The Kids Are Alright

After a 7-0 thrashing of the Erie Otters Thursday night, Niagara Ice Dog fans can relax, the kids are alright.

With four key players out of the line up (Visentin, Strome and the Hamiltons with Team Canada) Ice Dogs fans were anticipating a rough ride over the next stretch of the schedule. Under the leadership of Captain Andrew Agozzino, the Dogs have proven they will be just fine.

Agozzino is in his fifth season as an Ice dog, third as team captain and according to Cogeco broadcaster Ed Burkholder is the “most loved Ice Dog of all time”. With the core of the Ice Dogs at Team Canada Agozzino’s leadership skills are being put to the test.

Agozzino admits he needed to adapt his role on and off the ice to accommodate for the addition of more inexperienced players. Prior to Thursday’s game Agozzino said it was his job to “keep guys that aren’t used to playing (in the OHL)…calm, (and) realize it’s just a game they have played their whole lives.”

Broderick Kelly, a regular call up from the Jr. B Falcons heeded Aggie’s advice which resulted in his first career OHL goal. As a St. Catharines native it was even more satisfying to have scored in front of his home town crowd. There is no doubt Kelly is now one of the boys as he was seen being initiated with shaving cream in the face on live TV during the end of game interview with Al Galloway of Cogeco.

Stepping out of the shadow of Team Canada goalie Mark Visentin was Christopher Fastarini. Acquired early in the season in a trade with the Otters, Festarini looked very confident, playing a steady game which resulted in his first career OHL shutout. He was also rewarded with the title of “hardest worker in the game” as well as the third star.

Fans were also amused/impressed with Falcon call up Adam DeSautels as he dropped the gloves against Otter’s McGuire. This was a replay of a fight during an exhibition match in September.

While the youngsters brought up from the Junior B Falcons held their own, Ice Dog fans were reminded Niagara does have depth in their roster. Aside from the four currently with Team Canada, the Ice Dogs also have an additional five players drafted by NHL teams, forwards Alex Friesen (Vancouver), David Pacan (Florida), Steven Shipley (Buffalo), Mitchell Theoret (New York Islanders), and defenceman Brock Beukeboom (St. Louis).

Agozzino acknowledged there was “extra pressure (and the) older guys have to step up…take control.” And take control they did with a second period barrage of six goals. Agozzino scored the seventh in the third just missing on duplicating a hat trick like the one earned the last time he faced the Otters.

Thursday also marked the return of Frank Schumacher after finally passing the concussion test. Schumacher did not need any easing into the line up as he provided strength on the blue line with no hesitation.

With the recent display of depth, along with the support of youngsters waiting in the wings, Agozzino may be right when he assures the team still plans to be in Shawinigan in the spring. “it’s a long season……doesn’t matter what you come in ranked it’s how you come out. " When asked about being in the Memorial Cup his quick response is “absolutely!”

___________________________________________________________________

The Ice Dogs head into the Christmas Break after defeating Sudbury 3-1 Saturday evening.

Brock Beukeboom scored his first goal as an Ice Dog and was named first star of the game as he faced his father as coach behind the opposing bench.

All 3 Ice Dogs goals were on the powerplay.

A New Spectator Facility For St. Catharines and the Ice Dogs

This week Niagara Ice Dog action moved from the ice surface to Council Chambers in St. Catharines City Hall. On December 5^th the St. Catharines city counsel voted 9-3 in favour of building a new spectator facility……a new home for the Ice Dogs!

While the action in the chamber may have been a much slower pace than a typical hockey game, the final vote resulted in cheers, high fives and hugs for Ice Dog owners Bill and Denise Burke.

For months the “Let’s Build It” campaign has been heating up to lobby city counsellors to go forward with the building of a new spectator facility for the city of St. Catharines. The Jack Gatecliff Arena, home to the Niagara Ice Dogs was built in 1938 and is the oldest and by far most dilapidated in the OHL.

http://intheobloggers.blogspot.com/2011/10/honeymoon-is-over-at-jack.html

Leading up to the much anticipated vote Ice Dog owner Bill Burke made it clear it was not feasible for the Dogs to stay in St. Catharines if a new facility was not built. This was not just an idle threat from a disgruntled owner but a fact backed by the Ontario Hockey League.

The most surprising part of the “Let’s Build It” campaign was how the Ice Dog players themselves became involved in the process. While current Ice Dogs will never enjoy the new facilities by the time construction is completed, many players became active in supporting the “Let’s Build It” campaign. Team captain Andrew Agozzino, Niagara-on-the-Lake native Alex Friesen and coach Marty Williamson made video clips to promote the campaign and encourage councillors to support a new arena. The night of the vote city hall was packed with Ice Dog players and team staff.

After the vote was finalized the twitterverse heated up in response to the news a new facility was approved.

Glad to hear st.catharines has decided to build a new rink for the #icedogs the city deserves it.. The #jack will always be my fav rink tho! –Chris Desousa

WOOOHOOOO, new arena for my IceDogs. I want it named the Ryan Strome Entertainment Center on Mitchell Theoret Avenue #imahappypandanow – Johnny Super Fan

But like with most good news there is a catch…..the motion to build a new arena came with a friendly amendment to change the name of the team from Niagara to St. Catharines Ice Dogs.

So while the decision of building a new facility has been decided, debate starts about a possible name change. Some people still have not got used to the change from Mississauga to Niagara, will fans, and most importantly, the Burkes, accept a change of Niagara to St. Catharines?

The next chapter of the Ice Dog off ice drama continues…………

Dog Bytes:

• Saturday night’s game against Kingston began with Mayor Brian McMullan and St. Catharines city councilors dropping the puck
• Saturday night’s game against Kingston was the beginning of a seven game stretch missing four players at Team Canada
• Ice Dogs lost 3-2 to Kingston Saturday evening with almost half of their roster filled with Jr. B players to replace regulars hurt or at the Team Canada Camp
  
• This week Dougie Hamilton signed an Entry Level Contract with the Boston Bruins
• Rookie Broderick Kelly racked up his first (and second) OHL career points this week-end with two assists
• They can't build the new arena soon enough.....during the first period, it took referee Rob Langdon and the two linesmen an extra minute or two to catch a mouse that made its way onto the ice.