Friday Night Buzz: Sarnia Sting Clinch Playoff Berth

The Sarnia Sting entered their final home stand of the season looking for a single point to clinch their first playoff berth in three years.  Last week, Sarnia failed to record the single point in all three of their games and with three games in two-and-a-half days this weekend, the Sting were looking to get the win early.  On Friday night, the Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds rolled into town looking for wins and points of their own as they sit 9^th in the Western Conference standings, one spot out of a playoff position.  The Hounds’ visit to the RBC Centre marked the eighth and final regular season game between the Sting and Greyhounds and Sarnia carried the advantage winning four of the previous seven meetings.



Metcalfe Photography



In typical Sarnia Sting fashion, the team came out flat in front of a good home crowd of 4055 spectators and while there was no scoring in the first period the Hounds outshoot the Sting 15-7 in an extremely quick first period. After an opening period with few stoppages that took just over twenty minutes to complete it appeared the Greyhounds and Sting wanted to get this game over with as quickly as possible. 

The Greyhounds came out of the first intermission with energy and at the 6:35 mark of the middle frame, Detroit Red Wings’ prospect defenseman Ryan Sproul let a howitzer go beating Sting netminder JP Anderson over the shoulder to open the scoring. Sarnia was once again behind and it became worse as the Sting spotted the visiting Greyhounds a 3-0 lead giving up the next two goals to towering Swede Michael Schumacher (Los Angeles Kings) and David Broll, a Maple Leafs’ prospect. Broll’s goal came in the opening seconds of a four minute Greyhounds powerplay, awarded after Alberga hit pesky forward Nick Cousins from behind.  Two Soo powerplay goals later and a 3-0 deficit to overcome it appeared Sarnia’s playoff hopes would be delayed for the fourth straight game after another slow start.  However, late in the second period, Ludvig Rensfeldt welcomed his parents to Canada (visiting from Sweden) and gave the Sting a bit of life when he knocked in a goal to cut the lead to 3-1.

The RBC Centre came to life as the puck dropped for the third period and the chants began echoing through the arena taunting Greyhounds’ agitating forward and leading scorer Nick Cousins after many fans felt he embellished Alberga’s hit from behind in the second period.  Dominic Alberga continued his verbal battle with Cousins (Flyers’ 2011 3^rd round selection) but his best jab was when he was able to bury his 17^th of the season passed netminder Jack Campbell on DeAngelo’s centering pass to pull the Sting within one goal.  At the 4:22 mark of the third, former Sting defenseman Joe Rogalski was sent to the sin bin for delay of game after clearing the puck over the glass.  Seven seconds later, Greyhounds’ defenseman Mike Schwindt fired his clearing shot into the crowd to put the visiting team on a 5-on-3 penalty kill.  Sarnia capitalized early on the man advantage as former Greyhound and Sault Ste. Marie native Brett Thompson tied the game for the Sting.  The fury of goals in the third period continued as Reid Boucher and Ludvig Rensfeldt scored 56 seconds apart to put Sarnia up 5-3 as the Sting scored five unanswered goals.

The Soo Greyhounds pushed back late in the third period as Nick Cousins fired a wrist shot into the back of Sarnia’s net with the goaltender pulled.  The Sting fended off the late attack and won the game 5-4 despite being outshot 48-25 on the shot clock.  Sting goaltender JP Anderson played strong and made several key saves to keep Sarnia in the game. 

#StingFacts

-           Ludvig Rensfeldt (Chicago Blackhawks) scored his 19^th and 20^th goals of the season and continues to play his best hockey of the season.  Rensfeldt has 20 goals, 41 points in 52 games in his first year in the Ontario Hockey League.  The big Swede has 10 goals and 9 assists for 19 points in his last 21 games.

-          Connor Murphy, Sarnia’s 15^th round selection in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection Draft, has been simply amazing in his first OHL season after returning from injury in December.  The lanky Murphy has shown tremendous upside at both the defensive and offensive ends of the rink.  Connor added an assist and was plus-3 in last night’s win.

-          Sixteen year old rookie defenseman, Anthony DeAngelo, continues his strong play recording another assist last night extending his point streak to four games.  DeAngelo has two goals and eight points over his last eight games and sits third in Sting defenseman scoring (20 points) trailing injured rearguards Adrian Robertson (37) and Alex Basso (34).  DeAngelo is a treat to watch and is going to be a fun player to watch develop as he earns more ice time in the OHL.

-          Sarnia has five players in the 20-goal club including Nail Yakupov (31), Ryan Spooner (28), Brett Thompson (28), Reid Boucher (26) and Ludvig Rensfeldt (20).  Tyler J. Brown (19) is still searching for his first goal as a member of the Sarnia Sting.  Charlie Sarault (18), Craig Hottot (18) and Dominic Alberga (17) are within grasps of reaching the 20-goal milestone as well.

-          Sarnia continues to play with a shortened roster as Coach Jacque Beaulieu is forced to dress only ten forwards and six defensemen last night and does not expect any of the injured players to return this weekend.   Alex Galchenyuk, Craig Hottot, Alex Basso and Adrian Robertson are all still on the mend.

-          Sarnia’s win Friday night over the Greyhounds gives the team 71 points tying Owen Sound.  The Sting currently have one game in hand over the Attack to seed them in the 4^th spot in the Western Conference.  Sarnia welcomes Owen Sound to the RBC Centre tonight (Saturday, March 10^th) in a huge game that will likely determine who finishes 4^th and receives home ice advantage in the opening round of the playoffs.

 http://youtu.be/frsa0JMvank

Sarnia/Sault Ste Marie Season Series Recap (5-3-0)

October 20^th – SSM 5, SAR 2

October 26^th – SAR 5, SSM 1

December 4^th – SSM 2, SAR 5

December 28^th – SAR 3, SSM 6

January 19^th – SSM 4, SAR 6

February 12^th – SAR 7, SSM 6

February 29^th- SAR 2, SSM 8

March 7^th- SSM 4, SAR 5

Game Day Preview:  Owen Sound @ Sarnia, 7 pm

-          The Western Conference 4^th seed and home ice advantage is up for grabs tonight.

