The Niagara IceDogs Blog

We Have Moved......

2008-12-07T11:52:00.002-05:00

IceDogs Blog has moved!

For more of Steve, Ed and Al's comments please go to

Time For The IceDogs To Show If They Are For Real

2008-11-26T21:01:00.002-05:00

Last Wednesday night the Ice Dogs faced a crucial test. They went to Belleville to face the Eastern Conference Leading Bulls on their Olympic sized ice. This was a test that Niagara desperately wanted to pass so that they could prove they were ready to play with the leaders in the East. The result, a hugely disappointing 8 - 1 loss.

Since then, the Ice Dogs faced Sudbury in St.Catharines. This was a must win due to Sudbury's poor road record. The result, a narrow but important 5 - 4 win.

Niagara's boys then went head to head with the lowly Kingston Frontenacs on Sunday. Kingston's poor overall record might have suggested an easy win for Niagara but for one important fact. Doug "Killer" Gilmour was now behind the Fronts bench. Their improved play forced the Ice Dogs to face the dreaded shootout for the fifth time this season. Fortunately for the 3011 faithful fans at the Gatorade Garden City Complex, Niagara passed the test and for the first time this year came away from the shootout with a win, thanks in no small part to the goaltending of Mark Visentin and some timely scoring by Alex Pietrangelo.

Niagara now has 5 wins in their past 10 games. But guess who is coming to dinner on Thursday? None other than the hottest team in the league, complete with a 16 game winning streak. The last time these two teams clashed was in Niagara's cozy confines on September 27TH. Matt Piva scored twice and led the Ice Dogs to a 4 -2 win.

But that was then and this (as they say) is now. That loss was the first of five in a row for the Battalion. But they were playing without Cody Hodgson and Evgeny Gravchev. Since Butler's boys have had the benefit of their presence in the lineup, Brampton has been scorching hot as 16 consecutive wins in a row will attest. They currently sit two points back of the Conference leading Bulls, but have the benefit of three games in hand.

Niagara meanwhile, sits eight points behind Brampton, fourth overall in the Conference. Like Belleville, they too have played three more games than Brampton. If Niagara is going to improve its position and close the gap, this is a "MUST" win. They face Hodgson and Gravchev for sure, but they might not have to face Brampton's other main weapon, Matt Duchene. He was injured last weekend and thus his status for this game remains uncertain.

Like Brampton, Niagara has a few things going for them right now. Alex Pietrangelo is back from St.Louis and playing like he has not missed a beat. Witness a goal in the third period versus Kingston, followed by the game winning tally in the shootout.

Matt Sisca has found form and since sitting out one game as a healthy scratch has been scoring regularly enough to be named the OHL Player of the week one week ago.

Mark Visentin was between the pipes during both wins last weekend and looked sharp. The downside might just be that John Cullen went down with an undisclosed injury and might not be available for a while. Who would take his place remains to be seen.

And Drew Schiestel has been out for a while with that dreaded "upper body" injury which seems to be epidemic these days. If he is healthy, then the Ice Dogs might very well have the most experienced blue line corps in the OHL.

What we have here are two teams who appear to be coming into this game on a high note. Sixteen in a row would seem to be enough to suggest the Battalion are for real. Niagara on the other hand has yet to prove they are for real. There would be no better time (it would seem) to prove they are ready to compete on a consistent basis. The question for Mario's team therefore is; "Are you ready for it?"

WHY THE ICE DOGS SHOULD NOT TRADE ALEX PIETRANGELO

2008-11-22T09:46:00.000-05:00

A hero's welcome is certain to greet Alex Pietrangelo as he makes his home return this Saturday against the Sudbury Wolves. The big defenseman, repatriated from St. Louis recently, already has 1 goal and 3 assists in his two starts. The question remains as to how long his Ice Dog tenure will be considering that trade talk has heated up with both Petro and some up and comer named John Tavares being enticing bargaining chips.   It stands to reason from this vantage point that holding onto Pietrangelo would be in his and the teams best interest. Here's why:

1. GM's and other management pay close attention to the attendance gate for every home game. People are predicting an Ice Dog sell out for his home return and improved attendance going forward. If that trend rings true, then the Ice Dogs could ill afford to trade their star.

2. Related to point number one is that the Ice Dogs did a great job of making their players ambassadors for the community. Led by guys like Swift, Legein a and Caputi, the Ice Dogs became real heroes. It makes sense to have Petro as your community centrepiece. He's a high NHL pick, and more importantly is a genuinely nice guy.

3. Trade partners are limited. Right now the top four teams are London, Windsor, Brampton and Belleville. London and Windsor appear to be major players and are gunning for star power. Brampton is on a heck of a run right now, but likely waits to make a move. Belleville would be a nice fit. Imagine Petro partnered with P.K. Subban. Do they have the pieces to trade? Dave Brown likely demands a package of draft picks and one or two roster players in any deal.

4. In a middling Eastern Conference, the Ice Dogs are not that far off, having lost only two of twelve in regulation. After Brampton and Belleville, teams are bunched up. The 3rd seed brass ring is clearly up for grabs.

5. The Ice Dogs need Petro. Right now the Ice Dogs D is struggling. Fletcher, Schiestel and Josh Day have all struggled on the back end. You cannot blame the Ice Dogs' goals against average solely on young goaltending. There have been defensive breakdowns a plenty! Petro will play 30 minutes a game for the Dogs, will play in all situations and be better for it at next years St. Louis camp.

I believe the Ice Dogs will make a deal or two and a deal for Alex Pietrangelo may be too good to pass up. It is just not a guarantee that Petro will be in different colours come the New Year.

Steve Clark
TV Cogeco

TV Cogeco Programming Note

2008-11-16T15:01:00.003-05:00

TV Cogeco will be having its annual Rotary TV Auctions over the next few weeks. Please note the following conflicts.

Saturday November 22nd vs Sudbury will not be seen in Niagara Falls

Sunday November 29th @ Barrie will not be seen in St. Catharines

Friday December 5th vs Sarnia will not been seen in Welland/Pt. Colborne/Fonthill/Ft. Erie

Saturday December 6th vs Windsor will not been seen in Welland/Pt. Colborne/Fonthill/Ft. Erie

Time to Give Credit Where Credit is Due

2008-11-12T21:56:00.003-05:00

We are now approximately one third of the way through this OHL Season. So as I was driving alone in my car one day I heard Bob McCown on the Fan 590 elaborating once again an idea that he feels is long overdue in the NHL. And the more I thought about it, the more I thought, why not try it out in the OHL.

Simply put, it is an idea that hockey purists (hello Ed Burkholder?) out there are bound to hate. But it is one I think, that is worthy of serious consideration. It should give credit ultimately to true success in League Play.

For a number of years now, in an attempt to keep teams from playing ultimately for a tie in the dying minutes of a close game, we have seen the advent of sudden death, four on four overtime for five minutes. The idea of course is that both teams will go all out in an attempt to gain one extra point in the standings by winning in OT. Fewer players on the ice should provide extra skating room and more offence. At least that is the theory.

Furthermore, if a win is not produced in OT, then we send it to the dreaded Shootout, which goes on until a winner is finally decided. Losers in OT or Shootout shouldn't go home empty handed, so the loss is rewarded with one point in the standings.

In my mind, I agree with Bob McCown. Why should a loss be worth only one fewer point than a win, just because the game could not be decided in Regulation Time? Let's really encourage teams to go all out to win in 60 minutes. And the way to accomplish this you ask, is to change the way we reward wins and losses.

Let's award 4 points for a win in Regulation Time, 3 points for a win in OT and 2 points for a win in the Shootout. If you still must provide a reward for surviving sixty minutes, then you can still award one point for a loss in OT or by Shootout.

I would suggest that you will see fewer teams simply "hanging on" for OT or a shootout, because I think you will see more offensive creativity from coaches in the dying minutes or during extra time. The reason of course would be the extra incentive of more than just a one point difference. This would be especially true I would suggest in tight playoff races late in the season. And in the end, this would be more fun for the fans.

Listed below are the current standings (at the time of writing) compared to the 4-3-2-1 format. I would love to hear you the fans on this, so I encourage your comments.

