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September 29, 2013

Preview: Niagara IceDogs @ Ottawa 67's - Sept 29/13



Another young team rolls into the Canadian Tire Centre today to take on the Ottawa 67’s in a matinee showdown.  The Niagara IceDogs boast a lineup of 10 rookies who have only 3 games of OHL experience. They are missing 4 of their top 5 scores from last season’s squad who accounted for 115 goals and 296 points.

Missing players include Ryan Strome, Brett Richie and Steven Shipley who are all in the respective NHL farm systems.  Also missing for a portion of the last year up until now is Boston Bruins blueliner Dougie Hamilton who was a staple on the IceDogs powerplay.

The IceDogs have four players to look out for in the upcoming 2014 NHL Draft.  Aaron Haydon, Orleans native Brent Moran and Brendan Perlini are all ranked on NHL Central Scouting’s B list for the OHL.  Newly drafted Import Pick Alexander Protapovich is ranked on the C list.  Perlini has been living up to his expectations so far and is leading his team with 6 points (4 goals, 2 assists) in 3 games including the lone goal in the IceDogs 5-1 loss to the Kingston Frontenacs Friday night.

The IceDogs have not gotten off to a good start and early indications show this will be a tough learning season for this inexperienced squad. 

The 67’s are coming off a disappointing loss Friday night where they saw the Plymouth Whalers skate to their first win of the season (4-2).  They do not want a repeat of that game this afternoon.  One key to the game will be discipline.  The team took 11 minor penalties and a total of 42 minutes of penalties. While the Whalers only capitalized on 2 of the 8 powerplays, the momentum from the powerplays decreased their puck possession and kept the 67’s on their toes for the majority of the game.

NOTE: After being sidelined one game with a suspension, Joseph Blandisi will return to the 67's lineup.

2013-14 Regular Season Record
Ottawa 67's:  1-2-0-0
Niagara IceDogs:  0-2-1-0

2013-14 Pre-season Record
Ottawa 67's:  3-1-1-0
Niagara IceDogs:  1-4-1-0

2012-13 Regular Season Record
Ottawa 67's:  16-46-0-6
Niagara IceDogs:  30-34-2-2

2012-13 OHL Playoffs
Ottawa 67's:  Did not qualify
Niagara IceDogs: Eliminated in the Quarterfinals by the Oshawa Generals in 5 games

Players To Watch

Ottawa 67's
Joseph Blandisi - drafted 6th round to Colorado in 2013
Jacob Middleton - NHL draft eligible 2014, NHL Central Scouting B list
Alex Lintuniemi - NHL draft eligible 2014, NHL Central Scouting C list
Travis Konecny - 1st overall pick in OHL,  NHL draft eligible 2015

Niagara IceDogs
Aaron Haydon – NHL draft eligible 2014, NHL Central Scouting B list
Brendan Perlini – NHL draft eligible 2014, NHL Central Scouting B list
Brent Moran – NHL draft eligible 2014, NHL Central Scouting B list
Alexander Protapovich – NHL draft eligible 2014, NHL Central Scouting C list

Overagers
Ottawa 67’s: Ryan Van Stralen, Philippe Trudeau
Niagara IceDogs: Mike Robinson

Leadership Squad
Ottawa 67’s: Sean Monahan (C), Taylor Fielding (A), Ryan Van Stralen (A), Joesph Blandisi (A)
Niagara IceDogs:  ? (C), Luke Mercer (A), Jordan Maletta (A), Anthony DiFruscia (A)

Potential Scratches
Ottawa 67's:  Sean Monahan (NHL camp), Michel Vlajkov (injury), Also scratched last game: Connor Graham, Troy Henley
Niagara IceDogs:  ?

*follow us on twitter (@msconduct or @A_Quevillon) for game day scratches

Niagara IceDogs

Who's Gone?
Ondrej Kopta
Steven Shipley – graduated from OHL, Buffalo Sabres farm system
Trevor Petersen – playing in the OJHL with Newmarket
Brett Ritchie – in the Dallas Stars farm system
Broderick Kelly
Ryan Shipley
Shane Rover – graduated from OHL
Tyler Mort – graduated from OHL
Dougie Hamilton – with the Boston Bruins

Who's New?
Hayden McCool – 1st round pick 2013 OHL Priority Selection
Zach Wilkie – 2nd round pick 2013 OHL Priority Selection
Alexander Protapovich – 2nd round pick 2013 CHL Import Draft
Aleksander Mikulovich – 2nd round pick 2013 CHL Import Draft
Graham Knott – 3rd round pick 2013 OHL Priority Selection
Johnny Cornell – 4th round pick 2013 OHL Priority Selection
Vince Dunn – 6th round pick 2012 OHL Priority Selection
Cody Caron – 7th round pick 2013 OHL Priority Selection
Sam Berg – 14th round pick 2012 OHL Priority Selection
Blake Siebenaler – 15th round pick 2012 OHL Priority Selection

Ottawa Connection
Brent Moran – native of Orleans, ON

2012-13 Head-To-Head Stats
Record: 3-1-0-0 for Niagara
Combined score: 20-8 for Niagara

Top scorers

Ottawa 67's
Tyler Graovac - 2 goals, 1 assist in 2 games
Brett Gustavsen - 1 goal, 2 assists in 4 games
Cody Ceci - 0 goals, 3 assists in 4 games

Niagara IceDogs
Ryan Strome – 4 goals, 4 assists in 4 games
Steven Shipley – 3 goals, 3 assists in 4 games
Dougie Hamilton – 1 goal, 5 assists in 4 games

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