottawa 67’s defeated visiting Peterborough 3-2. Newcomer Sasha Chmelevski scored in his 67’s debut while Peterborough defenceman Brandon Prophet found the back of the net in his first game donning the maroon and white. Defenceman Nevin Guy earned first star honours for Ottawa with a goal and an assist as the 67’s put an end to their three game slide.
GAME SUMMARY • HIGHLIGHTS