And yes Ed Burkholder, Bob and I just might be crazy!

	Current Standings As Of
	November 12, 2008

	Eastern Conference
Rank	Team	GP	W	L	OTL	SL	Pts
1	Brampton Battalion	20	14	6	0	0	28
2	Belleville Bulls	21	13	6	1	1	28
3	Ottawa 67's	21	11	9	0	1	23
4	Sudbury Wolves	18	9	7	1	1	20
5	Oshawa Generals	20	9	10	0	1	19
6	Peterborough Petes	21	9	11	0	1	19
7	Niagara Ice Dogs	21	6	8	3	4	19
8	Barrie Colts	19	8	10	1	0	17
9	Mississauga St.Mike's Majors	18	7	10	0	1	15
10	Kingston Frontenacs	21	5	12	4	0	14

	Western Conference
Rank	Team	GP	W	L	OTL	SL	Pts
1	Windsor Spitfires	21	19	2	0	0	38
2	London Knights	20	14	5	0	1	29
3	Guelph Storm	21	12	7	1	1	26
4	Saginaw Spirit	18	12	6	0	0	24
5	Sault Ste.Marie Greyhounds	19	10	8	1	0	21
6	Erie Otters	20	10	9	1	0	21
7	Sarnia Sting	19	9	8	1	1	20
8	Owen Sound Attack	19	7	8	3	1	18
9	Kitchener Rangers	18	7	9	1	1	16
10	Plymouth Whalers	19	6	11	2	0	14

	Revised 4-3-2-1 Standings
	As of November 12,2008

	Eastern Conference
Rank	Team	GP	W	OTW	SOW	L	OTL	SOL	Pts
1	Belleville Bulls	21	12	0	1	6	1	1	52
2	Brampton Battalion	20	11	1	2	6	0	0	49
3	Ottawa 67's	21	11	0	0	9	0	1	45
4	Sudbury Wolves	18	8	0	1	7	1	1	36
5	Peterborough Petes	21	7	2	0	11	0	1	35
6	Oshawa Generals	20	7	1	1	10	0	1	34
7	Barrie Colts	19	7	1	0	10	1	0	34
8	Niagara Ice Dogs	21	6	0	0	8	3	4	31
9	Mississauga St.Mike's Majors	18	6	0	1	10	0	1	27
10	Kingston Frontenacs	21	4	1	0	12	4	0	23

	Western Conference
Rank	Team	GP	W	OTW	SOW	L	OTL	SOL	Pts
1	Windsor Spitfires	21	17	1	1	2	0	0	73
2	London Knights	20	11	3	0	5	0	1	54
3	Saginaw Spirit	18	10	1	1	6	0	0	45
4	Guelph Storm	21	8	2	2	7	1	1	42
5	Erie Otters	20	10	0	0	9	1	0	41
6	Sarnia Sting	19	8	1	0	8	1	1	37
7	Sault Ste.Marie Greyhounds	19	5	4	1	8	1	0	35
8	Owen Sound Attack	19	5	1	1	8	3	1	29
9	Kitchener Rangers	18	5	1	1	9	1	1	27
10	Plymouth Whalers	19	4	0	2	11	2	0	22

DO THE DOGS NEED A VETERAN 'TENDER?

2008-11-11T21:48:00.000-05:00

During Saturday's our local roundtable entitled Between the Bluelines, Al, Ed and I debated whether or not it was time to trade for a veteran goaltender. Ed was very direct in saying that it was time to make a move for a veteran tender, while I agreed with Ed but was not quite as vociferous. I pointed out the 6 games (now 7) in which the Ice Dogs have gone to either a shootout or OT. The Ice Dogs, by the way, are a dismal 0-7 in those games. While people will point out that the Ice Dogs get a point in those games, do you really see the Ice Dogs high-fiving over an OT loss or a shootout loss? Bottom line is those are losses and points taken off the board for the Ice Dogs. Win half of those games and questions about whether or not the Ice Dogs get a veteran 'tender likely are not raised.   Of note in those losses I would consider at least 2/3 of the OT goals scored against the Ice Dogs as "softies" while between them John Cullen and Mark Visentin have allowed 9/13 goals in the shootout. You can spin them any way you want, but those are pretty dismal. Both goaltenders have had their shining moments in net. Poor John Cullen was brilliant on Thursday but the lasting image is of him being woefully out of position on the OT winner and then throwing a bit of a temper tantrum on the ice that may have done John McEnroe proud.

Back to the original question of whether or  not the Ice Dogs need a veteran goaltender. Certainly the goalie landscape changed with the trade of Trevor Cann to Peterborough. Now teams have a sense of what personality their team will take on.  This is of course, thrown out the window if you are the Osahawa Generals who got pounded 10-2 by Peterborough and then beat Kitchener 5-3 on the road and then thumped Barrie 5-0 at home, which I'm sure has their Coach Chris DePiero scratching his head.    Bottom line for the Ice Dogs is that they are not far away from being in the upper echelon of the conference.   Outside of Belleville and Brampton, teams are bunched up and a goaltender can be a difference maker. The Ice Dogs know that all too well when they got Sebastian Dahm from Sudbury last year.

Thanks to the advent of fantasy sports, everyone thinks that they can be a GM and the pulse of the Ice Dog nation seems to lean toward demoting Visentin and making Cullen the back-up. Sounds good on paper, but what you are doing is telling two young goaltenders that their roles have been reduced and they are demoted. What does that do for the make-up of a young goaltender? On the other side of the coin, the OT and Shootout losses are piling up and there has got to be a measure of frustration on the team that they have not closed the deal in OT or the Shootout.

If you are truly developing a young team, then you ride it out and stick with the young 'tenders knowing that there will be some long nights at the office. If you feel you have a shot at the upper part of the conference, then it is imperative to grab a veteran goalie. That much you owe to your veterans, and you need to pull the trigger on that deal sooner rather than later..

Dave Brown, over to you.

Steve Clark
TV Cogeco

Crunch Time

2008-10-28T09:20:00.000-04:00

It may seem that we are well into this year's hockey season. And yet the reality is that it is still early days. Despite this, the season has already arrived at a critical juncture for a number of players selected last June in the NHL Draft. NHL Teams can keep their picks in the lineup for nine games before their salaries kick in against the cap. Hard as it might seem to believe it is "crunch time" already for these young men.

At the time of writing, Sarnia's Steven Stamkos, Peterborough's Zach Bogosian and Guelph's Drew Doughty all have seven games under their belts with Tampa, Atlanta and L.A. respectively. WHL graduate Luke Schenn has put in eight games with Toronto already and Alex Pietrangelo has logged only three games due to being placed on the Injured Reserve List by St.Louis.

None of these players show any signs that they are about to return to their Junior alma matre. In fact, the Leafs have announced that they plan to keep Schenn in Toronto. Of the remaining four, it is probably a pretty safe bet their careers in the NHL are now secure. Thus, the NHL's gain is Junior Hockey's loss. A loss for Canada that is, come this December, when it is time to select this year's edition of Team Canada. How great would this fearsome five look with a red maple leaf on their chests?

One might also say "Crunch Time" has arrived for the Ice Dogs as October draws to a close. Niagara has just come off a huge victory against the Spirit this past Saturday. They got a solid effort from everyone, despite being out shot 38 to 28. The defence needs to tighten up and allow fewer Shots on Goal. The good news was that Mark Visentin came up with some tremendous saves when called upon and that was a very welcome sign that perhaps the fortunes of the Ice Dogs are about to turn in their favor. But to win consistently, the team collectively must play better in support of their young netminders.

Niagara can score. No doubt about that. They currently sit with the second highest total "goals for" in the East with 52. Only Oshawa with 57 has more. But, they have allowed the highest "goals against" in the East with 64. If the Dogs are to win more frequently they need to continue to be the creative offensive team they have demonstrated themselves to be this year, while at the same time cutting down on the goals against.

This young Niagara Team can still easily move up in the standings and compete with virtually any team in the League. But to do so, they must start now before losing any more ground on the leaders in the standings.

Crunch Time is here indeed!

IceDogs Goals v Saginaw

2008-10-26T20:16:00.001-04:00

2008-10-26T02:20:00.003-04:00

TV Cogeco would like to apologize for the technical difficulties experienced in the

St. Catharines/Thorold area during the game on October 25th. We will be working to correct these issues shortly.

