Check out this article on the latest Canadian Hockey League suspension for a controversial hit that’s featured in a video clip.
It includes a reference to former Erie Otters winger Michael Liambas‘ hit on Kitchener‘s Ben Fanelli last October, which drew a season-ending suspension from Ontario Hockey League commissioner David Branch.
What: Erie Otters (3-4-1-0) at Windsor Spitfires (4-4-0-1)
When: Thursday, 7:05 p.m.
Where: WFCU Centre – Windsor, Ontario
On the air: WFNN-AM/1330, www.ottershockey.com (live stream)
Players to watch
Erie – C Greg McKegg (7 goals, 9 assists, 16 points), C Mike Cazzola (4-8-12), RW Shawn Szydlowski (3-6-9), LW David Broll (2-4-6), D Tyler Hostetter (2-4-6)
Windsor – D Ryan Ellis (3-3-6), RW Zack Kassian (3-8-11), C Alexander Khokhlachev (6-5-11), C Zack MacQueen (4-7-11), D Michael MacIntyre (4-4-8)
Fast facts
Erie – The Otters play four of the next five games on the road. They are 2-3-0-0 away from Tullio Arena. … McKegg has points in seven straight games (seven goals, nine points). He is tied with Kitchener D Ryan Murphy for the OHL’s scoring lead. McKegg also is third in goals, tied for second in assists and leads with three short-handed goals. … Five of eight games have been decided by one goal (1-3-1-0). … RW Anthony Luciani (undisclosed injury) began skating with the team on Tuesday. He hopes to play this weekend. … D Brett Cook (undisclosed injury) and rookie C Connor Crisp (concussion) still haven’t returned to practice. … The Otters
Zack MacQueen (Contributed/Windsor Spitfires)
have allowed power-play goals in seven of eight games this season. … They rank in the league’s bottom five on the power play and penalty kill. … The Otters have lost eight straight trips to Windsor since a 3-2 shootout win on Feb. 1, 2007. That streak includes two defeats in an opening-round playoff sweep by the Spitfires last season.
Windsor – The Spitfires are rebuilding after losing several members of the two-time defending league and Memorial Cup champions to the pros, headlined by LW Taylor Hall (Edmonton Oilers), D Cam Fowler (Anaheim Ducks) and coach Bob Boughner (Columbus Blue Jackets assistant coach). … Ellis and Kassian, who recorded his 11 points in the past four games, anchor a young team. Both were recently assigned to the Spitfires by the Buffalo Sabres and Nashville Predators, respectively. … MacQueen, who was traded to the Spitfires by his father – former Otters coach and current Sarnia coach/general manager Dave MacQueen – is tied for the team lead in scoring. … G Jack Campbell, who led the United States to a gold medal in the IIHF World Junior Championship last winter, has struggled in his first OHL season (2-4-0-0, 4.99 goals-against average, .855 save percentage). … Khokhlachev, the 23rd pick in the 2010 CHL Import Draft, is tied for fourth in goals.
Up next: at London (Friday, 7:30 p.m.), vs. Ottawa (Saturday, 7 p.m.)
KITCHENER, Ontario – The Erie Otters’ losing streak against Kitchener continued Monday.
The Otters’ latest defeat was more heartbreaking than most.
Rangers winger Gabriel Landeskog scored on the power play with 1 minute, 6 seconds left in overtime to hand the Otters a 4-3 loss in front of 6,045 at Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.
The Otters (3-4-1-0) have lost 11 straight against their Midwest Division rival – all eight meetings last season and three more in the past two weeks, including twice in the past three nights.
On Saturday night, the Otters nearly rallied from a three-goal deficit only to lose 6-5 at Tullio Arena. On Monday, the Otters erased a pair of one-goal deficits in the third period on rookie Adam Pelech’s first Ontario Hockey League goal 7:58 into the period and Greg McKegg’s goal with 19 seconds left.
But Pelech’s interference penalty 3:03 into overtime led to Landeskog’s winning goal.
McKegg (two goals, assist) handed the Otters a 1-0 lead 6:39 into the game with his league-leading third shorthanded goal of the season and his seventh goal overall, which ranks third in the league.
