Special to Bullet News
Andrew Agozzino
The Niagara IceDogs started off the new year on a good note, defeating the Owen Sound Attack 4-3 in a shootout on Friday night in Ontario Hockey League action at Jack Gatecliff Arena.
In the first period, Niagara’s league leading powerplay struck at 13:55 of the first period, as Tom Kuhnhackl beat Attack goaltender Jordan Binnington, with assists from Jesse Graham and Alex Friesen. The goal was Kuhnhackl’s second as a member of the IceDogs and first since returning from his 20-game suspension.
Owen Sound replied just over a minute later, however, as sophomore forward Gemel Smith potted his 18th goal of the season past Niagara netminder Christopher Festarini.
The second period was scoreless, but was not without its excitement as Joel Wigle and Kurtis Gabriel dropped the gloves in a spirited bout.
Later in the period, during a stoppage in play, the TV camera focused on Mark Visentin, who just returned from winning the bronze medal at the 2012 World Junior Championship, and was watching the game from the stands. The crowd gave Visentin a loud standing ovation for over a minute.
The third period started with some fireworks too, as team captain Andrew Agozzino and Daniel Catenacci went toe-to-toe just 56 seconds into the frame. The fisticuffs continued just under two minutes later as Myles Doan squared off with Brayden Rose. Trevor Petersen and Joseph Blandisi capped off the rough play, making it three fights in the first six and a half minutes of the period.
Steven Shipley got the IceDogs on the board mere seconds after the final bout, giving the IceDogs a 2-1 lead. Just over halfway through the final frame, Agozzino put the IceDogs ahead by two with yet another powerplay goal. Alex Friesen, and newly acquired forward Brett Ritchie assisted on the goal.
Former Niagara IceDogs defenceman Matt Petgrave cut into the Niagara lead with six minutes left to play in the period. Gemel Smith earned his second point of the game with an assist on the play. Attack captain Mike Halmo tied the game up with 30 seconds to go, sending it to overtime.
Overtime solved nothing and the game headed to a shootout. Agozzino buried the only shootout goal to give the IceDogs their first home shootout win of the season.
The IceDogs next home game is Saturday against the Sarnia Sting at 7 p.m. It marks the return of Ryan Strome, Freddie Hamilton, Dougie Hamilton and Mark Visentin from the world championship tournament.
Game Summary
1. NIAG T. Kuhnhackl, (2) (J. Graham, A. Friesen), 13:55 (PP)
1. OS G. Smith, (18) (K. Gabriel, J. Blandisi), 15:03
3. NIAG S. Shipley, (10) (A. Agozzino, D. Pacan), 6:52
3. NIAG A. Agozzino, (21) (B. Ritchie, A. Friesen), 10:49 (PP)
3. OS M. Petgrave, (7) (G. Smith, D. Zweep), 14:03
3. OS M. Halmo, (24) (C. Brace, G. Schemitsch), 19:26
Shootout
NIA Agozzino – GOAL
OS Blandisi – MISS
NIA Kuhnhackl – MISS
OS Catenacci – MISS
NIA Shipley – MISS
OS Smith – MISS
Attendance – 3,145