Hockey = Respect

2008-10-20T15:57:00.002-04:00

Many people have different views of the game of hockey. Hockey to me is synonymous with good values and respect. We as hockey players were always taught the team come first over the individual. Great life lesson to learn. Hockey is the best sport in the world. 20 guys working together for a common goal. Hockey is about extra effort. Hockey is about war and leaving everything to have to offer on the ice. You always can see someone's true character when things are going wrong or your team is on a losing streak. The complainers and the people that are first to throw someone under the bus. It is easy being a good team-mate or coach or parent or fan when things are going well. Good people, good players are there for each other when things go bad. Hockey is a game of mistakes. I have never seen anyone play a perfect game. It is when a mistake is made that a true team-mate picks that player up and says "forget about it"." You have done 100 things right to your one thing wrong". Hockey is about brothers for life in good and bad. 20 players hearts beating as one. That is a true team and that is pure hockey.

Ok...there is my mission statement for the day. Let's talk Ice Dogs. The most important ingredient for a successful team is attitude and strong effort.The good news is the Ice Dogs have plenty of that. They come out to play every shift. I have yet to see them quit. I firmly believe that hard work never goes unrewarded. If the Ice Dogs continue to play hard the wins will come their way.

SHUFFLING DECK CHAIRS ON THE TITANIC, STAYING THE COURSE AND OTHER POORLY CONSTRUCTED BOAT RELATED ANALOGIES

2008-10-20T15:56:00.003-04:00

Disclaimer: There will be no mention of the return, impending return or speculative return of Alex Pietrangelo.

I am guessing it was somewhat of a bedraggled and disconsolate Ice Dog team that returned from their sojourn through the U.S last week.   It was the first significant road trip of the year for the young team, it was a time for some team bonding and a time to pick themselves off the mat and build some momentum after a stirring 4-2 victory over Peterborough on Thanksgiving. However, three tough losses, two of which featured late game winning goals made for a lost week's worth of games. Now the Ice Dogs are also 0-6 on the road, though one of those was through a shootout.

If you were looking at the glass being half-empty , you point to the hard fact of the matter that the Ice Dogs have won one of their last nine games. If you were looking at it being half-full, you see the margin of error between winning and losing being awfully slim as three games have gone to a shootout, as well as the aforementioned late goals.   Fans tend to have a hair-trigger when they look for solutions. Such is life with the ardent fan. The Ice Dogs cannot doctor the birth certificate of Michael Swift, nor kidnap Luca Caputi or programme Reggie Jackson to kill the queen (oops classsic Naked Gun reference slipped in there). What solutions exist for the Ice Dogs?

DOES THE COACH WALK THE PLANK?
Aaah yes, the old adage of deep-sixing the coach. No, not the solution here. Coach Cichillo and his staff will accept their fair share of responsibility for the recent woes. However, if you look at the games, Cichillo has shuffled the lines, put the right personnel on at the end of games and even changed up the shootout rotation. I may cringe a little when he rolls out his four and five forward power play, but the coach is fine.   In fact, I think his approach likely has been a stabilizing force for the young Ice Dogs.

TRADER DAVE?
A big trade usually shakes the foundation to the core.   That being said the Ice Dogs do not have the right marketable assets in making trades. This is not to say that the players are not enticing to other teams. However, do you really want Andrew Aggozino, Chris DeSousa, Alex Friesen, or Mathew Sisca traded at the peak of their development? Guys like Scott Fletcher and Josh Day are proven commodities, but as overagers their return in a trade is somewhat minimal.   It leaves a guy like Drew Schiestel, but you really need his two-way play and steadying influence back there.

STAY THE COURSE
While the returns have not been good for the Ice Dogs in the early going, there is no need for a full scale panic. Last years Ice Dogs endured a six-game losing streak in which they were miserable, being outscored 31-16 and suffering two 7-2 losses. Most teams go through a rough patch at some point in the season. If there is anything that is slightly alarming it is the inability to win on the road. Elite teams hold serve on the road, meaning they will be at .500 if not above and rule the roost at home. The team is not that far away from being back in the upper echelon of the conference, surprising as it may sound considering their recent woes.

Maybe the balance of power would be tipped by the repatriation of a certain #10 whose name is constantly mis-pronounced. (sorry, I tried but one reference had to sneak in there. Hey, at least I did not come out and say his name!)

Steve Clark
TV Cogeco Play-by-Play

Conventional Wisdom

2008-10-19T18:32:00.000-04:00

I have good news and I have bad news. The bad news is the Ice Dogs are 8TH in their Conference. The good news is that if the season were to end today they would have a spot in the post season.

To be sure, this stretch of 10 games has been hard to take. Even seasoned broadcast veterans such as me would rather cover a Team that is successful and exciting to watch. But let's not get too wrapped up in doom and gloom here. Of their 10 losses, 1 was in overtime and 3 came via shootout. Just 3 more points during that stretch and the Dogs would be tied with Barrie and Oshawa (as I sit down to write this on Sunday October 19TH) for 2ND in the Conference.

Faithful Ice Dog fans are itching for changes. And not just tinkering, but significant changes that turn around a team's fortunes immediately. Most immediately, the Fans are demanding trades. Go get an experienced goalie some say. Others say, trade your O/A's for help. When is Pietrangelo coming back? All valid thoughts and questions to be sure. But the truth of the matter is that there aren't likely to be any easy answers. If Dave Brown could make these moves, he probably would. His career and that of his coaching staff depend on success on the ice. Trust me, I have known Dave and Mario professionally for 4 years and they hate to lose. Actions such as trades can only happen when someone else out there needs to help themselves as well. And often as not, teams will only look to solidify their lineups as they get closer to the trade deadline. Until then, Conventional Wisdom in the Major Junior Hockey World suggests all teams will continue to monitor their rosters and have conversations with other teams in an attempt to sniff out potential trade deadline opportunities. At the same time, keeping their own statagey close to the vest.

Sounds painful to be sure. But most OHL teams are currently locked into this courtship ritual. And while it goes on, the fans have to endure it.

As for Alex Pietrangelo, Conventional Hockey Wisdom suggests, that unless an 18 year old prospect is the 2ND coming of Bobby Orr, it is always best to return him to Junior. Better that than to scar him for life with a bitter NHL experience. But when it comes to such traditional wisdom, the times may be changing. In the world of the salary cap, NHL Teams may opt keep an entry level contract rather than a higher priced veteran who may have lost a step. Alex has played 3 games with St.Louis so far and by all reports has done nothing to hurt his chances of staying with the Team. In fact, reports are his play has been solid. He may very well come back and for the sake of the suffering fans in Niagara, I hope he does. But I would suggest that his return won't be automatic.

For all you suffering Niagara Ice Dog Fans out there, the ride this year may be bumpy. But it certainly won't be dull!

IceDogs v Peterborough fights

2008-10-14T18:08:00.001-04:00

Niagara v Peterborough

Growing Pains

2008-10-11T20:05:00.001-04:00

Several weeks ago, just prior to the opening game of the Ice Dogs Season, I wrote an article entitled "What's In a Prediction?" In it I speculated on reports that the Ice Dogs were picked by some to finish dead last. Some to finish first. And I suggested a fourth place finish was not out of the question.

To their credit, the faithful fans who shell out hard earned dollars to watch and cheer this team, have continued to fill the Gatorade Garden City Complex each and every night. And if the Fan Forums are any indication they continue to live and die with every game. There has been no waning interest in Niagara.

To be certain, there is definitely frustration with this last stretch of five losses. The Shootouts have been the hardest to take. The Team plays well in stretches during each and every game. And if they lose, it is not by much. But close only counts (they say) in horseshoes and hand grenades. The fans grew used to winning last season. And nothing less (it seems) is acceptable this year.

There are to be sure, bright spots. Agozzino and Piva have started strong. Schiestel has been hot offensively and his old buddy Josh Day has returned. And so too has Scott Fletcher. The defence it seems has depth and experience enough to anchor this year's Team. Hamilton, Insam and Rover have all shown indications that their future with this team is bright and secure.

