The consensus is the 2012 OHL
championship series is going to be a long one.
The first two games were as
predicted; split one win each for the London Knights and the Niagara Ice Dogs.
The surprise was the wins were in the opponents’ rink.
Thursday evening saw the
opening game of the series go into double overtime at the John Labatt Centre in
London. The game was decided on a Dougie Hamilton shot to win the game 3-2 for
the Niagara Ice Dogs.
Controversy about the win
arose the next day when according to the London Free Press “The league admitted Friday the IceDogs should've
been awarded (a penalty shot) in the first overtime period after the London
Knights were called on a delay of game infraction for knocking the net off its
moorings…According to Rule 63.5, a penalty shot is to be awarded for
deliberately displacing a goal post within the final two minutes of regular
playing time and in overtime.” While it appears with the Ice Dog eventual win
this refereeing mistake was no harm no foul, London forward Vladislav Namestnikov
suggested the London’s penalty kill perhaps contributed to the Knights tiring
and Niagara’s ultimate win. Knights’ Michael Houser, named the league’s top
goal tender, laughed it off and said a penalty shot in over-time would not be
his preference. “I'd rather have the two-minute penalty to kill.”
As the series went to St.
Catharines Saturday evening, many felt the Ice Dogs had the edge at their home
arena as they are used to the unique corners and the small ice surface of the
Jack Gatecliff arena. In spite of a hat trick from team captain Andrew Agozzino
and out shooting the Knights 42-24 (15-5 in the 3rd period), London
was able to hang on to a 5-3 win with an empty net goal from Ryan Rupert in the
dying seconds of the game. Coincidentally the empty net goal made it a hat
trick for Rupert as well.
Rupert appears to do well in
Niagara as he has scored six goals in his last three visits. Rupert says he
does enjoy the barn like atmosphere but “it’s play-off hockey – that’s where I
thrive.”
The series returns to London
on Monday evening with game four back at “the Jack” on Wednesday. The fifth
game at the John Labatt centre will be televised by Sportsnet. While national
televised coverage is great for CHL fans across the country, will the extra
TV-time-outs be a blessing or a hindrance to the teams? The extra breaks are a
great opportunity for players to catch their breath and coaches to refocus the
team, however, the extra interruptions can disrupt the flow of the game and any
momentum a team might have.
One thing is for sure, this
series so far has been great hockey for OHL hockey fans. Knight coach/GM agrees
“it couldn’t be any closer out there.”
SCORING SUMMARY Game 1 @ John Labatt Centre, London
1. NIAG M. Theoret, (4) (B. Ritchie, D. Hamilton), 4:01
1. LDN M. Domi, (3) (S. Harrington, G. McKegg), 17:15
2. NIAG A. Agozzino, (8) (A. Friesen, D. Hamilton), 18:23
3. LDN S. Griffith, (9) (V. Namestnikov), 3:00
OT2. NIAG D. Hamilton, (5) (T. Kuhnhackl, F. Hamilton), 9:03
1. LDN M. Domi, (3) (S. Harrington, G. McKegg), 17:15
2. NIAG A. Agozzino, (8) (A. Friesen, D. Hamilton), 18:23
3. LDN S. Griffith, (9) (V. Namestnikov), 3:00
OT2. NIAG D. Hamilton, (5) (T. Kuhnhackl, F. Hamilton), 9:03
SCORING SUMMARY Game
2 @ Jack Gatecliff, St. Catharines
1. NIAG A. Agozzino, (9) (R. Strome, F. Hamilton), 5:14 (PP)
1. NIAG A. Agozzino, (10) (D. Hamilton, R. Strome), 16:09 (PP)
1. LDN J. Tinordi, (3) (S. Griffith, V. Namestnikov), 17:59
2. LDN R. Rupert, (6) , 1:46
2. LDN R. Rupert, (7) (M. Rupert), 4:28
2. LDN O. Maatta, (6) (M. Domi, J. Knight), 13:31 (PP)
2. NIAG A. Agozzino, (11) (D. Pacan, B. Beukeboom), 16:26
3. LDN R. Rupert, (8) (G. McKegg), 19:52 (EN)
1. NIAG A. Agozzino, (9) (R. Strome, F. Hamilton), 5:14 (PP)
1. NIAG A. Agozzino, (10) (D. Hamilton, R. Strome), 16:09 (PP)
1. LDN J. Tinordi, (3) (S. Griffith, V. Namestnikov), 17:59
2. LDN R. Rupert, (6) , 1:46
2. LDN R. Rupert, (7) (M. Rupert), 4:28
2. LDN O. Maatta, (6) (M. Domi, J. Knight), 13:31 (PP)
2. NIAG A. Agozzino, (11) (D. Pacan, B. Beukeboom), 16:26
3. LDN R. Rupert, (8) (G. McKegg), 19:52 (EN)
·
The double over
time game in London on Thursday was the longest game in the Niagara Ice Dogs’
history.
·
Following
Agozzino’s third goal there was a delay in game while arena staff cleared away
a torrent of green painting hats and towels both sponsor give aways for the
evening.
·
During the game,
the St. Catharines Jr. B Falcons were loudly congratulated by the fans for
their Sutherland Cup win the night before. This was their first championship in
the team’s 44 years of existence.
·
The Jr B team
also benefitted once again to a large 50-50 draw – over $3200.00
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