-       It's expected that there will be a strong presence of NHL scouts to take in the 2012 NHL draft-eligible players specifically Nail Yakupov (Sarnia), Gemel Smith (OS) and Artur Gavrus (OS).

-          Tonight’s game is the fourth and final meeting between the Sting and Attack.

-          Previous Games:

o   Sarnia 3 @ Owen Sound 4 (OT)

o   Owen Sound 3 @ Sarnia 5

o   Sarnia 2 @ Owen Sound 5

-          The home team has won all three games to date.

-          Sting Scorers vs. Owen Sound Attack:

o   Charlie Sarault (1G, 4A)

o   Brett Thompson (2G, 2A)

o   Reid Boucher (2G, 1A)

o   Nail Yakupov (2G, 1A)

o   Ludvig Rensfeldt (1G)

o   Ryan Spooner (1G)

o   Jack Kuzmyk (1A)

o   Anthony DeAngelo (1A)

o   Dominic Alberga (1A)

o   Alex Basso (1A)

o   Craig Hottot (1A)

Wednesday January 18th - Game Previews

by Dwayne Williams

Plymouth at Owen Sound
The Whalers bring their high powered offence into the wintery confines of the Bayshore arena in Owen Sound.  Plymouth is battling for top spot in the West – back and forth with the London Knights.  They have played in some high scoring matches recently – averaging 4.9 goals per game over the past 9 games. They have a very balanced scoring attack with a handful of players in the top 50 scorers in the OHL.  Owen Sound comes off a 2 victory homestand vs. the Erie Otters – where they weren’t pushed too hard in securing wins of 3-1 and 5-0.  Owen Sound is on a current 3 game home win streak as they battle in the middle of the standings – sitting only 2 points behind Sarnia sting for 4^th spot.
My prediction Plymouth 5 – Owen Sound 2

Mississauga at Belleville
The St. Mikes Majors find themselves sandwiched near the bottom of the standings but not far from the middle of the log-jammed Eastern Conference. They are 2 points from the #9 spot and 5 points from the #4 spot.  They had mixed results on their latest road trip–losing to Sarnia 7-1 beating Plymouth 2-0 and then losing to Saginaw 4-2.  The last time they scored more than 3 goals was in a 6-5 loss vs. Niagara 8 games ago.   Belleville is 1 point ahead of Mississauga in seventh place – as they continue to search for an elusive winning streak.  Their last home win was on Dec 17 - 10 games ago.  Subban is getting close to playing but don’t expect him to dress for game action quite yet.
My prediction Mississauga 3 – Belleville 1


Erie Otters Weekend in Review

by Josh Newhart

First of all let me introduce myself to the ITO family, I am the new beat writer for the Erie Otters for ITO. I have been a season ticket holder of the Otters for the past 2 seasons and an avid follower since 2001. I hope that i can help people get to know more about the Otters team and history.

This past weekend the Otters traveled to Owen Sound and Brampton for a 3in3. The Otters have struggled a lot this year. It seems like we play pretty bad on the road but, I have been pretty impressed with the new look otters since the trades of Greg McKegg, Derek Holden, Brett Cook and Tyson Teichmann. Dane Fox and Troy Donnay have really showed me what the Otters have been lacking this year. Troy Donnay plays very well to his size, he moves play to the outside and blocks shots. Cook and Holden both acted like they were ready to be out of Erie and didn't want to make the plays. Dane Fox has Scored a few for the Otters and has a lot more potential, he does the things that Greg didn't, he goes into the corners and hustles the whole game. Greg never played any defense for us, after he was drafted it was like he had done everything he had wanted and his game got lazy. I haven't yet seen Jimmy McDowell play yet because the Otters we're not at home this weekend. I can give you a better report on him next weekend. Now to the games!

The first 2 games on the weekend were against the reigning OHL Champion Owen Sound Attack.The Otters were out played in both games by a solid Attack team. 3-1, 5-0 were the final scores of the 2 games. The rats only scored one goal in the two OS games, scored by our leading scorer Dane Fox. These two games lacked something from the Otters, I think having Johnny McGuire out day to day with the hand injury has taken away our physical game. I was looking forward to a 2 fight weekend from Johnny as well. He and Zweep make for a good one. Lets only hope he can be healthy for this upcoming weekend.

The final game of the 3in3 was in Brampton, our first of 2 meetings with Brampton this season. I listened to this game on the radio with Paul Roper calling it. Dane Fox and Tyler McCarthy both sat out with an illness, i'll get a report next week on what the problem was. The game started out great, Sondre Olden opened the scoring with his 6th of the season 12 minutes in. Ramis Sadikov looked stellar to start the game but fell apart in the last 10 minutes of the first. Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Sam Carrick scored at 15:29 to tie the game at 1. Shortly after, Philip Lane scored a goal from an odd angle that beat Sadikov. Last season Sadikov would have made that save, his confidence is gone this year. The 3rd Brampton goal came just 1:37 later in the first, scored by Mitchell Porowski. I knew at this point the game was over so i turned off my radio and just followed the game on my iPhone. The only other Otters goal was a weird goal, Liam Maaskant scored one from 60 feet out to cut the lead to 3.

Overall this weekend was another bad one for Otters fans but, it seems better days are on the horizon. New acquisitions, the draft, and next season are coming fast. Lets only hope we are better next weekend at home!