The goaltending is young and inexperienced. But this was to be expected. If the Ice Dogs learned anything in the last few years, it is that goaltenders have to be groomed by exposure to the harsh realities of OHL Hockey. Loverock and Lobsinger are prime examples. I wouldn't expect to see a Sebastian Dahm ride in to save this Team. Other than Trevor Cann, there does not appear to be many potential goalies with experience available. And, if the rumours are to be believed, the London Knights (who else?) would seem to be the ultimate destination for him.

No! Patience appears to be a commodity that Ice Dog Fans are going to require in spades this year. Like the Leafs this year in Toronto, Junior Hockey Teams must be redeveloped from scratch every three or four years. Players come and players go. Nothing is as constant as change. And the Ice Dogs are no exception. Fans have to hope that these youngsters gain experience and can along with a draft pick or two next season, grow into a competitive team that can take another run at a championship.

Early indications are that this group will be (at times) entertaining and heart breaking. This is not a year for the "faint of heart"! All I can offer you is a request to"Keep the faith, baby!"

Insight From The Perspective of the Broadcast

2008-10-06T23:42:00.004-04:00

Forgive me Ice Dog fans, for I have sinned. You see I cheated on all of you on Sunday by , gasp, broadcasting a game for another team. Not only I did I broadcast for another team that team was the Oshawa Generals, much maligned by fans of this region after their elimination of their beloved Ice Dogs last year. Few people know, but I got my OHL start in Oshawa two years ago as I filled in for Roger Lajoie on several occasions. Plus, I lived and worked in the area for seven years, so I actually enjoy going back to the Durham Region.

While I enjoy going back to Oshawa, and broadcasting at the General Motors Centre, there is one thing I could do without.  The first of which is one perilous work across the catwalk at the top of the arena to get to the gondola. I am petrified of heights and much prefer the short climb up the stairs at the Gatorade Garden City Complex to this terrifying walk. I usually ask someone to walk with me and invariably that person will shout out encouragingly "Just don't look down". Of course the natural inclination is to do that , thus reinforcing the fact that its way up in the air. Once I get to the gondola, I'm done and I don't move until the end of the game. I have not pondered what would happen if I had to go to the bathroom during intermission.   The second thing I dread is the walk back, for the same reasons. I have a feeling that if I were ever selected to go on the Amazing Race, I would be lousy at anything involving heights, though it would be compelling TV to see a guy turn deathly while while cursing a blue streak.

As for the broadcast, while the game is the game, you are working with new directors, producers, camera people colour commentators and the like. You must develop on-air chemistry with someone whom you have never met. Fortunately, Mike Vonella, the guy I worked with was easy-going and that part worked out well. Still, having worked over 40 games with my colleagues Ed Burholder and Al Galloway, the comfort level there is instantaneous and natural but  it does take a while to gain an on-air rapport. It was a good game to call, with lots of chances, three fights and some guy named Tavares who I hear has a shot to make an impact.

Confession, I hear, is good for the soul and it feels good to get this indiscretion about broadcasting with another team out of my system.

A Quick Note About Saturday's Game:

The game was great for the fans and for a broadcaster. You had comebacks, fights, a late equalizer by the home team and a number of dandy goals. If you are a coach you're not as much of a fan and if you are Coach Cichillo, you must be wondering about the points that got away. In three Ice Dogs losses this year either in OT or a shootout, the Ice Dogs have given up a marginal OT goal,(vs. Oshawa) a late tying goal (vs. Belleville), two real bad goals in the third period and two blown two goal leads (vs.. Plymouth). That is three points out the window, and that is not counting a two goal lead coughed up in Oshawa in the third period. Though early in the season, those are points lost that could come back and haunt the Dogs as the season progresses.

It might be too early to push the panic button and start jettisoning draft picks and players for a quick fix, but it would not surprise me to see Dave Brown begin exploring a little tinkering with the current line-up sooner rather than later.

Steve Clark- TV Cogeco Play by Play

Scheduling Follies and the Goaltending Rotation

2008-10-03T23:47:00.004-04:00

One wonders who the Ice Dogs ticked off in the schedule department. In a five week span the Ice Dogs play four, count 'em four three games in three nights and two back to backs. Now I know that back to backs and a weekend heavy schedule are a part of life in the OHL, but that it is a heavy schedule. Plus, it must be tough to set your goaltending rotation with such a schedule, especially considering that Mario Cichillo is giving both John Cullen and Mark Visentin equal opportunity to grab the brass ring, that is the number one spot. Or perhaps the coach will not declare a number one and split the work evenly. Heck, for a time in the 1980's the Montreal Canadians employed three goalies evenly! Who could forget the three-headed monster that was Denis Herron, Bunny Larocque and Richard Sevigny? My guess is that both goalies will get work until the scheduling normalizes.

Right Back on the Horse

Last Thursday Mark Visentin let in a bit of a softy in OT to Kory Nagy in a 3-2 defeat. The very next night Visentin was between the pipes. That was a good move by the coaching staff as they let the young goaltender know that they had faith in him. Last night against Belleville John Cullen allowed a late goal and then got beat three out of four times in the shootout. THe guessing here is that Coach Cichillo and his staff will employ a similar thought process and put Cullen back in net against the Majors.

Juggling the Defense

It would not surprise me if GM Dave Brown was keeping a vigil on Geneva Street looking to see if Scott Fletcher Josh Day or Alex Pietrangelo were exiting off of the 406 in Ice Dog uniforms. Last night the young defense acquitted themselves well for the most part, save from some miscues that can only be attributed to youth. David McMullen dove on a puck with about 3 minutes to go with no one around him, garnering a delay of game penalty. Then the defensive zone coverage broke down in the last 30 seconds of regulation allowing Belleville to tie the game. Plus, poor Reggie Traccito dropped to block a shot and caught one right in the cashews, which I'm sure every red-blooded male in the arena felt. If you are wondering, there really is no proper way to broadcast that other than to let the visuals tell the story.

Steve Clark

Matt Piva IceDogs Breakout Player of the Year?

2008-09-30T19:37:00.011-04:00

Matt Piva had to clear league waivers to become a member of this year’s version of the Niagara Ice Dogs. Life in the Ontario Hockey League has never been easy for this over-ager. He spent 21 games with the Oshawa Generals in 2004/2005. But he had to split the season with the Wellington Dukes of the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League.

The following year, he played 59 games with the Gens and got 13 points and 58 minutes in penalties. But then, in 2006/2007 he seemed to be on his way great things with 38 points and 69 minutes in penalties with Toronto St.Mike’s Majors. Last year in Mississauga, he again produced respectable numbers with 35 points in 47 games. But, rumors persisted around the league that he and the coaching staff were on different pages. Whatever the issues, it was apparent that Piva and the Majors were headed for an irrevocable split at the end of last year.

Fast forward to 2008/2009 and just 4 games into this young season he already has 5 goals and 4 PIM. In two TVCogeco interviews so far, Piva has gone to great lengths to sing the praises of his coaches, the management and his teammates. He is playing with the man advantage, while shorthanded and in pretty much every conceivable situation the team can put him in. And given his success thus far, this young man seems destined for a career year.

General Manager Dave Brown is no stranger to offering players second chances. Witness the Aaron Snow experiment last year. And as with Snow, when they fail, they can fail big time. But every so often, one can be a huge success. If the early indications mean anything, Piva is playing like a man possessed and who will do anything to prove he is indeed worthy of one last chance. One can only wish Matt every success as he sets out on his final year in the OHL!

Finally, one last thought on Saturday’s visit by the Brampton Battalion. Matt Duchene is giving early indications that he might just very well be the next “Great One”. With his speed, deft moves and soft hands he looks like his NHL Draft Year will be nothing less than spectacular. A word to the wise to the Ice Dogs faithful fans. Get out and see this young man play every chance you get this year. It may be your last opportunity to see him outside of the NHL!

