Dogs Play Close Game With Otters
October 16, 2008
The Niagara IceDogs travelled to the Louis Tullio Arena in Erie, Pa., to play the Erie Otters on Wednesday night.
Only 1:07 into the game, Andrew Agozzino gave the Dogs a 1-0 lead when he tapped in a rebound from a Drew Schiestel point shot with an assist from Matt Piva.
Goaltender John Cullen started in net and looked sharp in stopping Erie’s Greg McKegg in close at 12:42 and Shawn Sydlowski at 15:10.
Erie’s Zack Torquato tied the game with a breakaway goal at 16:43 and Erie’s Justin Hodgman gave them a 2-1 lead with 22 seconds left in the period.
The Dogs Johnson Andrews fought the Otters Tyler Hostetter early in the second period.
“I ran into their goaltender and the guy gave me a tap so I guess it was time to go,” said Andrews.
Agozzino tied the game on the power-play at 15:10 when he fired in a beautiful back-door pass from Thomas Middup. Marco Insam drew an assist on the goal.
“Middup got the puck up high and I tried to find a soft spot between the defence. He made a nice pass to me and I put it in,” said Agozzino. “We played a good game.”
With five seconds left in the period, Erie’s Torquato drove hard into Niagara goaltender John Cullen – who was shook up on the play but remained in the game.
“The puck was coming so I came out and the guy crashed the net. Next thing I know I was on the ice,” said Cullen. “I finished off the game and feel better.”
In the third period, the play was tight as both teams looked for the go-ahead goal.
Erie went up 3-2 when Brandon Biggers scored at 15:23.
“We played hard and I got screened on a shot which went to the inside post,” said Cullen. “It was a tough break.”
Erie’s Torquato scored an empty-net goal at 19:38 to make the final 4-2.
Niagara IceDogs Head Coach Mario Cicchillo added, “I thought we started off good and we had a little bit of a letdown, but we fought, fought, fought and tied the game up. We made a mistake there in our own end and give up a goal. When you got some young guys and their breaking in, things like that happen, but we got to learn from that as a team and tomorrows a new day where we go to practice and get back to work.”
Niagara plays at Plymouth on Oct. 17 and at Saginaw on Oct. 18. The Niagara IceDogs then host the Erie Otters on Oct. 23 at the Gatorade Garden City Complex. Game time is 7:30 p.m. Fans are reminded that tickets for all regular season home games can be purchased at the Customer Service Desks at both the Seaway Mall in Welland and the Pen Centre in St. Catharines. Tickets are also available through the IceDogs office (35 Queen St., St. Catharines) and at all ticketmaster sales locations (www.ticketmaster.ca). Get your tickets now to cheer on your Dogs as they chew into their 2008-09 season!
GO-DOGS-GO!!
Joseph Cassidy
Media Relations
Only 1:07 into the game, Andrew Agozzino gave the Dogs a 1-0 lead when he tapped in a rebound from a Drew Schiestel point shot with an assist from Matt Piva.
Goaltender John Cullen started in net and looked sharp in stopping Erie’s Greg McKegg in close at 12:42 and Shawn Sydlowski at 15:10.
Erie’s Zack Torquato tied the game with a breakaway goal at 16:43 and Erie’s Justin Hodgman gave them a 2-1 lead with 22 seconds left in the period.
The Dogs Johnson Andrews fought the Otters Tyler Hostetter early in the second period.
“I ran into their goaltender and the guy gave me a tap so I guess it was time to go,” said Andrews.
Agozzino tied the game on the power-play at 15:10 when he fired in a beautiful back-door pass from Thomas Middup. Marco Insam drew an assist on the goal.
“Middup got the puck up high and I tried to find a soft spot between the defence. He made a nice pass to me and I put it in,” said Agozzino. “We played a good game.”
With five seconds left in the period, Erie’s Torquato drove hard into Niagara goaltender John Cullen – who was shook up on the play but remained in the game.
“The puck was coming so I came out and the guy crashed the net. Next thing I know I was on the ice,” said Cullen. “I finished off the game and feel better.”
In the third period, the play was tight as both teams looked for the go-ahead goal.
Erie went up 3-2 when Brandon Biggers scored at 15:23.
“We played hard and I got screened on a shot which went to the inside post,” said Cullen. “It was a tough break.”
Erie’s Torquato scored an empty-net goal at 19:38 to make the final 4-2.
Niagara IceDogs Head Coach Mario Cicchillo added, “I thought we started off good and we had a little bit of a letdown, but we fought, fought, fought and tied the game up. We made a mistake there in our own end and give up a goal. When you got some young guys and their breaking in, things like that happen, but we got to learn from that as a team and tomorrows a new day where we go to practice and get back to work.”
Niagara plays at Plymouth on Oct. 17 and at Saginaw on Oct. 18. The Niagara IceDogs then host the Erie Otters on Oct. 23 at the Gatorade Garden City Complex. Game time is 7:30 p.m. Fans are reminded that tickets for all regular season home games can be purchased at the Customer Service Desks at both the Seaway Mall in Welland and the Pen Centre in St. Catharines. Tickets are also available through the IceDogs office (35 Queen St., St. Catharines) and at all ticketmaster sales locations (www.ticketmaster.ca). Get your tickets now to cheer on your Dogs as they chew into their 2008-09 season!
GO-DOGS-GO!!
Joseph Cassidy
Media Relations