Attack Sweep Weekend Against Otters

by Nick MacArthur
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There is no such thing as an easy win in any sport , especially not in a league like the OHL and even though the Erie Otters are having a year that I'm sure both players , coach's, fans and management would like to forget the Attack knew they would have two very tough games over the weekend as the Otter made the trip up north for a pair of games at the Lumley Bayshore.

Starting with Friday nights games one that would be best described as a sleeper , the Otters came out with a lil pep in their step as they would use their young speedy forwards to apply good pressure on the Attack and cause them to have all sorts of trouble getting organized and somewhat frustrated at times as the Otters game plan seemed to be to smother the Attack and not allow them to utilize the outside and skill of the Attack forwards.  Newly acquired Dane Fox would get Erie on the board with his 15th and the Otters would take a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes.

A somewhat slow second period would see the Attack slip 2 past Otters net minder and take a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes . Captain Mike Halmo with his 25th and rookie Zach Nastasiuk with his 6th on the year.

A little animosity would start to show between the two clubs as again almost every time the whistle blew there were words exchanged as scrums would ensue. Dane Fox who is know for playing on the edge and always chirping someone was at his best all game long as the now veteran on the Otters would remind the Attack players that these games were not gonna be a cake walk.

The Attack would score another goal in the third period as Cameron Brace would pot his 15th on the season, although Erie is having their struggles this year I must give credit where it is due and from what I watched the Otters are young , fast and are only going to get better over the season and into next year. Picking up Fox from London will go a long way in the leadership department as I saw a lot of good things from the Otters.

Saturday night would see a completely different game from both the Attack and Otters as Erie would be in for a long night.  The Attack were dominant at times almost playing keep away from the Otters in the offensive zone, and the Attack power play would explode going 2 for 3 in the period. Brace(16) Halmo(26) and Blandisi(13) would find the score sheet for the Attack. In my personal opinion I feel that 2nd year center Gemel Smith had maybe his best period I have see this year , his explosive speed and underrated board play was on full display as he would grind down the Otters defense almost every shift he had. If he could play like that on a consistent basis his draft stock should rise significantly before the draft in June. 3-0 Attack after 20 mins.

Another Attack forward looking to have a good season is Curtis Gabriel , the lanky forward had a open tryout with the Phoenix Coyotes over the summer and looked to bring that experience into this season. I thought he played a real solid second period playing good grinding hockey in the Otters zone and was rewarded with a goal on a quick snap shot that went bar down to put the Attack up 4-0. Gemel Smith would collect his 2nd point of the game on Gabriel's 4th the season. Attack lead the Otters 4-0 after 40 minutes.

There are a few bright spots for the Otters this season as goaltender Roman Sadikov played exceptionally well over the two games , obviously the score did not reflect on how good this tender really is , made several key stops over the third period to keep the Attack at bay , but the Otters just lack that offensive punch and leadership to over come being outplayed most nights as Owen Sound would pot another tally past Sadikov to go up 5-0 with Halmo(27) putting the final nail in the coffin.  Gemel Smith would lead all scoters with 3 points and in my mind was first star, the Attack power play would continue getting better going 3-5 on the night and shutting down the Otters power play killing off all 6 opportunities. After losing five straight games the Attack now find themselves on a 3 game winning streak with huge divisional games coming up starting on Wednesday when the power house Plymouth Whalers come to town, then back to back games with London and finishing it off against the Kitchener Rangers.  Attack will need a solid effort from everyone in the next couple games I they want to keep pace in the Midwest as these will be real good tests  for the boys to see where they are at against the best of the west.


Game time is 7:30 Wednesday at the Lumley Bayshore

Attack Week in Review (12/28-1/1)

Thanks to Nick MacArthur

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As the OHL resumed after the Christmas break the Owen Sound Attack were faced with a challenging opponent in the Niagara Ice Dogs making the trip to the Harry Lumley Bayshore on Wednesday night , then on the road for a tilt with division rival Kitchener Rangers on Friday and ending the weekend with a stop in Oshawa to take on sniper Christian Thomas an the Generals.

The Attack didn't get off the start they wanted as they fell to the visiting Ice Dogs on Wednesday by a score of 2-1. With four of Niagra's top players not in the lineup ( Strome, D.Hamilton , F.Hamilton, Visentin ) this was a good chance for the Attack to play a solid home game and collect the big two points to keep pace in the midwest division, unfortunately the Ice Dogs had other plans as they played a near perfect road game and came out on top. Attack power play goes 0-4 on the night and was hard to watch at points as they could not muster any solid chances.

Two nights later the Attack find themselves playing a huge game against long time rival Kitchener Rangers at the Aud. I don't know if we are far enough along into the season to start labeling games as must wins but I feel this one was a must win for the Attack.  With the power play unit still not clicking well and the Rangers playing their usual crash and bang style the Attack just couldn't find the energy to keep up with the Rangers as they fall 4-1 and fall 11 points back of the Rangers and 15 back of London.

Fast forward to the new year and we find the Attack traveling to Oshawa to take on the Generals in the first game of 2012 looking to get off to a good start.  The Attack jump out to an early lead with their first power play goal in 4 games from captain Mike Halmo, his 22nd of the season. Oshawa would tie the game 1:18 later and eventually take the lead with a late goal to end the period. 2-1 Gens after twenty minutes.


A relatively quiet second period saw Blandisi get his 12th of the year and Keevin Cutting scraping with Maggio after a check to the head. Game all square at 2 after 40 minutes.

The third period would see a lot of back and forth play between both sides and the Gens would score twice on goals from Thomas and Graves. The attack would draw within one goal as Halmo would score his second of the game and 23rd of the campaign.