Deja Vu All Over Again

2008-09-26T23:06:00.002-04:00

Last year the Ice Dogs administered several self-inflicted wounds with their undisciplined play. Players like Jordan Foreman, Michael Swift, Stefan Legein and even Luca Caputi walked that fine line between playing on the edge and over the edge. The vow for 2008-2009 was to stay out of the box, or at least eliminate some of those needless penalties. Two games are in the books and it is apparent that this part of the Ice Dogs game is a work in progress as the team had a steady parade to the sin-bin. Last night the Dogs gave a dangerous Oshawa power play far too many opportunities with the man advantage, paying for it twice with John Taveres being the lynch-pin, counting with 1 goal and 1 assist.

Though the crowd was quite vociferous in their disapproval, if you look at the replays, you can clearly tell the Ice Dogs were guilty on most of the offenses. Now , on the flip side it is clear that early in the season the rule book is being called rather tightly and the Ice Dogs also benefited, getting what amounted to a seven minute power play that resulted in the tying goal.

Ch-Ch-Changes

It is nothing new to see the Ice Dogs employ four forwards on the power play. Mario Chicillo did it a number of times last year, occasionally using the five forward approach when the Ice Dogs were two men up. This year the coach has given the forward point position to Mathew Sisca, mainly a checking/energy type forward last year. The results have generally been positive and the elevated offensive expectations have paid off in the early going with Sisca looking composed on the point and chipping in with a nice goal on Saturday and an even better dish to Thomas Middup last night.

A Word About JT.

It is a real shame that Oshawa will only make one visit to the Gatorade Garden City Complex this year because this has the potential to be a terrific rivalry. Plus the Ice Dog fans will only get one opportunity to see John Tavares live. Like my friend and broadcast colleague Al Galloway, I am miffed at the number of people who seem to think that the ultra-talented forward has taken a step backwards or levelled off. I broadcasted a few of the Generals games two years ago when JT had his 72 goal season. Though the goal total slipped last year, he has become a more well-rounded and mature player, killing penalties and being the focal point of the power play. When we interviewed him last night he is a well-spoken articulate young man with one important criteria: perspective. Being in the limelight at such a young age cannot be easy. Tavares handled the spotlight admirably. He is a franchise player in my book.

Steve Clark

TV Cogeco Play-by-Play

Dogs Go Down in OT

2008-09-26T12:05:00.003-04:00

Niagara will head into Oshawa tonight to take on the General in the second game of a home and home. I know a lot of people may be disappointed with lat nights 3-2 loss in overtime, but I think there were some positives that came out of that game. First, the team got down 2-0 and battled back. Young teams sometimes make more mistakes trying to take chances and get back in the game. The Dogs stayed patient and stayed with the game plan. Mathew Sisca showed he's ready to take the next step and be a guy that Mario Cichillo can count on. Overager Matt Piva, Thomas Middup and Andrew Agozzino all had strong games. As for the young defense, they had some growing pains last night but overall they played well as a group. It was nice to see Drew Schiestel back in Niagara. I don't know that I have ever seen him log so many minutes in a game before. As for the goaltending, everyone will remember the last goal that went in, but keep in mind he did stop 28 of 31 shots on goal against an offensively talented hockey team. As the season goes on and he gets more comfortable I think Mark will be just fine.

If you can't make it down to the arena, you can catch all the games this weekend on TV Cogeco or on the OHL Action Pak.

The Ever Disappointing John Tavares

2008-09-23T22:36:00.002-04:00

As the old comedian Rodney Dangerfield used to say:

"I get no respect. No respect at all!"

Niether, it seems, does John Tavares of the Oshawa Generals. He and his teamates invade the cozy confines of the Gatorade Garden City complex on Thursday evening. And his coming appearance got me to thinking. Who gets less respect than JT.

All he has accomplished during his first three years in the OHL was to enter the league as an underage 15 year old who chalked up 77 points as a rookie. He branched out at 16 and scored 72 goals enroute to 134 points. In return, he was rejected in his bid to make the Canadian National Junior Team. He made Team Canada last year and saw only spot duty. Despite this he scored on 19% of his shots on goal as he got 4 goals (3 on the power play) and 5 points. His time away with Team Canada saw him play 12 fewer league games and yet despite this, he still scored 118 points. Yet some fans labeled his season, "disappointing" because he only recorded 40 goals.

Wow! We should all be such a disappointment! There are some fans out there who already feel he is no longer the "Next One". Can any one of us imagine what it must be like to be written off by some before you are even 20 years of age. Some are even populating blogs and fan forums with the notion that the Generals should trade JT while they still can. They have even anointed the London Knights as his next destination.

Who knows? These fair weather fans might be right. The Gens may deal Tavares before the January trade deadline. But not because he has disappointed the team in Oshawa. But rather, because he might be enough to lead a team (such as London?) to playoff success, while at the same time repopulating Oshawa with a prospect or two for the future.

And before anyone else writes this young man off, he has much to prove this season, even if he finishes the year in Oshawa. He should figure prominently in Team Canada's line up this Christmas. And, thanks to the NHL rejecting the notion that he should have been granted special status to be selected in the 2008 Draft, he has to wait until this summer to see if he is still regarded as the best prospect in his graduating class. Or, might he get no respect again by slipping to number 2?

All I know, is that just one game into this new season, is that this young man has 2 goals and 2 assists. How disappointing is that?

Dogs Take Opener

2008-09-21T12:58:00.004-04:00

The Niagara IceDogs opened the 2008/09 season with an impressive 6-3 win over the Ottawa 67's on Saturday night. The three questions surrounding this team coming into the season were, goaltending, scoring and how would the young blueliners do filling in for the guys away at camp. It is just one game but, I think all of those questions were answered last night.

John Cullen played a strong game and made a couple key saves late in the contest the keep the two goal advantage until Andrew Agozzino salted the victory away with an shorthanded, empty net goal. Cullen faced 35 shots in the game, 14 of which came in the third period.

Niagara managed to hit the mesh six times and could have easily netted a couple more if not for a few outstanding saves by Ottawa goalie Chris Perugini. Agozzino started what may be an impressive sophomore season by scoring a pair of goals while Mike Schwindt and Joe Sarracini popped in their first career OHL goals. Matt Piva also scored for Niagara. The IceDogs a a group looked very good in the offensive zone, staying poised with the puck and making good decisions.

The young defenceman on the team each played well for the most part, chipping in on the offense and playing a good physical game. The lone concern the coaching staff may have with the group in the amount of turnovers in their own end as well as missed opportunities to clear the puck. It didn't cause to much damage last night but it is certainly something they need to improve. It may have been a lack of experience and the speed of the OHL game that caught them off guard, hopefully after a week of practice it gets better.

All things considered a very good start to the new season.

What's in a Prediction?

2008-09-18T20:11:00.003-04:00

As the Ice Dogs get ready to open their season Saturday, I like many of you wonder just how they will fare this year. Gone are Swift, Legein and Caputi. There is a very good chance that Pietrangelo could be missing for at least part of the early going, if not the entire year. They lack OHL experience between the pipes. So who knows, the Kitchener-Waterloo Record could be right when they predicted recently that Niagara could be headed for last place in the East.

But that type of thinking may be selling this team short. In the 2005/2006 season, the Mississauga Ice Dogs finished 9TH in the East with only 49 points. Young Stefan Legein had only 7 goals while Luca Caputi had a mere 3 points. Goaltending was a huge question mark. There were many more questions than answers as MIssissauga headed into 2006/2007.

Then, a funny thing happened on the way to the rink. Pietrangelo arrived. Andrew Loverock grew into an OHL calibre goaltender. Michael Swift developed into the leader we all saw on the ice last year. Luca and Stefan became front line players. The team left Mississauga with a 90 point season and playoff experience under its belt.

My point is this. Nothing is as constant in Junior Hockey as changing lineups. Count on the likes of DeSousa and Friesen to become front line players this year. Piva and Middup should lend solid experince to the forwards. Freddie Hamilton will get a good look this year to prove he was worthy of a first round pick. Day and Schiestel should be back to anchor the blueline. Provided the team plays with some discipline I would say 4TH place in the East is not out of the question. And who knows, maybe the Erie Times prediction of 1ST in the Division and 2ND in the Conference is not out of reach. After all, the great thing about pre-season prognostication is that we can't all be wrong. I am, after all, just a humble TV Host.