His 16 points are tied for the league lead with Kitchener’s Ryan Murphy, whose power-play goal with 3:14 left in the first tied the score at 1. Matthew Tipoff’s goal snapped the tie with 1:44 left in the second.
Shawn Szydlowski had two assists for the Otters. Rookie Luke Cairns had an assist, his second point in two games. Ramis Sadikov made 33 saves in a losing effort. Landeskog, Murphy and Tipoff had a goal and assist apiece for the Rangers (6-1-0-0), while Jamie Doornbosch had two assists.
- Victor Fernandes
SUMMARY
Rangers 4, Otters 3 (OT)
Erie 1 0 2 0 — 3
Kitchener 0 2 1 1 — 4
1st Period — 1. Erie, Greg McKegg 6 (unassisted), 6:39 (sh). Penalties — Appio (E) unsportsmanlike conduct, 5:35; Shields (E) high sticking, 7:46.
2nd Period — 2. Kitchener, Ryan Murphy 5 (Doornbosch, Landeskog), 16:46 (pp). 3. Kitchener, Matthew Tipoff 5 (Marcantuoni), 18:16. Penalties — Melchiori (K) cross checking, 13:54; Gaulton (E) hooking, 14:48; Szydlowski (E) high sticking, 15:32; Cazzola (E) cross checking, 16:26; Akeson (K) hooking, 17:49.
3rd Period — 4. Erie, Adam Pelech 1 (Szydlowski, McKegg), 7:58. 5. Kitchener, Tobias Rieder 6 (Tipoff, Marcantuoni), 12:31. 6. Erie, McKegg 7 (Cairns, Szydlowski), 19:41. Penalties — Melchiori (K) interference, 17:09.
3rd Period — 7. Kitchener, Gabriel Landeskog 6 (Murphy, Doornbosch), 3:54 (pp). Penalties — Pelech (E) interference, 3:03
Shots on goal — Erie, 7-11-7-0—25; Kitchener, 15-12-1-8—36.
Goaltenders — Erie, Ramis Sadikov 3-4-0-0 (37 shots, 33 saves); Kitchener, Mike Morrison 2-0-0-0 (25 shots, 22 saves).
Power plays — Erie (0-3), Kitchener (2-6).
Referees — Brad Beer, Ryan Hutchison. Linesmen — Shawn Hamelin, Drew Jackson.
Attendance — 6,045.
Three stars
* Matia Marcantuoni, Rangers (2 assists) ** Matthew Tipoff, Rangers (goal, assist) *** Greg McKegg, Otters (2 goals, assist)
The Erie Otters had a two-goal lead against Kitchener on Saturday night.
But as usual, it didn’t last long. The Rangers made sure of that.
The Rangers scored five unanswered goals in the second and third periods to erase that two-goal deficit and hand the Otters a 6-5 loss in front of 3,082 at Tullio Arena. The Rangers (5-1-0-0) have won 10 straight games against the Otters (3-4-0-0) dating back to the start of the 2009-10 OHL season. Yet the Otters enjoyed a strong start against their Midwest Division rival.
Rookie center Chris Marchese’s first career goal – a power-play score off assists from Tyler Hostetter and Macaulay McDonnell – snapped the scoreless tie 12:59 into the opening period.
Kitchener’s Matthew Tipoff’s tied the score 1:12 later on assists from Tobias Rieder and Ryan Murphy, who tallied his league-best 10th assist and 14th point of the season. But the Otters took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission after Mike Cazzola scored his fourth goal of the season with 23 seconds left in the period.
Greg McKegg’s rebound goal – his team-leading fifth of the season – handed the Otters a 3-1 lead 5 minutes into the second. Yet the Rangers overpowered the Otters for three goals in less than two minutes.
Kitchener scored every goal by outmuscling Erie defenders for rebounds in front of goaltender Ramis Sadikov. Rieder scored his fifth goal of the season at the 10:48 mark to slice the Otters’ lead to 3-2.
Then Julian Melchiori and Andrew Crescenzi followed with goals 22 seconds apart to turn that one-goal deficit into a 4-3 Rangers lead heading to the third. Kitchener scored all three goals on eight shots. The Rangers extended their goal-scoring streak to four 1:05 into the third, as Jason Akeson scored on assists from rookie Matia Marcantuoni and Gabriel Landeskog for a 5-3 Rangers lead.
