Ryan Strome and Simon Gronvaldt both recorded points in their first game as IceDogs, leading Niagara in a hard-fought 3-2 loss against the Kitchener Rangers Sunday night.

The first period was a goaltender's battle – Mark Visentin playing exceptionally well as he stopped all of Kitchener's 15 shots, while Brandon Maxwell faced only 7.

Both teams had power play opportunities (Kitchener with two and Niagara with one), but neither team could solve the netminders, making it a scoreless game after one period of play.

The Rangers finally opened the scoring at the 7:13 mark of the second as Michael Catenacci tipped one in past Visentin off of a Christian Stevens point shot to give Kitchener a 1-0 lead.

The IceDogs would answer right back on a power play as freshly acquired Ryan Strome netted his 6th goal of the season as he walked into the slot and snapped one past Maxwell to tie the game. Simon Gronvaldt, also acquired with Strome from the Barrie Colts as part of the Pietrangelo/Desousa/Simila deal, picked up an assist on the play. (Niagara also received two 2nd round picks, a 3rd round pick and a 9th round pick with the two players.)

St. Catharines native Josh Moes would notch his 7th of the season to give the Dogs 2-1 lead just moments later, with help from Shayne Rover and Freddie Hamilton. This would give Niagara the advantage going into the second intermission.

Member of the World Junior Gold Medal winning team U.S.A., Jeremy Morin, tied the game 2-2 as he went bar-down on Mark Visentin at the 1:12 mark of the third.

Alex Friesen took a holding-the-stick penalty soon after, and Kitchener forward Jason Akeson netted one to regain the Rangers lead.

The IceDogs pulled goalie Mark Visentin in a last-ditch effort to tie up the game, but Kitchener would hold on to their 3-2 lead to defeat the IceDogs.

Both teams will return to action Thursday, January 14 at 7:30 p.m. as they face each other again – this time at the Gatorade Garden City Complex in Niagara. The IceDogs will then travel to Saginaw Friday night to face the Spirit with a 7:11 puck drop.

Tickets for all IceDogs home games can be purchased at any IceDogs ticketing location.


-    Jeff Blay, Media Relations


Scoreboard:
2. KIT Catenacci, (13) (Stevens, Thomson), 7:13     
2. NIAG Strome, (6) (Gronvaldt, Petgrave), 9:23 (PP)    
2. NIAG Moes, (7) (Rover, Hamilton), 10:50     
3. KIT Morin, (24) (Catenacci), 1:12     
3. KIT Akeson, (15) (Morin), 5:00

Three Stars:
1. KIT - 30 Brandon Maxwell
2. KIT - 61 Jeremy Morin
3. NIAG - 29 Mark Visentin - 37 Saves

Honourable Mention: Ryan Strome - 1G, Andrew Shaw - Hard Working through 3 periods.