Finally, a quick note as Killer gets set to bid adieu to OHL Coaching. Over 2100 games coached in the OHL and over 1100 wins to show for it. This is a record we are not ever likely to see equaled, let alone broken. Brian Kilrea is one of a kind. Take it from someone who has interviewed him several times, he is known to be gruff and not to tolerate fools easily. He has however, carved out a career worth of the utmost respect and admiration. As a league where most coaches (like the players) are looking to move on to the next level, nobody has ever lasted as long as Brian. And probably, nobody ever will again. All the best Brian as you move on to the next phase of your career. At 73, you have earned it!

The Season Begins!

2008-09-16T21:07:00.001-04:00

So the exhibition season is in the books and all focus can turn to the regular season which gets underway on September 20th at 7:05. The expected to be a sell-out and if folks don't get to the game, we will have the live call on TV Cogeco/OHL Action Pack.   Stay close to your TV on Saturday because, really, what other options are there on Saturday night TV in September? Big Brother? Reruns? Some new show that will be gone by the November sweeps?

We had the last two home games of the exhibition season on TV Cogeco, and well, it was the pre-season for us too. It took a little while to get into the flow of the game because as a play by play broadcaster, you really do not have time to look at your line-up sheets much when the action is on. During pre-season everyone's numbers are different and typically the numbers are not on the back of the jersey. Plus there are a ton of new guys on both teams.   Like riding a bike, you never really forget how to do play by play, but it sure takes a bit to shake off the rust. From our perspective the games went well and when the bright lights of live TV shine down upon us on Saturday, we will all be ready, providing we stay away from the always raucous Tailgate Party.

The biggest challenge for Ed Burkholder and I is to not get the giggles on-air. Anything can happen on live TV and once we lost it completely last year and it made for the longest ten seconds of our broadcasting career. After the game we were laughing about it, but at the time it was not that funny.   Obviously there was too much time before the game on Thursday because Ed and I spent a good 5-10 minutes regaling GM Dave Brown with classic Happy Days and Brady Bunch episodes. I'm sure the last thing on the GM's mind was discussing the Brady Bunch episode with Peter's fake moustache or the evolution of Fonzie's office. All good fun though and even better, the pre-game meal has been changed to Boston Pizza sandwiches and pizza! Nice, (at least until December!).

On Ice Quick Hits:
Cut down day saw Steven Ceccanese,Vladimir Bessenov, Jason Bergeron and Max Englbrecht move on. All but the German net-minder saw time with the Dogs last year, with Bergeron being a regular last year.   Bergeron will catch on with another team. He's got the skills and talent, but never got quite acclimated with the Dogs last year.

Andrew Aggozino and Matt Piva have some definite chemistry and should anchor one of the top two lines

Scott Fletcher looked poised, composed and even showed some offensive flair on defence. Though he could have value as a wall crashing forward, he is a much improved D-man and that is where I would keep him

Mike Schwindt looks to have a lot of potential. He's long and can cover the ice. He spent a fair amount of time in the box during the two home games, which is part of a steep learning curve for a young defensemen

Mike MacIsaac looks to be much improved from last year and looks to be counted upon for more than checking and spot shifts

Looking forward to Saturday night. It is not often that a home opener can be overshadowed, but a big reason to come out to The Jack or watch it on TV Cogeco/OHL Action pac is because there won't be be many more times to see the legendary Brian Kilrea behind an OHL bench.

Steve Clark
TV Cogeco play by play
Stephen Clark
Niagara Ice Dogs TV Play-by-Play (TV Cogeco and the OHL Action Pack)
York Lions Basketball TV Play-by-Play (Rogers Varsity Sports Rogers TV)

2008-09-05T21:27:00.001-04:00

Was it really April 13th that the inaugural season of the Ice Dogs ended? It does not see that long ago that we saw the Ice Dogs raise their sticks in salute to a boisterous sell-out crowd that gave them a standing ovation even though they were eliminated from the play-offs. It was that sort of passion that made every Ice Dogs game fun last year.   I was thrilled to meet and communicate with some of the fans of the Ice Dogs and this blog will give me another forum to communicate with the fans of Niagara.

I'll try and blog as regularly as possible giving insight on the team, the broadcasts and anything else that springs to mind. These will be all my thoughts and my thoughts alone. I will not pass along "inside information" or anything like that. It will just be a somewhat rambling stream of consciousness.

With that in mind, lets take a look at how the 2008-2009 Ice Dogs stack up with the rest of the competition.   We know that a whole lotta goals left the building with the graduation of Michael Swift, Jordan Foreman and Sebastian Dahm. The only way we'll get those guys back will be if we decide to adopt the Chinese gymnastics team disappearing birth certificate. When you add Luca Caputi and Stefan Legein to the graduation list the Dogs lost over half of their goal production (141/272 goals were scored by them). How will those goals be replaced? Andrew Agozzino has had a year under his belt and he had to emerge from his freshman campaign a tougher hockey player. Injuries and illness really hurt Andrew towards the latter part of the year and he was even tailing off before the injury bug hit him. Aggozino, I anticipate, will be more of a factor. Same goes from Chris DeSousa who is a throwback player- tough as nails and with a decent touch around the net. I expect him to improve on his 24 goals from last year.    Guys like Alex Friesen, another youngster who really developed last year, and newcomer Thomas Middup will need to chip in and I like the move that brought veteran Matt Piva in. Freddie Hamilton will be looked to contribute right out the gate. Still, the Ice Dogs won't be filling the nets this year with the same regularity as '07-08, so they'll have to play a disciplined and defensive game. Discipline really was the undoing of the Ice Dogs last year in some of their defeats.    The Ice Dogs appear to be very strong on the back end, assuming that all of Alex Pietrangelo, Drew Schiestel and Josh Day return.   I'm really pulling for Josh Day to continue his career beyond the OHL. He is a steady, solid defender and was the most consistent D-man on the Dogs last year.

Goaltending will be interesting this year. Max Englbrecht, John Cullen and Mark Visentin are the goalies still at camp and it will be interesting to see who emerges as number one or whether or not Dave Brown will continue to monitor the goaltending market. John Cullen should be at home in Niagara. I see his favourite food is chicken parmesan and pasta and they served chicken and pasta in the media lounge every single game last year. Don't get me wrong it was better than the media room in Oshawa in which they dumped four pizzas in the middle of the room and left. Around game 32 the chicken and pasta started getting a little monotonous! Ok, there was my first (of many) blog tangents!

Some quick hits:

--Alex Pietrangelo just signed his entry level contract. He will gain a ton of experience at the Blues training camp and will likely return to Niagara at some point. Petro is a stud and extremely popular in Niagara, but I would think that he would bring a handsome return on the open market should Dave Brown explore that route. Again, just my opinion.

--Everyone and their uncle has weighed in on Stefan Legein. Remember, he is only 19 years old and is entitled to take time and re-focus. If he chooses to step away and try something else, so be it. Heck, I switched careers at age 27 from media to teaching and at 36 I'd move back into the media field if the opportunity arose. I do take issue with some of the reports that he tailed off after his shoulder injury. Was he a different, less rambunctious player after the injury? Absolutely! Don't forget that he was one of the best Ice Dogs in the post-season

-- I was reading the Hockey News season preview and was suprised to see that Drew Schiestel was not listed among Buffalo's top ten prospects this year. This will be a big year for Drew. I expect him to make an impact

Don't forget that our first broadcast will be next Thursday when the Otters are in town and then Saturday when Saginaw is in.  Both games are tape delayed (hey its pre-season for us too!) and we'll get a chance to knock off some of the summer rust.   Seeing as the Ice Dogs are wearing the red warm up sweaters for their exhibition games, maybe Ed, Al and I can utliize that warm up approach and wear tuxedo t-shirts in the pre-season rather than the suit and tie. It will be great to work with Ed Burkholder and Al Galloway again. Both of those guys are a joy to work with. I also can't say enough about the rest of the Cogeco team who work hard to make out broadcasts the best in the league!

I'll check in with some thoughts after our first pre-season broadcast, if not before.

Steve Clark- Niagara Ice Dogs Play-by-Play on TV Cogeco.

IceDogs v Generals Pre-Season

2008-09-01T12:43:00.001-04:00

August 31 pre-season game

Dogs Open Pre-Season With Win

2008-08-31T09:49:00.002-04:00

Niagara opened the pre-season with a 4-1 win over the Erie Otters. For more information on the game check out the article on the IceDogs web site.

