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 – 1^st round pick 2013 OHL Priority Selection

Zach Wilkie – 2^nd round pick 2013 OHL Priority Selection

Alexander Protapovich – 2^nd round pick 2013 CHL Import Draft

Aleksander Mikulovich – 2^nd round pick 2013 CHL Import Draft

Graham Knott – 3^rd round pick 2013 OHL Priority Selection

Johnny Cornell – 4^th round pick 2013 OHL Priority Selection

Vince Dunn – 6^th round pick 2012 OHL Priority Selection

Cody Caron – 7^th round pick 2013 OHL Priority Selection

Sam Berg – 14^th round pick 2012 OHL Priority Selection

Blake Siebenaler – 15^th 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