Another tough loss for the Attack as they have now lost 4 of their last 5 and have fell into a tie with Sault St.Marie for 5th in the Western Conference.


Power play and penalty kill will win you games and it can most certainly lose you games as the Attack struggle with the man advantage over the past 5 games going a combined 3-27 on the power play. Penalty kill was respectable killing off 26 of 30 over the last 5.

Next up for the Attack is Friday in Niagara for a rematch with the Ice Dogs and returning home to host the Brampton Battalion on Saturday night at the Lumley Bayshore game time as always 7:30pm.

Prospect Files: Gemel Smith

Last year’s Master Card Memorial Cup was a coming out party of sorts for this Owen Sound Attack sophomore centreman. This week we are going to get to know Gemel Smith’s game a little bit better…

NHL Draft Prospect: Gemel Smith – Owen Sound Attack

The Line:
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 161 lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: centre
Draft Eligible: 2010

Last year, on a veteran-laden team in Owen Sound, Smith struggled to see much real ice time. But, this season, the Toronto, Ontario product has been scoring at a point-per-game pace for the Attack, registering 30 points, in 31 games; 13 of them being goals.

This kind of breakout season does not come as a surprise to many who watched the Attack throughout the playoffs and in the Memorial Cup, as Gemel Smith turned the few shifts he was given every game, into energy for his team. When the Attack lost stars Joey Hishon and Garrett Wilson, he took his game to a whole new level, giving the team a look into Gemel Smith’s future.

Gemel’s game starts with his speed. He likes to work the give and go low in his own zone and hit his own blue line with speed, forcing the defenders off balance. At just 161 pounds, smith doesn’t play much of a physical game, but he doesn’t let it affect him if a team wants to play him that way. Smith is above average at face offs as well, winning two-thirds of his draws Thursday night against the Barrie Colts.
Gemel also has a surprisingly hard shot for his slender build, but what is so deadly about it, is the quickness with which he gets it off. It is on his stick for no more than a split-second when he is in prime shooting areas. This is undoubtedly partly to help him avoid contact, but it also catches opposing goalies off guard.

Gemel still finds the defensive game in the OHL a little tough for him to play. He has a hard time out-muscling guys down low in his own zone, but he isn’t afraid to get in there and help his defenders out as any good centre would.

Gemel is not an elite talent in this upcoming draft but he is a nice player, who with some added muscle could become a top player in the Ontario Hockey League and a very serviceable player at the NHL level. Owen Sound is going to give him the opportunities; it will be up to him to take advantage of them.

NHL Player Comparison: Mike Ribeiro -- Dallas stars

Knights-Attack Rivalry Heats Up

The rivalry continued to heat up Saturday night between the Owen Sound Attack and the London Knights. The back and forth scoring game ended with an empty net goal and the Knights defeating the Attack 5-3.

With three previous losses so far to the Knights this season, the reigning OHL champions were looking for redemption. The Attack team and fans are still feeling the loss of hockey phenom Artur Gavrus who is still out with concussion symptoms because of a collision with fellow rookie star Max Domi two weeks ago.

It did not take long for the fighting to begin as Attack fan favourite Daniel Zweep dropped the gloves early in the game against Kyle Flemington. The game was book- ended with another Zweep fight, this time against Jarrod Tinordi. With just over a minute to go in regulation time the score keeper had his hands full as the refs dished out the consequences. Tinordi received an instigator and misconduct; Tyler Ferry, Dane Fox, and Jared Knight each received a misconduct. Zweep was given a head check and a game misconduct and team mate Mike Halmo a misconduct. When the OHL offices open Monday morning, commissioner David Branch will be checking out the video tape.

The action in between the Zweep fights was once again a close game between the two rivals but also once again resulted with the Knights on top. London Knight forward Andreas Athanasiou has certainly figured out the Attack systems. While scoring a hat trick Saturday he was able to rack up his eleventh goal of the season…..seven of them have been against the Attack.

While Attack goaltender Scott Stajcer performed admirably stopping 30+ shots, he was disappointed at the loss stating “The guys came out hard, a lot of guys battled. We need the whole team on the same page. It was an emotional loss to London again, we’ve had three of them already, this being the fourth. Everyone in (the dressing room) hates them and wants to win every time.”

When asked how the Attack will prepare for their next Knight match up, Stajcer says “we’ve got to come out hard….everyone has to be ready, can’t say the whole team was ready (tonight). We have to push through and battle harder.”

It should be another sell out crowd at the Bayshore when the Knights return to Owen Sound on January 21^st.

What Happened to the Attack?

This is a question many people are asking. So lets take a look and see if we can provide an answer. Last season many people, including myself, predicted the Attack to be a very low seed in the western conference and possibly the playoffs too.  Clearly I was wrong and I have no problem admitting my mistake. This season many people thought the Attack would be a competitive team despite losing, Mignardi, Hishon, Wilson and Fritsch. What would make them competitive would be the hope of a repeat season by Jordan Binnington. I have said it before and I will say it forever, Binnington saved Owen Sound’s season last year and made it possible for the Attack to not only win the OHL championship but also be considered a contender in the Memorial Cup. 

I am still peeved that OHL coach of the year, Mark Reeds, decided to go with Stajcer in the Memorial Cup over the red hot Binnington (unlike other posts where I rip goalies, I like Stajcer. But he clearly wasn’t 100%). Based on that decision, I even suggested that Reeds give back his coach of the year award, I mean who goes to the their starting goaltender and says, ‘I don’t think you will win tonight, you are sitting.’

But I digress from ripping the coach. What’s done is done.

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So far this year Binnington has not been his spectacular self. Sure he does not have the same rock solid defence in front him, or the same offensive firepower but there seem to be something missing from his game this season. For the Attack to have a shot at making some noise come playoff time, Binnington will have to reclaim his number 1 goaltender position from Scott Stajcer who has been the better of the two thus far.

