The Niagara IceDogs are set to renew hostilities with bitter rivals from a season ago, as the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors travel to St. Catharines Thursday night for the first game between the two teams since the IceDogs’ home opener.  Tied for first in the Central Division with the Brampton Battalion at 26 points, and boasting the top away record in the league, the Majors will pose a tough match up for the IceDogs.

The Majors have slowed down recently however, as Mississauga has lost five of their last six games, including a 4-2 loss to Sarnia which saw them fire just 20 shots on Sting goaltender Brandon Maxwell.  

Posting seven-straight wins to start the season vaulted the Majors to the top of the division, and much of their success is due to newly-named assistant captain Riley Brace, whose 31 points lead the team. The undrafted fourth-year Major has already matched his point total from last season, in which he played 58 games.

Mississauga is also enjoying a strong contribution from defenceman Stuart Percy, who was named the team’s captain earlier this month.  A Toronto Maple Leafs’ first round selection in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Percy suited up for 89 regular and post-season games last year.

The goaltending tandem of veteran J.P. Anderson and rookie Spencer Martin has been solid in net for the Majors.  Anderson became the franchise’s all-time wins leader earlier this season with 81 victories, while Martin, selected 18^th overall by Mississauga in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection, has a respectable .902 save percentage in 242 minutes played.