The Niagara IceDogs had their annual Black and White intersquad game Friday night where 850 people packed the Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre and witnessed an exciting 4-3 shootout win for Team White.


The game featured all 42 players remaining in camp, and gave IceDogs fans a glimpse into what might lie ahead for the 2009/2010 campaign.


The atmosphere was intense, and there was a feeling among the players that roster spots were on the line as the teams engaged in an end to end, fast paced contest.


The game opened with an unassisted goal from Dylan MacEachern for Team White.  Tyler Walsh responded before the end of the period for Team Black tying the game at one with a goal assisted by Michael Hasson.


Chris DeSousa opened up the second period scoring for Team White on a nice pass from Andrew Fritsch. 


Team White would take a 3-1 lead into the third period thanks to a Marco Insam goal assisted by Andrew Shaw. 


Team Black would cut into the lead five minutes into the third when Andrew Agozzino was set up by Riley Bourbonnais and Matt Chiarantano.


The comeback was completed when Team Black tied the game at three, as Hasson scored to collect his second point of the game, with assists going to Dougie and Freddie Hamilton. 


With the game tied at 3-3 after regulation, the teams would go directly to a shootout.  In the end Team White would pull out the victory thanks to goals by Fritsch and DeSousa who would beat Team Black goaltender Petteri Simila.  Mark Visentin would stop Agozzino and Freddie Hamilton to preserve the victory for Team White.


Simila had a strong performance between the pipes as he stopped 26 shots in just over thirty minutes of action.  Visentin also had a strong showing making 20 saves. 


The level of intensity was on full display late in the second period when Baldasarra and Johnson Andrews dropped the gloves. 


The IceDogs kick off the exhibition season on Saturday when they visit Erie at 5 p.m.  They then open for their first two home exhibition games as they take on the Otters at home at the Gatorade Garden City Complex Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. and Sept. 6 at 2 p.m.  The IceDogs Fanfest Pregame Party will begin two hours prior to each game.


The exhibition games can be heard on the The River, 105.1FM beginning 30-minutes prior to puck drop for the pre game show.  

       
-Brett Vancise
IceDogs Media Relations