What is also missing in the Sound, from the outside looking in, is the cohesive team unit that seemed to emanate through the television set when watching their games. Maybe it is the youth on the team, maybe it is the new faces in the room, but there doesn’t seem to be the same team feel as last season.

The Attack lost a lot of fire power up front (Hishon, Wilson, Mignardi and Shaw) and from the blue line (Blacker and Stanisz). To replace what was lost… the Attack added Daniel Catenacci, while trading away Andrew Fritsch to get the Buffalo Sabres draft pick. Catenacci is doing his part leading the team in scoring, on pace to best last season’s point totals, but is also last on the team in the plus minus category with a -8. Definitely not what you would want to see from a highly sought after commodity, but you knew what you were getting when trading from him.

The big difference this season is the blueline. It is not as solid as it was a year ago as it misses the experience Blacker and Stanisz provided, but they can learn and turn it up in the second half. A work in progress is a work in progress but sometimes you can not wait and maybe a move is necessary to help out your goaltenders. I say this because on average Stajcer and Binnington face over 30 shots a night. Sure that is pretty average but it is also the quality of shots they are facing. Unlike games featuring the Missisauga Majors, these shots are not clappers at JP Anderson from 100 feet away hoping to catch him off guard. The goalie duo are having to come up big more often than not and it is catching up to them in the W/L category.

But you may be asking yourself, ‘so you have pointed out their faults, so what is the solution?’ Good Question.

Plain and simple, the Attack need to unload their veterans and give the kids a chance to learn and play. Lets face it the Attack, if they choose to attend currently have to deal with the Soo, London, Plymouth and possibly Kitchener, all currently ahead of them. It is a big hill to climb so why not get value from your pieces. The way the Western Conference currently looks, you will be making the playoffs, and the young guys will be getting the experience you want them to get.

The Trading block may only have Scott Stajcer on it right now as he has been rumoured to be off to Saginaw for at least 3 weeks now, but Oshawa is also in the mix as Chris DiPiero is not happy in the lack of progress in ‘stud’ Daniel Altshuller.

The rumour mill has also been churning in regards to Matt Petgrave and Jay Gilbert, there is interest in the two defenceman, both as individuals and as a package.

If there is a serious offer for the two defenceman, then look for a rebuild in the Sound which will undoubtedly put the GM in the hot seat considering what was given up for Catenacci just to pull the plug after a third of the season.

This is the dilemma in Owen Sound at the moment… maybe making a move will turn the ship around. Or maybe it will sink the ship. Owen Sound is always an interesting case study and no one ever knows the answers. 

Knights Sweep Attack.......Barely

It was an emotional game in Owen Sound Saturday night as the Attack and London Knights faced off for the first game of a home and home series. It was a roller coaster game and the Knights took advantage of several Owen Sound mistakes to lead 5-0 until a Matt Petgrave goal for the Attack in the second period. Unfortunately the goal was soon followed up with a controversial collision between two rookies.

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A mid-ice hit by Knight’s phenon Max Domi left Belarus native Artur Gavrus lying motionless on the ice for several minutes until he was removed by ambulance. Attack member Petgrave said “it seemed like a clean hit, bad luck on Gavrus’ part. He was trying to take the puck out and got his head up at the last second.”

The second period continued in an ugly fashion as emotions were high and led to several fights. Many Attack fans were infuriated no call was made on the Gavrus-Domi collision although Petgrave admits “it was a clean hit at the end of the day.” Domi reported to the local Owen Sound paper, "You obviously don't want to see anything like that. It definitely wasn't my intent."

The third period resulted in cooler heads and the Attack managed to make a game of it, however, the Knights clinched it with an empty net goal for a 7-5 final.

The Attack headed to London Sunday for the second-half of the week-end match up. Petgrave was hoping to take the emotions with the team not for “retaliation(but to) try to get them clean.” And try they did. Outstanding goaltending on the part of Scott Stajcer stopped 47 out of the 49 shots. Ultimately the Attack lost 3-2 in overtime.

While the CHL top ranked team the London Knights swept the home-home series, the Owen Sound Attack didn’t make it easy for them.

· Max Domi’s father, ex-Leaf tough guy Tie Domi was in attendance Saturday night.

· The police were in attendance as well to escort the Knights out of the arena

· Arthur Gavrus underwent an MRI which found no spinal injuries. He has a severe concussion and is currently under 48 hour watch.

· Gavrus’ spot to represent Belarus in an up-coming tournament over the Christmas break may now be at risk.

The Other Top Rookies You Should Know

SPECIAL THANKS TO BRYAN THIEL (@BryanThiel_88)

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By now you’ve heard all about Max Domi leading the rookie-scoring race, or about how Daniel Altshuller’s first season between OHL pipes is going, and that Aaron Ekblad has the poise of a young Alex Pietrangelo, despite being just 15.

Michael Clarke has shot up draft boards in his first season with the Windsor Spitfires, Olli Maatta is gaining valuable experience on a North American blueline, and Jordan Subban joined brother Malcolm in Belleville for his first year in the league.

These are some of the rookies in the Ontario Hockey League that have been making waves, and in the process the performance of other rookies and their talents have flown under the radar. So a month and a half into the season who else should you know from the OHL’s first-year class? Here are five names to keep tabs on:

1. Nick Ritchie, Left Wing, Peterborough Petes

If it weren’t for Aaron Ekblad’s Exceptional Player Status, Ritchie would have been considered amongst the candidates to be the first overall pick in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection. When you take that into consideration, it makes him a bit of a surprise to make this list.. Coming off of a final season in Midget that saw him net 50 goals and 96 points, Ritchie brought his size and speed (6’2”, 207lbs) to the Peterborough Petes. Ritchie has shown all of the promise that would have made him a first overall pick, and his quick release is a pleasant addition to such a big, talented package. With all of the attention paid to Matt Puempel when teams play the Petes, expect the totals for Ritchie to steadily increase as he grows accustomed to the OHL.

