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Niagara Icedogs Essay

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It’s shaping up to be a December to remember for the Niagara IceDogs. The Ontario Hockey League team so far has played five games this month and has won four of them, including the last three in a row. Their latest victory - and seventh in the last 11 games - came Saturday night in Ottawa, where the IceDogs blanked the 67’s 3-0 to wrap up a two-game road swing through eastern Ontario. Matthew Philip, Danial Singer and Elijah Roberts each scored a goal, and Stephen Dhillon stopped 29 shots for his first shutout of the season and third of his OHL career. Niagara head coach Billy Burke was pleased the team’s workhorse between the pipes was able to add another zero to his resume. “He’s legitimately one of the top three best goalies in the …show more content…

“When we need them, they’re stepping up for up for us.” Nineteen players have at least one goal for the IceDogs this season, led by Kirill Maksimov, Singer and Ben Jones with 18, 12 and 11 goals, respectively. “We’re getting goals throughout the lineup at big times,” Burke said. “The guys care about each other, they about winning. They care about each other. We’re all on the same page right now.” Dhillon improved his record between the Niagara pipes this season to 15-5-2-2 and with his star turn against the 67’s lowered his goals-against average to 2.75 while increasing his save percentage to .910. The IceDogs, 16-9-3-2 in league play; moved into a tie with the Barrie Colts, 17-9-2-1; for first place in the Central Division and third overall in the Eastern Conference. Both teams have 37 points, but Barrie has a game in hand. Philips’ seventh goal of the season gave the IceDogs a 1-0 lead 1:33 into the game as the IceDogs took to the ice for the third game in three nights. With 20 seconds remaining in the first period, Singer scored on the power giving Niagara a two-goal. The St. Catharines native’s 12 goal of the season was his second on the power play in as many days. He also scored with the IceDogs a man up in a 3-1 road win versus the Kingston Frontenacs Friday night. Shots in the opening period favoured Niagara by a 14-11 margin. The second period was scoreless, with the IceDogs again having the edge in shots on goal, 10-6. Ottawa

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