A tie game, 6-6 in OT. See the OHL game summary here. Belleville’s game recaps are posted here. (At the time I posted this, they have the last game vs Oshawa up.)
Brian Kilrea will be absent for this w/e’s games. He is on a scouting mission, so we will see what happens in the next few days. The impression, is this is an odd thing for Killer to do: leave the team for 3 games. Some say this is showing how frustrated he is with the team, others say that it is simply a matter of timing. I think that the trading deadline is December 30. It’s the only time he could fit it in. There’s an article by Bruce Garrioch in the Ottawa Sun, Killer scouting for scorer. A quote from Kilrea:
"I'm going to meet up with (67's scout) Joe Rowley and I'm going to see four games on the weekend. We'll see what happens. If I can find a way to help this club, then I'm going to make some moves."
Also missing, are Petruzalek and Kaspar who are away at the Czech World Junior camp. Reid and Aitcheson are still out.
Overall impressions:
This was an interesting game. There was lots of scoring – the 67s would score, and then the Bulls would score within minutes to tie it up. This back-and-forthing went on for the whole game.
The 67s had a weak start to the game. They had a hard time bringing the puck out of their zone, so they ended up icing it (at least 4 times in a row). It was a boring start. After the first goals though, things picked up a little. The second period was much livelier, and the third was very exciting as both teams tried to score the game-winner. The OT period had a lot of end-to-end play, with some great saves by both goalies.
The 67s scored the second shorthanded of the season (Van Herpt, from Bonello; Talbot has the first SH), along with a couple of PP goals.
Impressions of the 67s:
Mancari was definitely the star of the game tonight. He worked hard – skated fast, had break-aways, a fight, goals, assists. A Gordie Howe hat trick night. He definitely stepped it up. Holy crap, he’s a big boy (standing next to Scott McArthur during the post-game interview on the Rogers broadcast). They never seem as big when they are standing next to each other, you know, when they're all wearing helmets and skates and shoulder pads etc.
Bonello – again, one of the most consistent in both effort and ability. In one instance, he forechecked hard during the 2nd Belleville PP to keep the puck in the Bulls' end. He ended up stealing the puck, feeding it in front of the net, where Van Herpt skated in and shot it into the net. It was a beautiful SH goal, resulting entirely from Bonello’s hard work.
Hulit continues to work hard. I’m so impressed with Hulit. He is traded from a team he’s been with his whole OHL career (Oshawa), after being specifically told he wasn’t going to be traded. He comes to Ottawa and just works so hard and makes all the natives look bad. That line – Talbot, Hulit, Todd – is just rocking. In fact, Hulit got his 100th career OHL point tonight. (Remember Talbot got his 100th last week).
Battachio had his first really bad game. He was pulled at the beginning of the second period (3:30), after letting in the 4th Belleville goal. Considering his record though, he deserves a ‘gimme’.
Guadagnolo came into the game, and made some good saves, especially in the third and OT. But, you’ll note: the 67s didn’t win . . . because they never win with him in nets.
Wharton is not looking very good. I actually cringe when he is on the ice now. He doesn’t seem to know where he should be positionally. He gives up the puck, as well as makes bad passing decisions (passes in front of his own net when opposition are close enough to steal the puck).
Joslin is the one d-man that plays well – consistently. Colbert is also good, but has had some off nights. Van Herpt scored tonight, and he did skate/work hard. I didn’t notice Lawrance or Beard on the ice tonight – which is not necessarily a bad thing for defence.
Impressions of the Bulls:
Brophey a talented player that seemed to be at the right place at the right time (of course, with Ottawa’s defence that’s not saying a whole lot . . .). But, he did score and help with scoring.
Leavitt also had a good game. Played tough, took some penalties, scored a goal.
Tobia made some ‘game-saving’ saves during the end of the third, and especially during the OT. Overall though, not a great night – he did allow 6 goals.
Davey – bugging Bonello, fought with Mancari.
Thornton was injured during the beginning of the third period delivering a hip check against McIlveen, who went down himself. Thornton apparently got the worst of it. He went down and couldn’t get up. Both team’s trainers went out to assist him. He was eventually helped off the ice by two teammates, with the crowd giving him applause. He appeared to be unable to put weight on his right leg. I hope that he’s okay . . .
OTTAWA SCORING
1, Van Herpt, (Bonello), 09:01 (SH)
1, Todd, (Hulit, Talbot), 13:36
2, Mancari, (Bickell, Joslin), 00:49
2, Mancari, (Bonello, Joslin), 08:01
3, Hulit, (Talbot, Mancari), 05:45 (PP)
3, Hulit, (Colbert, Mancari), 10:20 (PP)
BELLEVILLE SCORING
1, Rorabeck, (Hughes, Sonnenburg), 09:49 (PP)
1, Brophey, (Rancourt, Cunningham), 14:17 (PP)
2, Brophey, (Berard), 03:31
2, Thornton, (Cunningham, Brophey), 04:38 (PP)
3, Leavitt, (Brophey, Rancourt), 06:47
3, Cameron, 11:15
TEAM 1200 three stars: 1. Mancari, 2. Brophey, and 3. Hulit.
OHL three stars: 1. Mancari, 2. Brophey, and 3. Joslin.
Attendance: Announced was 9011. There were quite a few empty seats though.
Reffing: Burchell was awful, just awful. Inconsistent calls. Not calling anything during the last 2 minutes of the game. Yuck.
Parking: Not a prob. All the Grey Cup seating is now down at the canal entrance.
A note on the December 30th game at the Corel Centre: apparently they have sold over 17000 tickets now, and are selling standing room only. Wow. I cannot imagine what it will be like for these guys to play in an NHL arena with (if they do get the sell-out) 20000 screaming fans. Hell, that’s more than the Sens draw.
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