Dogs take a bite out of Battalion

The Niagara Ice Dogs and the Brampton Battalion have developed quite the rivalry lately. The two have been in a back and forth struggle for top spot in the Central Division. Most recently, Niagara has edged ahead, making the Feb. 4 game against the Battalion a great opportunity to put some space between the two teams in the standings.

The Dogs took to the ice in front of a sellout crowd at the Garden City Complex donning pink uniforms for the Pink at the Rink game in support of Breast Cancer research. Prior to the puck drop, a moment of silence was held for John Harrison, father of Ice Dogs President Denise Burke, who passed away on Feb. 3 after a lengthy battle with Pancreatic Cancer.

A penalty just three minutes into the first period to Brampton forward Ian Watters would turn into an unpleasant omen for the Battalion. Steven Shipley would capitalize on the man advantage giving the Ice Dogs a 1-0 lead before the five minute mark. Mitchell Theoret and Jesse Graham would draw assists on the goal. The rest of the first period would be a back and forth battle as both teams would record 13 shots on the opposing goaltender.

The second period was all Brampton on the score sheet. Derek Froats scored his fifth goal of the season to tie the game at 1-1 just before the halfway mark of the period. Less than two minutes later, Battalion defenseman Brendan Miller gave the Troops a 2-1 lead after he kept in a clearing attempt and blasted a shot at the net. Brampton would outshoot the Icedogs 8-6 in the period.

To say that the wheels came off the bus for the Battalion in the third would be taking away from how effective the Niagara power play was during the game. Marcus McIvor would go off for holding, followed closely by fellow Battalion defenseman Dylan Blujus, giving the Ice Dogs a two man advantage. It only took 35 seconds for Alex Friesen to knot the score up at 2-2 just before the initial penalty to McIvor finished. Carter Verhaeghe and Tom Kuhnhackl picked up assists on the marker.

With Blujus still in the box, the Niagara power play struck again to make it 3-2 just 20 seconds later. Brett Ritchie found the back of the net while Jesse Graham and Steven Shipley would tally their second points of the evening by drawing the assists.

David Pacan's 24th goal of the season just over a minute later was enough to chase Battalion goaltender Matej Machovsky from the net in favour of Keegan Wilson. Machovsky allowed four goals on 26 shots in less than 50 minutes of work.

Wilson would then take a delay of game penalty and give Niagara yet another man advantage. Like they'd done three times already in the game, the Ice Dogs would convert the opportunity. This time Freddie Hamilton would celebrate his 21st on the season from Captain Andrew Agozzino and Alex Friesen.

"After the second period the coach came in and told us what needed to be done," said Niagara defenseman Brock Beukeboom. "We got three quick ones and it's a great way to finish a game for sure."

This matchup was the final regular season contest between the Ice Dogs and Battalion, but a playoff series between the two may be just around the corner.

The Ice Dogs are off until the visiting Mississauga Majors head into town on Feb. 9 at the Gatorade Garden City Complex downtown St. Catharines. Puck drops at 7:00 p.m.