Game Day: 67's host IceDogs

A tired Niagara IceDogs team rolls into town Sunday afternoon on the backend of a 3-in-3 weekend.  It’s been a rough weekend for the IceDogs but it’s also been a very rough season.  Currently on their longest losing streak of the season, 7 games, the IceDogs only have one win in their last 13 games.

Brett Gustavsen beats two IceDogs but was robbed by Orleans native Brent Moran during the last game in Ottawa

They were the latest victims falling 4-2 to the Peterborough Petes on Saturday night.  It was their first game without captain & Isles prospect Jesse Graham who was traded following the 6-1 loss to the Sudbury Wolves on Friday night.  In full rebuild mode, the veteran captain, Graham, was sent Saginaw Spirit in exchange for 2 second round picks and a third round pick.  Niagara also traded away Mack Lemmon and Brook Hiddink.  Aside from draft picks, they get back former IceDog Billy Jenkins who spent his first 1.5 seasons with the club.

The 67’s are coming off one of their best efforts of the season and are well rested.  Inactive since Tuesday, the 67’s will look to build off their big 9-4 win over the Belleville Bulls.  Brendan Bell scored his first career OHL hattrick while Dante Salituro and Nevin Guy tallied for 5 points each.

While the IceDogs have not been doing well lately, the last time these two teams met the game resulted in a convincing 7-4 IceDogs win.  Leafs prospect Carter Verhaeghe has been a big element in these season series with 2 goals and 12 points through 3 OHL seasons.  Youngster Anthony DiFruscia also has 6 goals and 7points through 2 OHL seasons.

A huge division rival 4-point game… both teams should come out of the gates flying.  The IceDogs sit only two points back of the 67’s for 8th place in the Eastern Conference – 67’s have two games in hand.

2013-14 Regular Season Record

Ottawa 67's:  8-13-1-1 (GF: 80 / GA: 104)

Niagara IceDogs:  6-15-2-2 (GF: 82 / GA: 112)

Leading Scorers

Ottawa 67’s

Dante Salituro – 7 goals, 24 points in 23 games

Travis Konecny– 8 goals, 23 points in 23 games

Joseph Blandisi – 13 goals, 22 points in 22 games

Niagara IceDogs

Carter Verhaeghe – 16 goals, 38 points in 25 games

Brendan Perlini – 14 goals, 37 points in 25 games

Anthony DiFruscia – 13 goals, 22 points in 24 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 C list (moved down)

Alex Lintuniemi – NHL draft eligible 2014, NHL Central Scouting C list
Travis Konecny – 1st overall pick in OHL, NHL draft eligible 2015

Niagara IceDogs

Brendan Perlini – NHL draft eligible 2014, NHL Central Scouting A list (moved up)

Aaron Haydon – NHL draft eligible 2014, NHL Central Scouting B list

Aleksandr Mikulovich – NHL draft eligible 2014, NHL Central Scouting C list

Brent Moran – NHL draft eligible 2014, NHL Central Scouting C list (moved down)

*Blake Siebenaler – NHL draft eligible 2014, NHL Central Scouting C list (entered rankings)

*Alexander Protapovich – no longer on NHL Central Scouting rankings

 

Overagers

Ottawa 67’s:  Ryan Van Stralen, Philippe Trudeau

Niagara IceDogs:  Mike Robinson, Eric Ming, Christopher Festarini

Leadership Squad

Ottawa 67’s:  Taylor Fielding (A), Ryan Van Stralen (A), Joesph Blandisi (A)

Niagara IceDogs:  Luke Mercer (A), Carter Verhaeghe (A), Jordan Maletta (A), Anthony DiFruscia (A)

Potential Scratches

Ottawa 67's:  Mike Vlajkov, Taylor Davis (also scratched last game: Troy Henley, Trevor Dulong, Connor Graham)
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

*Jesse Graham – traded to the Saginaw Spirit earlier this season

*Brook Hiddink – traded to the Plymouth Whalers earlier this season

*Mack Lemmon – traded to the Kingston Frontenacs

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

*Eric Ming – acquired from the Kitchener Rangers earlier this season

*Billy Jenkins – acquired from the Kingston Frontenacs earlier this season

Ottawa Connections

Billy Jenkins – native of Ottawa, played with Ottawa Valley Titans (OEMHL)

Brent Moran – native of Orleans, played with Orleans Blues & Ottawa Jr. 67’s (OEMHL)

So Far This Season…

2012-13 Head-To-Head Stats

Record: 1-1-0-0 tie
Combined score:  9-7 for Niagara

Past game reviews:

Oct 17/13: 7-4 67’s loss

Sept 29/13: 3-2 67’s win

Top scorers

Ottawa 67's

Brett Gustavsen – 1 goal, 3 assists in 2 games
Nevin Guy – 2 goals, 1 assist in 2 games

Joseph Blandisi – 2 goals, 0 assists in 2 games

Niagara IceDogs

Carter Verhaeghe – 2  goals, 4 assists in 2 games

Anthony DiFruscia – 5 goals, 0 assists in 2 games

Jesse Graham – 1 goal, 3 assists in 2 games