The streak reached five goals with 7:44 left, as Rieder stole the puck from Hostetter at the Otters’ blue line and scored unassisted for a 6-3 lead. The Otters finally responded on Jordan Coccimiglio’s goal with 6:08 left in regulation. Rookie Luke Cairns assisted on the goal for his OHL point. Shawn Szydlowski scored with Sadikov on the bench for an extra attacker with 1:45 left to pull the Otters within 6-5 – one of their 16 shots in the period. The Otters outshot Kitchener 38-27.
But the Otters scored the equalizer a second or two after the final buzzer sounded. Rieder led the Rangers with two goals and an assist. Akeson and Tipoff had a goal and assist apiece for the Rangers. McKegg and Szydlowski had two points apiece for the Otters.
* News and notes: Otters winger Anthony Luciani remained out of the lineup with an undisclosed injury, as did defenseman Brett Cook (undisclosed injury) and rookie center Connor Crisp (concussion). … The Otters and Rangers meet again on Monday at 1 p.m. in Kitchener.
- Victor Fernandes
SUMMARY
Rangers 6, Otters 5
Kitchener 1 3 2 — 6
Erie 2 1 2 — 5
1st Period — 1. Erie, Chris Marchese 1 (Hostetter, McDonnell), 12:59 (pp). 2. Kitchener, Matthew Tipoff 4 (Rieder, Murphy), 14:11. 3. Erie, Mike Cazzola 4 (Szydlowski, McKegg), 19:37. Penalties — Pelech (E) tripping, 3:18; Melchiori (K) delay of game, 11:47; Thomson (K) hooking, 14:34.
2nd Period — 4. Erie, Greg McKegg 5 (Cazzola, Pelech), 5:00. 5. Kitchener, Tobias Rieder 5 (Doornbosch, Tipoff), 10:48. 6. Kitchener, Julian Melchiori 1 (Catenacci, Akeson), 11:47. 7. Kitchener, Andrew Crescenzi 3 (Randell, Thomson), 12:19. Penalties — Austin (E) slashing, 2:39; Grant (E) hooking, 10:09; Gaulton (E) tripping, 12:26; Doornbosch (K) interference, 14:19; Appio (E) checking from behind, 18:00; Cazzola (E) hooking, 19:53.
3rd Period — 8. Kitchener, Jason Akeson 4 (Marcantuoni, Landeskog), 1:05 (pp). 9. Kitchener, Rieder 6 (unassisted), 12:16. 10. Erie, Jordan Coccimiglio 2 (Cairns), 13:52. 11. Erie, Shawn Szydlowski 3 (McKegg, Cazzola), 18:15. Penalties — Melchiori (K) holding, 7:08; Appio (E) interference, 14:05; Marcantuoni (K) high sticking, 16:13.
Shots on goal — Kitchener, 13-8-6—27; Erie, 10-12-16—38.
Goaltenders — Kitchener, Brandon Maxwell 4-1-0-0 (38 shots, 33 saves); Erie, Ramis Sadikov 3-3-0-0 (27 shots, 21 saves).
Power plays — Kitchener (1-7), Erie (1-5).
Referees — Ryan Carroll, Seth Ferguson. Linesmen — Mike Harrington, Sean Pindar.
Attendance — 3,082.
Three stars
* Jason Akeson, Rangers (goal, assist) ** Greg McKegg, Otters (2 assists) *** Chris Marchese, Otters (first OHL goal)
GUELPH, Ontario – The Erie Otters needed an offensive spark Friday night.
Their No. 1 line provided it. Greg McKegg, Mike Cazzola and Shawn Szydlowski each scored in the second period to erase a two-goal deficit and secure a 3-2 win against Guelph at Sleeman Centre.
McKegg’s team-leading fourth goal of the season, scored 19 seconds into the middle period on assists from Cazzola and Szydlowski, began the Otters’ rally to a second straight win. Mike Cazzola tied the score at 2 with 7:18 left in the period. Defensemen Mitch Gaulton and Tyler Hostetter had the assists.
