Newcomer Andrew Howes led the Niagara IceDogs to a 3-2 victory over the Erie Otters in the first exhibition game of the season at the Tullio Arena in Erie, PA Saturday evening. Many new faces on the IceDogs were given a roster spot to show off their skills to coaches and fans in the first of six pre-season games.

Erie opened the scoring on the power play as Kris Grant snapped one past Mark Visentin to give his team an early 1-0 lead.

The two teams exchanged several penalties after Grant’s goal, but it wasn’t until IceDogs forward Johnson Andrews took a four minute penalty for hooking and unsportsmanlike conduct that Erie would score another goal.

Connor Crisp would beat Visentin and give the Otters a 2-0 lead going into the first intermission.

The IceDogs had a good start to the second period, as over-ager Andrew Howes potted a beautiful short-handed goal to cut the Otters lead to 2-1.

Shortly after the goal, Otters agitator Brett Appio threw a bone crushing hit on IceDogs rookie Jesse Graham, which led to Andrew Shaw answering the bell for his teammate and getting the win over Appio. Shaw received an instigator penalty and a game misconduct, while Appio received a four minute checking from behind penalty; both players also received a five minute fighting major.

Shaw, along with fellow tough-guy Johnson Andrews, were both wearing the “A” for the IceDogs as captain Andrew Agozzino, and assistant captains Alex Friesen and Dylan MacEachern opted to watch the game from the stands.

Other healthy scratches for the IceDogs included Mike Schwindt, Freddie and Dougie Hamilton, Matt Baldassarra, and rookies Jamie Tyminski, Luke Mercer, Milan Doudera, and Mike Gallardi.

Niagara capped the second period off with a late goal by Dylan Wood, who went bar-down on Ramis Sadikov on the power play to tie the game 2-2. Andrew Howes picked up the lone assist on the play as he fed Wood with a perfect pass, giving him two points on the night.

The majority of the third period was a goaltenders battle; both Mark Visentin and substitution net-minder Chris Festarini played well for the respective teams.

Johnson Andrews was able to solve the goal drought at the 16:24 mark of the third as Ryan Strome made a beautiful move in front of the Otters net to set up Andrews give the IceDogs their first lead of the game.

In a last-ditch effort, Erie pulled Festarini in the final minutes to allow an extra attacker for the Otters. However, their man advantage was short-lived as Otters forward Erik Robichaud took a penalty for hitting from behind on IceDogs defenseman Dominic Crnogorac.

The IceDogs were able to hold on to their 3-2 lead and come out of Erie with a win and a 1-0 exhibition record.

The Dogs will now head back to Niagara to open the home portion of their 2010 Exhibition Schedule on Labour Day, which is this coming Monday, September 6th, with game time scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Gatorade Garden City Complex.

Monday is the second of three IceDogs exhibition games against the Otters, completing a weekend home and home with Erie. The game is also the first of three IceDogs home exhibition games, with the IceDogs also playing host to the Kitchener Rangers on Saturday, September 11th at 7 p.m. and the Erie Otters once again on Thursday, September 16th, also at 7 p.m.

Tickets for all three IceDogs home exhibition are available for only $5 and can be purchased at all IceDogs ticket outlets, as well as through Ticketmaster.

For more information, please contact the IceDogs office at 905-687-DOG1

- Jeff Blay, Media Relations