GP: 13 G: 4 A: 3 PTS: 7 PPG: 2

2. Darnell Nurse, Defense, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

His former teammate with Don Mills (Max Domi) is getting all of the headlines this season, but that’s just fine with Darnell Nurse. The big defenseman who’s earned comparisons to Chris Pronger may not be in a media hot bed, he’s settled in perfectly with the Greyhounds, making a lot of comparisons to Sault Ste. Marie and his hometown of Hamilton. A kid of few words, Nurse lets his physical play do the talking, and doesn’t lack confidence in his game or in himself. He’s got the athletic background in both his immediate family and extended family to vault over any obstacle in his way, and when the media does come calling, Nurse already handles it like a pro. He feels right at home with the Greyhounds in the Soo, and with a big defense to learn the ropes from, he’ll be a rock in this league.

GP: 13 G: 0 A: 1 PTS 1 +/-: -8

3. Josh Anderson/Bo Horvat, Forwards, London Knights

We’ve established that Domi and Mattaa generate a lot of interest in London, but it’s two players that took very different paths to the OHL that will hopefully provide London with the secondary scoring they’ll need for multiple Western Conference Championships. Who knows? Maybe even a league Championship some year. Horvat was London’s first round pick this year, selected one spot after Kingston took Domi. He’s a quick skater who racked up the points (118 of them) in his draft year. Anderson was overlooked in his draft season, but thanks to a growth spurt of more than a few inches and 30lbs, mixed in with a strong season in Major-Midget in Burlington, Anderson turned heads as a power forward with the size needed to succeed in the OHL. One’s a high-profile first-round pick, and the other is the age-old story of a player who stuck with it and caught a few breaks in the face of adversity. Both however, could become well-known names on a strong Knights team.

Horvat: GP: 14 G: 5 A: 6 PTS: 11 +/-: +13

Anderson: GP 13 G: 3 A: 4 PTS: 7 GWG: 1

4. Artur Gavrus, Centre, Owen Sound Attack

The Owen Sound Attack are the reigning OHL Champions, and like most champions of the past, more than a handful of their key pieces graduated to the professional ranks. So, it was with the 55^th pick in the CHL Import Draft that Owen Sound selected the highly skilled but diminutive Belarussian forward. He’s viewed more as a well-rounded player, but his production in second-tier European leagues and at the U-18 tournament (where he was one of the top players) shows a high-end ability to finish off plays. The typical ups-and-downs of a first North American/draft eligible season are expected, but Gavrus has the talent to help Owen Sound’s offense maintain a truly competitive level.

GP: 13 G: 5 A: 6 PTS 11 PPG: 2

5. Patrik Machac, Centre, Brampton Battalion

Brampton has been starved for offense the last two seasons, and the thinking is that Import Patrik Machac can change that. Machac is a pure scorer with speed and great hockey sense, and excels in all the right areas of the game. His skills caught the eye of Stan Butler and the Battalion, who believe that he’s a player who can improve their offense. He’s got the track record to prove that he can too, after dominating the Czech U-18 league last year with 53 points in 36 games and playing at a point-per-game average at the U-17s. With just two 40-point players last year (and only Ian Watters returning), Machac could easily lead the Battalion in scoring, while bringing the numbers of a few others along for the ride.

GP: 12 G: 4 A: 7 PTS: 11 PPG/SHG: 2/2

Ireland Ready Behind Attack Bench

The Owen Sound Attack ended their .500 exhibition season with a win over their arch rival the Mississauga Majors. Attack coach Greg Ireland was pleased with the 5-2 win, believing it is an indication of the young team’s efforts to become consistent and to display a stronger work ethic. With four regulars off to NHL training camps (Jordan Binnington -St. Louis, Kurtis Gabriel-Phoenix, Daniel Catenacci -Buffalo and Geoffrey Schemitsch-Tampa) the exhibition season was an opportunity for young players to gain some OHL experience and prove to their coach they deserve a spot on the team.

Ireland’s arrival to Owen Sound follows the departure of OHL coach of the year Mark Reeds. Ironically, Reeds is now a partner with his rival from last season, Mississauga Majors and Team Canada coach Dave Cameron. The pair has now entered the NHL as assistant coaches for the Ottawa Senators.

Not daunted by the big shoes left for him to fill, Ireland is confident his past professional experience in the East Coach Hockey League and American Hockey League has prepared him for the competitiveness of the OHL’s Western Conference. While many question if Ireland is up to the pressure of following Reed’s success, Ireland feels his own competitive nature and the pressure he puts on himself will enable him to successfully make a smooth transition to the Attack’s bench.

Just an hour south of Owen Sound down highway #10, the Orangeville native was destined to end up behind the Attack bench. Ireland’s name has been bandied around in many discussions for past coaching vacancies many times in the Attack and its predecessor the Plater’s history. This time around Ireland was chosen over 40 other applicants including former NHL head coaches Cory Clouston (Ottawa) and John Anderson (Atlanta). Ireland is now ready for what he believes will be a competitive season.

Ireland still needs to make some adjustments to the final roster as there is a healthy internal competition. Nine defensemen need to be whittled to seven or eight , there is a tight competition for back- up goalie as well as a player or two up front. Ireland predicts the Attack will be a hard working team that makes it tough for any team to compete against the reigning OHL champions.

Cat Attack!!!

