The Erie Otters took out their frustrations on the Niagara IceDogs.
The Otters scored a season-high nine goals in posting a convincing 9-3 win in front of 3,107 at Tullio Arena Friday night. The win capped an emotional week, which featured the return of goaltender Jaroslav Janus from the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals and the season-long suspension of winger Michael Liambas. That emotion sparked a 3-0 lead in the opening 11 minutes of the game.
Rookie Brady Austin scored his first OHL goal on an assist from Matthew Paton at the 7:21 mark. Austin, who added his second goal in the third period, replaced Liambas on the line with Paton and Mike Cazzola. Twenty-nine seconds later, captain Zack Torquato – one of Liambas’ best friends on the team – scored on the power play for a 2-0 lead.
Then Shawn Szydlowski, who has struggled offensively all season, scored off an assist from Andrew Yogan 11:13 into the opening period. The Otters outshot Niagara 13-3 in the period.
The IceDogs responded strong in the second, firing 19 shots at Janus. They scored twice in a three-minute span – with Andrew Agozzino assisting on the first and scoring the second – to slice the Otters’ lead to 3-2 late in the period. But the Otters regained a two-goal lead on Anthony Luciani’s breakaway goal with 45 seconds left in the period – his team-leading 13th goal of the season.
Then Torquato’s spinning shot from the blue line slid past IceDogs goaltender Mark Visentin to a build a 5-2 lead 36 seconds into the third. Torquato has six goals and 12 points in his past eight games.
His goal sparked a three-goal explosion in the opening five minutes of the third, the final two on the power play. Defenseman Tyler Hostetter scored his first goal of the season at the 4:21 mark, followed by Yogan’s goal at the 5:14 mark. The Otters finished 3-for-6 with the man advantage. They also were 4-for-4 on the penalty after allowing eight goals on 11 chances in the previous two games.
Luciani, Yogan, Torquato and Cazzola led the Otters with three points apiece, while Janus finished with 23 saves. The Otters scored their most goals since a 9-5 win against Windsor on Jan. 18, 2008.
- Victor Fernandes
Erie Otters goaltender Jaroslav Janus will make his season debut in tonight’s game against Niagara at Tullio Arena. Janus rejoined the Otters on Wednesday after the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals released him from his professional tryout contract. Meanwhile, goaltender Shane Owen, who has struggled in Janus’ place this season, returned home to Shanty Bay, Ontario, today to await a trade, said Sherry Bassin, Otters managing partner and general manager.
- Victor Fernandes
OHL commissioner David Branch shared an update on Kitchener defenseman Ben Fanelli’s condition during an interview on a Toronto radio station. Fanelli suffered serious head and facial injuries on a hit from Erie Otters winger Michael Liambas last weekend.
* Fanelli has been upgraded from critical to stable condition. Yet, he remains in intensive care.
“He’s been moving in the right direction, but very, very slowly,” he said. “There’s some good signs there. They’re all baby steps at this point.”
Goaltender Jaroslav Janus rejoined the Erie Otters on Wednesday, the same day the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals released him from his 25-game professional tryout contract. “I’m ready to play,” Janus said. “I’m ready for the next game” – set for Friday against Niagara at Tullio Arena.
Janus appreciates the opportunity to experience the pro game. But he played in only two of 10 games for the Admirals. Now he looks forward to playing regularly with the Otters. “I’ve got to play well,” said Janus, who appeared in 97 games with the Otters the past two seasons, posting a 38-49-5-2 record and 3.81 goals-against average.
With Janus’ return, the Otters plan to place goaltender Shane Owen on the trade block, said Sherry Bassin, managing partner and general manager. “We’re going to try to get an opportunity for him,” Bassin said, “He’s 19 years old. I’m sure he wants that.”
Owen has a 16-30-2-2 record, 4.66 goals-against average and .879 save percentage in 60 career games the past three seasons. With a chance to secure the No. 1 job in Janus’ absence, Owen had a 3-6-2-0 record, 4.31 goals-against average and .880 save percentage.
Bassin said he doesn’t plan to carry three goaltenders on the roster. Coach Robbie Ftorek doesn’t want a three-goaltender rotation.
“There’s only two nets out there,” Ftorek said. “Three goalies does not work.”
– Victor Fernandes
Here’s the Erie Otters’ official statement regarding suspended winger Michael Liambas. He will attend the club’s news conference on Thursday at 11 a.m. at Tullio Arena.
- Victor Fernandes
Goaltender Jaroslav Janus arrived in Erie early this evening.
Later tonight, club officials will inform goaltender Shane Owen that he will be placed on the trade block.
“We’re going to try to get an opportunity for him,” Sherry Bassin, Otters managing partner and general manager, said today, “give him an opportunity to go somewhere else. He’s 19 years old. I’m sure he wants that.”
Janus’ arrival leaves the Otters with three goaltenders, including rookie Ramis Sadikov. Owen has a 16-30-2-2 record, 4.66 goals-against average and .879 save percentage in 60 career games the past three seasons. With a chance to secure the No. 1 job will Janus remained with the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals, Owen posted a 3-6-2-0 record, 4.31 GAA and .880 save pct.
Bassin said he doesn’t plan to carry three goaltenders on the roster. Coach Robbie Ftorek doesn’t want a three-goaltender rotation.
“There’s only two nets out there,” Ftorek said. “I’m not a fan of three goaltenders. … Three goalies does not work.”
But Janus had seen “the whites of Janus’ eyes” before this afternoon’s practice at Tullio Arena. So he declined to comment further on the club’s goaltending situation until Janus arrived. “I only have two right now,” Ftorek said. “When I have three, then I’ll try to work on that.”
- Victor Fernandes
OHL commissioner David Branch has suspended Erie Otters winger Michael Liambas for the rest of the season, including playoffs, for his hit on Kitchener defenseman Ben Fanelli on Friday night. Fanelli’s serious head injuries, along with Liambas’ speed and distance traveled for his well-publicized hit, played a large role in Branch’s decision, Branch said today on FAN 590, a Toronto radio station.
Stay tuned to Shootout and the Erie Times-News for more coverage of Liambas’ suspension.
- Victor Fernandes
Toronto, ON - The Ontario Hockey League today announced the results of its review of an incident which occurred in the game played in Kitchener on Friday, October 30th, 2009 between the Kitchener Rangers and the visiting Erie Otters.
The incident in question involved player Michael Liambas of the Erie Otters who was assessed a match penalty for boarding as the result of his hit on Kitchener Rangers player Ben Fanelli who sustained an injury to the head on the play.
In making the announcement as the result of the review, Commissioner David Branch stated that…”players must understand they shall be held accountable for their actions. We must all work towards improving the level of respect players have towards opposing players and the game in general”.
“It is the position of the Ontario Hockey League that player Michael Liambas of the Erie Otters Hockey Club be suspended for the balance of the 2009-10 playing season including playoffs”.