Below is listed the IceDogs cuts made after the Black v White game. No real surprises on the list;

Forwards - Nick Vangog, Josh Dadic, Joel Forestell, Chris Dintale, Craig McDowell, Freddie Santini, Jesse McIntyre, Matt Baldasarra, Cam Stewart, Kyle Davis, Paul Thompson, Mike Irvine, Thomas Baker, Blake Ertel, Shane Koabel, Cody Dawe, Zenon Byblow, Ryan Speers, Jamie Pursell, Anthony Ranieri and Alex Lubchuk

Defencemen - Chris Ardell, Nik Knezic, Shane Rover, Keith Maisonville, Jake Braun, Mark Tatangelo, Brandon MacIntosh, Christian Finsh and Kirk Evely

Goaltenders - Brennan Knoblock, Jared Lockhurst, Mark Nothers, Mac Bouffard and Brendan Gorecki.

Let The Battles Begin

2008-08-30T12:56:00.001-04:00

The Niagara IceDogs are set to begin the pre-season tonight as they head down to Jamestown New York, to take on the Erie Otters. With camp behind them the Dogs still have some roster battles that will have to be settled before the season begins.

In net John Cullen seemed to be the best option after the annual scrimmage last night. Max Englbrecht still looks like he is trying to get comfortable on the smaller ice surface. He seemed to be very quick from post to post, once he secures his angles he could challenge for the starting spot. Mark Nothers has played well and could be a dark horse in the battle if one of the other two slip up. This years third round pick Mark Visentin may have to wait for next season before putting on a Dogs jersey, but he does give the team a potential starter in a couple seasons. There is also the possibility that GM Dave Brown is still looking for a veteran netminder to backstop the club. There is nothing for certain yet but the rumours continue to fly. A reliable goalie will be key for the Dogs in the first couple months of the season with three key defenceman heading out to NHL camps.

Alex Pietrangelo, Drew Schiestel and Scott Fletcher are going to be lost to the Dogs for a while and that will open up a couple spots on the roster, if and when they return. Odds are Pietrangelo will go through the entire pre-season with St. Louis and play a couple regular season games before coming back to Niagara. Drew Schiestel may be in the same situation. Both players options are limited due to NHL rules. They can either play in the NHL or the OHL. Fletcher's situation may be more difficult to predict. Being an overage player, Scott is free to play anywhere in the Boston organization if signed.

So with those players away, the IceDogs will be relying on Josh Day and Reggie Traccitto to anchor the defence until they return. Rookies Jay Gilbert, David McMullen and Mike Schwindt will all be called on to step up their game and contribute immediately. That will leave the Brown with a tough decision. How many blueliners does the squad keep until the veterans return? He may be able to get away with those five and move a forward back to the point for a few games or keep one of the other defenceman that are in camp knowing that they will be sent back to tier II soon after the season starts.

Up front there were a couple lines in the Black v White game that have some potential in the regular season. Matt Piva, Johnson Andrews and Marco Insam really seem to have some chemistry and could be a good trio for the Dogs as could the line of Alex Friesen, Chris DeSousa and Thomas Middup. You would think that would leave Andrew Merrett, Andrew Agozzino, Dylan MacEachern, Freddie Hamilton, Matt Sisca, Jason Bergeron and Mike MacIsaac to fill in the other combinations. However, if you remember the IceDogs are considering moving Scott Fletcher to forward when he returns from Boston. Then there's the overage problem. The Dogs currently have five and as mentioned before, are rumoured to be looking at an OA goalie. In case you are unsure of the overage rules here they are. The team can start the season with as many OA's as they would like, but they have to be down to four by November 15th. From there they must be down to three by the trade deadline. Finally, there are a few rookies looking to make this team as well. I don't know about anyone else but personally, I thought Andrew Shaw was very impressive in the scrimmage and deserves a shot at some quality minutes in the pre-season. He had great hands, good speed and a nice scoring touch. Vlad Bessenov and Steven Ceccenese were call ups last season and will also be pushing to find a spot on the roster.

There is just a few days until the season starts for Niagara but I don't think we will get a good feel for the IceDogs roster until after October. Until then, we may be treated to some great hockey as players battle it out every night for a roster spot.

Niagara IceDogs to Host ADT Challenge

2008-08-19T08:13:00.001-04:00

Volpe Headed to Rangers

2008-08-18T15:14:00.003-04:00

The Niagara IceDogs have traded goaltender Adrian Volpe to the Kitchener Rangers for a 15th round pick in 2010. The young net minder served as the backup to Andrew Loverock early in his first season but after Lucas Lobsinger returned from injury and the IceDogs acquired Sebastian Dahm he was sent to the Jr. B Falcons. Volpe was 4-1 in his rookie season with the Dogs.
The IceDogs goaltending situation is certainly up in the air this off season and with Volpe gone and the possibility that Lobsinger may decide to go to university and not return as an overage player, that would leave the IceDogs with a complete unknown between the pipes.
GM Dave Brown has indicated that he is looking to sign a free agent goalie and it may be fair to speculate that this free agent would be a goalie with significant experience.

Niagara to Host ADT Challenge

2008-08-18T15:04:00.003-04:00

The Niagara IceDogs announced todat that they will host the ADT Canada/Russia Challenge on Monda November 24th.
Season ticket holders will be given first right of refusal and any remaining tickets will be opened up to the public via a lottery system. More ticket information will be made available in September.
During the conference, both the OHL and the IceDogs made it very clear that even though the facilities may not be the best in the league, the fans of the IceDogs were reason enough to have the game here in Niagara.

New Dog in the Pack

2008-08-15T17:32:00.005-04:00

Today the Niagara IceDogs announced they have signed first round draft pick Freddie Hamilton. The newest member of the pack was selected 14th overall in May. Hamilton played for the Toronto Marlboros last season scoring 59 goals and adding 62 assists in just 74 games. Hamilton was impressive in his first action with the IceDogs at the annual Prospects Camp in June. Although rookies traditionally have a tough start in the OHL, I think you can expect to see Freddie get a good amount of ice-time this season with the IceDogs having a young group of forwards that will need the scoring help. This could certainly speed up his development as it did for Alex Friesen.

IceDogs Add Winger

2008-08-01T12:13:00.004-04:00

The Niagara IceDogs have announced they added winger Thomas Middup to the roster today. Middup was sent from the Kingston Frontenacs to Niagara in exchange for a conditional seventh round draft pick.

Middup managed eight points and four penalty minutes in 44 games for Kingston last season.

GM Dave Brown thinks Thomas could have an immediate impact.

“Thomas is a young, skilled player who is thrilled to join the IceDogs organization” said Dave Brown. “We believe that he will compete for a spot on our top two lines and are excited to add him to our roster.”

Thomas could be with the Dogs for a while, he was born in 1990. That puts him in the same year as players like Dylan MacEachern, Chris DeSousa and Mathew Maione.

IceDogs at Prospects Camp

2008-07-13T15:49:00.003-04:00

With NHL prospects camp starting up, I thought I would pass along a couple interviews with IceDog players. The Columbus Blue Jackets have a nice interview with Stefan Legein on a section of their web site called Blue Jackets TV, can't help but notice that Stefan already refers to Head Coach Ken Hitchcock as "Hitch". Also the St. Louis Blues have an article on Alex Pietrangelo on their site as well. It contains some good news for IceDog fans, as GM John Davidson states

"We're not going to push him to play in St. Louis right away, but he's a very mature young man and we'll let him show us if he's ready to play in the NHL right away."

Jordan Foreman Goal

2008-07-05T20:09:00.001-04:00

Dahm Nice Save

2008-07-05T13:49:00.001-04:00

A Dahm nice save vs Belleville

Legein Goal

2008-07-05T13:47:00.001-04:00

Stefan Legein goal vs Belleville

IceDogs Pre-Season Schedule

2008-06-18T19:09:00.002-04:00

The Niagara IceDogs will play a seven game pre-season schedule starting August 30 in Jamestown, New York. The Dogs will play Erie, Oshawa and Saginaw home and home, while traveling to Sudbury for the lone match-up between the two teams before the season begins.