After about 2 weeks of waiting for the trade that a disgruntled Buffalo Sabres draft pick asked/demanded. It has finally happened. And to think, I was just about to post a 'where in the OHL will the Cat end up'. Well I guess those crazy theories will never see the light of day now.
But let's talk about the actual deal now shall we. All this time Soo GM Kyle Dubas has thrown around phrases like 'Fair Value', 'Equal Return' and 'The Right Deal'. after digesting what those three phrases mean... I have to say that the young Dubas missed the mark... And quite possible the target.
Now as many of my followers Twitter (@intheoradio) have pointed out... It is far to early to Eva,hate this trade. To a degree you are absolutely correct. A game has not been played this season, one or the other could be injured, have a breakout season etc. Here is where I disagree with that notion.
We live in the age of instant analysis... So let's play by these rules.

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There is no doubt that Daniel Catenacci is a talented hockey player. Heck I compare him to Alexi Kovalev. Now you may instantly roll your eyes at that remark but it is true. A gifted and exceptionally skilled hockey player who at times will be lazy and unmotivated. Now do you get the comparisson. The fact that I high on D.C. Is no secret to many of you. He is a good kid, with a great family and many people close to him will tell you the same about how he approaches the game.
So The Soo GM after demanding an arm and a leg from Eastern Conference franchises (asked SBY for Sgarbossa) Kyle Dubas 'settles' for Andrew Fritsch and a 2nd round draft choice. Nothing against Andrew Fritsch but when you think of top end talent in the OHL how many people think of Andrew Fritsch? I will take a moment to count the hands...

And then to top it all off, Cat is traded to the Western Conference where there is now 'extra motivation' in the games. Not to mention if they meet in the playoffs. Can you see the headlines now? Cat burns hounds with 3 including OT winner in game 7. Ok maybe that is going to far... But it could happen. Not to mention the other way.
Owen Sound GM Dale DeGray won this deal today. He basically gave up a hard nosed 2nd-3rd line player for a top line centre. Can you argue with that's right now? No, you can not. That is why we live in the world of instant analysis.

When this trade happened I shook my head. OS made out like bandits like Sudbury did with Sgarbossa for McFarland. Heck Sudbury is still winning that deal. Truth be told it is too early to claim a winner and loser in this deal.

But. I go to bed Wednesday evening I am sure I will think the same Thursday morning, and even next Wednesday. How did Kyle Dubas mess this up?

2011/12 Team Needs - Midwest Division

It is Day 3 of the 'content-a-day giveaway'... Lets take a look at what the teams may be drafting for come the OHL Priority Draft this Saturday May, 7th live on ontariohockeyleague.com.

To preface, the lists of what the team declares as 'holes to be filled' is not FACT. These are my opinions and are corroborated with others and is a general guess as to what they may be trying to fill come draft day. If they are not adressed during draft day remember that they can also trade for players already in the league. Also, this is 'in a perfect world scenario' as the first 7-10 picks will be best player available and defy the logic of what I am talking about.

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Erie Otters -this is a team, who should have gone farther in the playoffs instead of being bounced after 7 games to Windsor. With that being said, if Sadikov does not get a pro deal, not only is it a travesty but it means that he will be back in Erie as an OA. so that eats up one spot. there are 4 91 birthdays on the blueline and there are 5 '91's as forwards and they lose 3 forwards due to graduation. To be honest the only thing that the Otters will not need is Goaltending. So here is a rare place where they will take the Best player available because they need help all over. 

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Guelph Storm - I think this is pretty simple. I do not foresee the Storm holding on to Holland, Latta and Beck for one more year. At least not all 3. Latta maybe. So you need to find another Holland or Beck and if you are not trading for one. you will have to draft it. And draft a forward the Storm will do.

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Owen Sound Attack - Their goaltending is sured up as if Stajcer does not return, they will still have Zador, or vice versa. Also Binnington has showesd that he is ready now, so definitely do not have to worry about drafting one. On the blueline, Stanisz and Blacker are most likely not on the roster next season but that won't hurt the team as much as people are willing to believe. That leaves the F position and there is a lot of quality talent and grit players who will need to be replaced. look for the Western Conference Champions to look for an impact forward, or at least a forward who they can grow around like a Robbie Mignardi. Can be an effective scorer or a defensive forward with ease.

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London Knights - There are a lot of questions about the Knights moving forward, but the forwards are not one of them. the D is young enough to grow together and be more effective than they were this season. With the 'failure' that was Bobkov this season, it is clear that they need a competent backup to assist Michael Houser. Look for the Knights to pick up a goaltender in the draft, not only to develop but to win them 5-20 games as a backup.

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Kitchener Rangers - When you look at the age of the players on the roster there is no real need to be concerned with the fact they have talented 93 birth year players. What is alarming is that 2 of them will be a top 10 selection, possibly top 5, in Landeskog and Murphy. that leaves big gaps to fill but where is the bigger hole? it could even be in goal with Maxwell possibly not coming back and Morrison becoming the defacto #1. The more pressing need I would say is at the forward level. most of the 91's will not be back, Landeskog is a huge hole, like Skinner the year before. Some of the 93's on the roster, did not get much playing time so they would still be rookies based on playing experience. At the same time, I could still see Kitchener picking a D man... how about a coin toss for this one? 

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It is very tough to decide what a team will be looking for. As per yesterdays post about how to handle the draft, and the types of plays there can be. Just looking at who will be graduating and based on who a consensus believes will be next years OA's, this is how it was determined what the teams will be looking for at least early on in the draft. Of course they will still take a goalie in the late rounds even if they have 4 in their system. You just never know. But this is just something else to think of before the OHL Priority draft on Saturday. Tomorrow will be looking at the Central division so remember to come check that out.

