Brandon Caputo
Tiffany Luke Photos
The IceDogs were in Kitchener for their only regular season trip to the legendary Memorial Auditorium on Friday night, coming off a thrilling 5-4 come from behind victory the night before against Ottawa to improve to 6-1 on the 2024-25 Ontario Hockey League season. The Rangers entered the contest with a surprising 4-2-1-1 record, despite trading last season's 52-goal scorer and Seattle Kraken prospect Carson Rehkopf to Brampton back in August.
Niagara would have the debut of 2024 sixth round selection forward Charlie Hotles, starting on the fourth line right wing spot, along with recently signed goaltender Hayden Jeffery, who was backing up for Charlie Robertson with starter Owen Flores serving the final game of his four game suspension. Hotles received his rookie lap in the warmup in honour of his first Ontario Hockey League game.
Blair Scott returned to Kitchener, having played 29 games with the Rangers in 2022-23 and 2023-24. Andrew Vermeulen also played against his former Niagara teammates for the first time, having been traded before the regular season began. Vermeulen dressed in 70 games for the IceDogs over the previous two seasons, originally a fourth round selection by Niagara in 2022.
GAME RECAP
Vivid Eye Photography
FIRST PERIOD
Niagara would receive an early powerplay opportunity after Kitchener took an undisciplined offensive zone penalty and would capitalize thanks to Alex Assadourian potting in a goal five-hole past Parsons for the opening goal.
Former IceDogs forward Andrew Vermeulen would get some early revenge on his old club by picking up the rebound shot off of Robertson to even the game up 1-1, his first of the season and first as a Ranger.
Rookie Charlie Hotles would receive a double-minor for high sticking in his first OHL period but the IceDogs penalty killers did a fantastic job to kill off the entire man advantage of the Rangers.
The Rangers would score on their next man advantage as Kevin He would be called for interference in the neutral zone, giving Kitchener a 2-1 lead.
Niagara would have a late two-man advantage but just were not able to get the right look they wanted, heading into the room down by a goal with the missed opportunity after 20 minutes.
SECOND PERIOD
Max Crete would break free early in the middle period for a breakaway but would be stopped by Parsons in tight. The 2024 second round rookie is already up to five goals on the season but could not make it six there.
IceDogs defense would get mixed up with both taking the same player and a cross-ice pass would find the back of the net, but would be called back after a lengthy review as it was determined to be offside on the zone entry for Kitchener.
Back-to-back breakaway chances by Ryan Roobroeck, who hit the post, and Kevin He, who was stopped in the middle period by Parsons kept the game from being even.
Charlie Robertson would make a big stop in tight but the puck remained in the zone after Kevin he just missed pickpocketing his man at the line, and the Rangers found Lam on the right circle who shot it overtop or Robertson to make it 3-1 Kitchener before the end of the period.
THIRD PERIOD
Niagara would create a two-man breakaway and Alex Assadourian would put a perfect rebound shot off the pad of Parsons right to Mike Levin who buried his second of the season to cut the lead to 3-2 early in the final period.
The IceDogs would get in to more penalty trouble in the final period and it would cost them in the second man advantage as Tanner Lam fired his second of the contest up and over Robertson to make it 4-2. Niagara took seven minor penalties in this game, which led to a pair of powerplay goals for the home side.
After a massive save by Charlie Robertson to keep it a two score game in the final minutes, the IceDogs would finally get the goalie pulled with under 40 seconds remaining in regulation, after calling a timeout following an offensive zone shot. Unfortunately, they would not be able to muster a shot, nor the two goals needed to even the game up and fall by a pair on the road in Kitchener. The final shot total was 29-26 in favour of the Rangers.
POSTGAME THOUGHTS
Vivid Eye Photography
Following the loss, which resulted in the IceDogs second defeat of the season, head coach Ben Boudreau discussed his team getting away from the things that made them successful through the first seven games.
"We definitely missed opportunities, we just didn't find a way," Boudreau said. "We got away from our game plan a little bit that was the first game where we saw the cracks in our armor. We've gotten away from our identity a little bit but now as a coach it's time to reel them back in."
Niagara's bench boss praised the play of veteran forward Alex Assadourian, who recorded a goal and an assist in tonight's game, described as one of Niagara's only players to buy-in to the system needed to have a chance.
"Assadourian is quickly becoming a reliable two-way centre as a plus player," Boudreau said. "I've liked the way he's played and tonight specifically, he was really the only standout for buying in and playing the right way. He deserves a lot of credit for the way he's played, he's had good habits at the rink and statistics have shown off playing 20 minutes a night as a very dependable player for us."
Niagara's star forward Kevin He, who came in leading the OHL in points with 18 in only 7 games, was held off the scoresheet for the first time this season. Boudreau talked about needing others to step up when his star is being held in check, which will happen from time to time for the Winnipeg Jets fourth round selection in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
"We've got a very young team up front to be relied upon as impact guys right now," Boudreau said. "Tonight, we just didn't get the depth scoring. Kevin has been a mainstay and the second that he wasn't you could see where it hurt us."
Boudreau also spoke about putting sixth round rookie forward Charlie Hotles in a very tough spot for his first career OHL game without any practice time, having nerves take over in his early shift that led to a double-minor high sticking penalty.
"It wasn't really fair for Charlie being called up, he hasn't practiced with us yet other than 48 hours of training camp," Boudreau said. "We want to make sure we put him in a position to succeed. We threw him out there and he took a four-minute high sticking penalty on his first shift and you could sense the nerves even on the second shift we gave him. We will give Charlie time to get in the lineup and get acclimated to how we need to play before we put him out there again."
Vivid Eye Photography
The head coach finished with speaking openly and honestly about his goaltending situation, with starter Owen Flores due back in their next game, having finished serving his four-game suspension for his fight with Brampton Steelheads goaltender Jack Ivankovic back in Niagara's home opener.
"To be honest, I think you wanted Charlie (Robertson) to come in and push to not be forgotten about but I think after the four games that you take away that you have a clearly defined number one goalie and a clearly defined backup goalie right now," Boudreau said while describing his two talented netminders, who have had an open competition since the start of training camp.
"Owen has outplayed Charlie as far as statistics go and overall outcomes so far," Boudreau added. "I know Charlie would want a few of those goals back and it's not easy giving up a minimum of four a night, we want to find a way to take one or two of those," Boudreau said.
"I'm not putting the losses on him but as far as goaltending goes, I think Robertson lost the battle to Flores. The first four games went to Owen (before the suspension) and the last four have went to Charlie. We can't wait to get Flores back in to give us the best opportunity."
The IceDogs will get a much needed rest after the back-to-back before welcoming the Kingston Frontenacs to town on Sunday afternoon at the Meridian Centre, a team Niagara defeated 5-2 up in Kingston earlier this season.
ICEDOGS PLAYER OF THE GAME BROUGHT TO YOU BY HOCKEYSTICKMAN
ALEX ASSADOURIAN: 1 GOAL, 1 ASSIST, 4 SHOTS, 9 OF 18 FACEOFF WINS
Vivid Eye Photography
CHECK OUT THE DOG POUND PODCAST:
THE OFFICIAL PODCAST OF THE NIAGARA ICEDOGS!
Brought to you by Global Pet Foods' four Niagara Region locations.
Comentarios