August 30 in Jamestown NY vs. Erie Otters 7:30PM
August 31 vs. Oshawa Generals 2:00 PM
September 5 in Sudbury 7:30 PM
September 7 in Oshawa 6:05 PM
September 11 vs. Erie Otters 7:30 PM
September 13 vs. Saginaw Spirit 7:05 PM
September 14 in Woodstock vs. Saginaw Spirit 2:00 PM

IceDogs deal Barry Sanderson

2008-06-13T18:27:00.004-04:00

Barry Sanderson has been dealt to the Saginaw Spirit for a fourth round draft pick in 2009.

You can find the article at the IceDogs web site.

I don't think you can call this a surprise move. Young players like David Pacan obviously made a great impression on the team during the rookie camp. They obviously felt they could add some size up front and that would have made Barry expendable.

No doubt fans will miss his tenacious play, Barry may have been small but he didn't play like it, and his attitude off the ice. Best of luck to him in Saginaw. Also, hats off to GM Dave Brown for moving the Michigan native back closer to home. I'm sure that influenced the deal as well.

Sanderson will always be the answer to the question, who scored the IceDogs first ever playoff goal?

2008/09 Niagara IceDogs Schedule

2008-06-13T18:20:00.003-04:00

Here is the full Niagara IceDogs schudule as released by the OHL today.

Sat. Sep. 20

Ottawa at Niagara 7:00

Thu. Sep. 25

Oshawa at Niagara 7:30

Fri. Sep. 26

Niagara at Oshawa 7:35

Sat. Sep. 27

Brampton at Niagara 7:00

Thu. Oct. 2

Belleville at Niagara 7:30

Fri. Oct. 3

Niagara at Mississauga 7:30

Sat. Oct. 4

Plymouth at Niagara 7:00

Thu. Oct. 9

Kitchener at Niagara 7:30

Fri. Oct. 10

Niagara at Guelph 7:30

Mon. Oct. 13

Peterborough at Niagara 2:00

Wed. Oct. 15

Niagara at Erie 7:00

Fri. Oct. 17

Niagara at Plymouth 7:05

Sat. Oct. 18

Niagara at Saginaw 7:11

Thu. Oct. 23

Erie at Niagara 7:30

Fri. Oct. 24

Niagara at Mississauga 7:30

Sat. Oct. 25

Saginaw at Niagara 7:00

Thu. Oct. 30

Guelph at Niagara 7:30

Fri. Oct. 31

Niagara at Sudbury 7:30

Sat. Nov. 1

Niagara at Barrie 7:30

Thu. Nov. 6

Barrie at Niagara 7:30

Sat. Nov. 8

Peterborough at Niagara 7:00

Thu. Nov. 13

Owen Sound at Niagara 7:30

Fri. Nov. 14

Niagara at Kitchener 7:30

Sat. Nov. 15

Niagara at Peterborough 7:00

Wed. Nov. 19

Niagara at Belleville 7:15

Sat. Nov. 22

Sudbury at Niagara 7:00

Sun. Nov. 23

Kingston at Niagara 2:00

Thu. Nov. 27

Brampton at Niagara 7:30

Sat. Nov. 29

Niagara at Barrie 7:30

Sun. Nov. 30

Niagara at Brampton 2:00

Fri. Dec. 5

Sarnia at Niagara 7:30

Sat. Dec. 6

Windsor at Niagara 7:00

Fri. Dec. 12

Niagara at Mississauga 7:30

Sat. Dec. 13

Mississauga at Niagara 7:00

Sun. Dec. 14

Niagara at Brampton 2:00

Wed. Dec. 17

Niagara at Belleville 7:15

Fri. Dec. 19

Sudbury at Niagara 7:30

Wed. Dec. 31

Erie at Niagara 7:00

Fri. Jan. 2

Niagara at S.S. Marie 7:30

Sat. Jan. 3

Niagara at Sudbury 7:00

Thu. Jan. 8

Barrie at Niagara 7:30

Fri. Jan. 9

Niagara at Ottawa 7:30

Sun. Jan. 11

Niagara at Kingston 2:00

Thu. Jan. 15

Mississauga at Niagara 7:30

Fri. Jan. 16

Niagara at Erie 7:00

Thu. Jan. 22

London at Niagara 7:30

Fri. Jan. 23

Niagara at London 7:30

Sun. Jan. 25

Mississauga at Niagara 2:00

Thu. Jan. 29

Erie at Niagara 7:30

Fri. Jan. 30

Niagara at Sudbury 7:30

Sat. Jan. 31

Niagara at Barrie 7:30

Thu. Feb. 5

S.S. Marie at Niagara 7:30

Fri. Feb. 6

Niagara at Sarnia 7:30

Sat. Feb. 7

Niagara at Windsor 7:05

Wed. Feb. 11

Niagara at Erie 7:00

Sat. Feb. 14

Niagara at Owen Sound 7:30

Sun. Feb. 15

Kingston at Niagara 2:00

Thu. Feb. 19

Belleville at Niagara 7:30

Fri. Feb. 20

Niagara at Kingston 7:30

Sun. Feb. 22

Niagara at Ottawa 2:00

Thu. Feb. 26

Mississauga at Niagara 7:30

Fri. Feb. 27

Niagara at Brampton 7:30

Sun. Mar. 1

Ottawa at Niagara 2:00

Thu. Mar. 5

Brampton at Niagara 7:30

Sat. Mar. 7

Niagara at Peterborough 7:00

Thu. Mar. 12

Barrie at Niagara 7:30

Fri. Mar. 13

Niagara at Mississauga 7:30

Sat. Mar. 14

Sudbury at Niagara 7:00

2008-06-12T20:28:00.002-04:00

Four Niagara IceDogs were invited to the Team Ontario U-17 camp. Freddie Hamilton, Shayne Rover, Mark Visentin and Keith Maisonville will all be headed to Thunder Bay for camp. IceDogs Head Coach Mario Cocchillo will also be there as the assistant coach. Camp runs from June 26th to the 29th. For more information go to the IceDogs web site.

To Build or Not to Build

2008-06-10T19:34:00.002-04:00

St. Catharines Council discussed the new spectator facility for the city again Monday night, here is the Standards take on the debate.

IceDog fans would all like to see the facility built and secure the teams future in the Niagara Region but it looks like council will proceed slowly and cautiously with this. I think it will also take fans letting council know how much they want the facility to make it happen.

The Standards story on rookie camp

2008-06-10T19:30:00.002-04:00

Here is the story in the St. Catharines Standard about this weekends rookie camp.

2008 Niagara IceDogs Rookie Camp

2008-06-10T18:09:00.005-04:00

Over the weekend the Niagara IceDogs held their 2008 rookie camp. There was a good mix of draft picks and free agents on the ice looking to make a good impression on the coaching staff and earn a shot at making the club in August. Twenty five drafted players in all attended the two day event including this years top three picks, Freddie Hamilton, Shayne Rover and Mark Visentin as well as 2007 draftees Johnson Andrews, Jay Gilbert and David McMullen.

The IceDogs will have some holes to fill the the departure of players like Michael Swift, Luca Caputi, Jordan Foreman, Stefan Legein and Sebastian Dahm. However, overall management should be happy with the prospects the have in the organization. Players like Andrews, Hamilton, McMullen, Gilbert and Mike Schwindt really separated themselves from the group and showed they may be able to contribute this season. Cameron Stewart, Nik Knezic and Shayne Rover played well but may have to wait for next season to be a regular in the IceDogs line-up.

There were also some pleasant surprises on the weekend. David Pacan a 14th round pick in 2007 was one of the top three players on the ice and is certainly someone IceDog fans will get to know this season. He has good speed, great hands and likes to be physical. He may be the type of forward GM Dave Brown is looking for this off-season. By first indications Chris Ardell and Cohen Adair will push some of the veteran players in training camp but unfortunately they may fall victim to the numbers game.

Brown had indicted that the team would be looking for a goalie during the summer and it doesn't look like he found him this weekend. None of the goalies played particularly poor but at the same time none of them stood out either.

There will be a number of players at this weekends camp that will get a second chance to impress the IceDogs in August when training camp begins.