Owen Sound Attack's Andrew Shaw Takes Notes From Wendel Clark

Andrew Shaw - Photo Coutesy Joel Smith Photography

Originally appeared at www.thegoodpoint.com

Amidst the ongoing controversy regarding the physical side of hockey, there comes a player that kindles the old school ways of the game that has produced some of the greatest legends in the sport.

Owen Sound Attack forward Andrew Shaw plays a much bigger game than his size suggests; something he learned from one of the most revered Toronto Maple Leafs players.

“Wendel Clark for sure. I try to resemble his play; he wasn’t the biggest guy but he wasn’t afraid of anyone,” the 19-year-old center told TheGoodPoint.com. “He stuck up for his teammates and he was a great leader – but also brought forth an offensive role, so he’s just a great all-around character player to model your game around.”

Having a frame of 5″11′ and 180 pounds sounds average for a player in the Canadian Hockey League. However, like Clark, Shaw has made quite the name for himself as many believe he is pound-for-pound the toughest fighter currently playing in the OHL.

For the full article on Andrew Shaw, visit TheGoodPoint.com

Featuring Owen Sound Attack's Draft Eligible Andrew Fritsch

Andrew Fritsch, RW, Owen Sound Attack

Draft Eligible Fritsch Enjoys Breakout Season with Attack

By: JEFF BLAY
Article Courtesy TrueHockey.com

OWEN SOUND - Owen Sound Attack forward Andrew Fritsch grew up in a family that wasn’t too experienced as far as hockey goes, but that didn’t stop the now 17-year-old right-winger from paving his own path into the sport.

“No one in my family really played hockey,” explained the Brantford, Ont. native. “We watched it a lot, and that got me right into the mini-sticks, and that’s when I knew I wanted to play so my parents signed me up for house league and I eventually worked my way up to triple A.

“On of my coaches, Greg Mann, helped me out a lot with my game and development in Brantford; he coached me for most of my life and helped get me started in my hockey career.”

An impressive tenure with the triple A Brantford 99ers caught the eye of former Niagara IceDogs general manager, Dave Brown, who drafted the ’93-born player in the third round (57^th overall) of the 2009 OHL Priority Selection.

Now playing with the Owen Sound, Fritsch has earned himself the 96^th spot among North American skaters in the 2011 NHL Central Scouting Midterm rankings.

“It felt really good to get recognized in the rankings,” he said. “When the first one came out with the top 20 I thought I could maybe sneak in there, but that obviously didn’t happen so I used that as motivation to step up my game and hopefully get ranked, so it’s good to know my hard work has paid off.”

Fritsch’s OHL career began with the IceDogs in 2009-10, where he played 62 games in his rookie season, posting 11 goals, 7 assists, 18 points and 13 penalty minutes. Although his ice time was limited to that of a third or fourth line player, Fritsch showed great potential as a solid two-way player with a knack for pure goal scoring.

After a successful start in the OHL, Fritsch dedicated his 2010 summer to putting on some size and improving his skating. Coming into the league, Fritsch was listed at 5.11’’, 165 pounds, and when he entered the IceDogs training camp as a sophomore in 2010, he was a solid 6.00’’, 187 pounds – a significant gain that reflects his work ethic and drive to improve has a player.

“Obviously gaining more size is something that helps any player improve, especially when you come closer to getting to the next level,” he explained. “But I also want to continue working on my first couple strides and gain some foot speed, while also working on the battles in the corners.”

Fritsch started the 2010-11 season playing two games with the IceDogs where he notched one goal, before being traded to the Owen Sound Attack for veteran forward Jason Wilson, who is a draft pick of the New York Rangers.  

“I didn’t really want to leave Niagara when I found out I was being traded,” Fritsch commented. “But that’s just a part of hockey, and now I know it’s probably the best thing that’s happened to me for my career.

“I still miss the city and everyone back in Niagara, but hockey wise I’m very happy about the opportunity I have with Owen Sound.”

Upon his arrival in Owen Sound, Fritsch worked his way on to the first line where he now plays with two NHL draft picks, Joey Hishon (Colorado) and team captain Garrett Wilson (Florida).

“Getting an opportunity to play on a line with Hishon and Wilson has really helped me improve and I’ve learned a lot from them,” Fritsch said. “I don’t think I would have had that kind of opportunity in Niagara, so I think the trade worked out best for everyone.”

In 55 games with the Attack, Fritsch has posted 26 goals, 32 assists and 58 points (27 goals, 59 points including his goal in Niagara). To go along with the impressive point totals that place him third on team scoring, Fritsch has converted 10 power play goals while maintaining a +17 rating.

“One of my goals from the start was to get 20 goals this season, and I’ve accomplished that, so for the rest of the season I want to focus on my defensive game and keeping my plus/minus up,” he offered.

Known to his coaches and teammates and a pure finisher, Fritsch’s shoot-first mentality often pays off for him, but like the NHL greats he looks up to, having the ability to make a play is something he would like to continue modeling into his game.

“[Sidney] Crosby is my favourite player because he’s a great all-around guy, but I also like the way [Jarome] Iginla plays and how he gets a lot of shots on net,” he explained. “Getting pucks to the net and producing offense is something the coaches expect of me playing on the first line, and the more shots you get, the more chances you’re going to create.”

Although his family doesn’t have a major background in hockey, Fritsch recognizes that his battle to the big leagues wouldn’t be possible without them.

“I owe a lot to my parents for driving me to hockey and what not, and my grandparents for helping me out with equipment when I was younger,’ Fritsch said. “I definitely wouldn’t be where I am now without their support.”

Although Fritsch is ranked to go in the later rounds, whichever team decides to go with him may find they have selected an underrated hidden gem with a promising future.