Then McKegg and Cazzola teamed on Szydlowski’s tiebreaking goal 1:19 later.
Second-year goaltender Ramis Sadikov took over from there. He capped a 33-save effort by stopping all 11 Storm shots in the third. Guelph (3-3-0-0), which built a 2-0 lead on goals from Cody McNaughton and Peter Holland late in the first period, outshot the Otters 11-4 in the period and 35-28 overall.
The Otters (3-3-0-0) also survived a 6-on-4 situation in the game’s final moments.
Cazzola, a native of Guelph, Ontario, led the Otters (3-3-0-0) with a goal and two assists. McKegg and Szydlowski had a goal and assist apiece. The Otters return to the ice today for a 7 p.m. game against Kitchener. It’s the first game of a home-and-home series that concludes Monday in Kitchener.
SUMMARY
Otters 3, Storm 2
Erie 0 3 0 — 3
Guelph 2 0 0 — 2
1st Period — 1. Guelph, Cody McNaughton 2 (Menard, Sisca), 17:41 (pp). 2. Guelph, Peter Holland 5 (Beck, Latta), 18:33. Penalties — Van Laren (G) tripping, 2:45; Coccimiglio (E) tripping, 9:07; Holden (E) high sticking, 15:45.
2nd Period — 3. Erie, Greg McKegg 4 (Cazzola, Szydlowski), :19. 4. Erie, Mike Cazzola 3 (Gaulton, Hostetter), 12:42. 5. Erie, Shawn Szydlowski 2 (McKegg, Cazzola), 16:01. Penalties — Paton (E) 5-min. fighting, 1:52; Carroll (G) 5-min. fighting, 1:52; Broll (E) high sticking, 6:16; Broll (E) 5-min. fighting, 12:43; Sandlak (G) 5-min. fighting, 12:43.
3rd Period — None. Penalties — Erie, too many men (served by Marchese), 1:10; Erie, too many men (served by Paton), 18:24; Beck (G) high sticking, 19:46.
Shots on goal — Erie, 10-14-4—28; Guelph, 14-10-11—35.
Goaltenders — Erie, Ramis Sadikov 3-2-0-0 (35 shots, 33 saves); Guelph, Garret Sparks 0-1-0-0 (28 shots, 25 saves).
Power plays — Erie (0-2), Guelph (1-5).
Referees — N/A. Linesmen — N/A.
Attendance — N/A.
What: London Knights (2-1-0-0) at Erie Otters (1-3-0-0)
When: Saturday, 7 p.m.
Where: Tullio Arena
On the air: WFNN-AM/1330, www.ottershockey.com (live stream)
Players to watch
Erie – C Greg McKegg (1 goals, 4 assists, 5 points), C Mike Cazzola (2-4-6), RW Anthony Luciani (3-1-4), LW David Broll (1-3-4), D Mitch Gaulton (2-0-2)
London – RW Vladislav Namestnikov (1-3-4), RW Jared Knight (2-1-3), LW Michael McDonald (1-2-3), LW Colin Martin (1-2-3), C Phil Varone (1-0-1)
Fast facts
Erie – The Otters attempt to snap a three-game losing streak at home, where they lost their opener to Saginaw 3-2 last weekend. … They lost four of six meetings with the Midwest Division rival Knights last season. But four of the defeats were by a goal – three in overtime or shootout. The Otters won two of three home games in the season series. … D Brett Cook suffered an apparent injury early in Friday’s loss to Kitchener and didn’t return. … Rookie C Connor Crisp (mild concussion) missed his fourth straight game on Friday. … The Otters have allowed power-play goals in all four games (seven goals on 18 chances). … Cazzola has points in all four games.
London – The Knights play their first road game of the season. They opened with three straight at home – a 3-2 shootout win against Plymouth, 4-3 overtime win against Sarnia and a 4-2 loss to Owen Sound. … Second-year goaltender Michael Houser (2-1-0-0 record, 2.53 goals-against average, .925 save percentage, 1 shutout) has started the first three games in front of rookie Igor Bobkov, an Anaheim Ducks prospect. … The Knight selected Namestnikov 20th overall in the 2010 CHL Import Draft.
Up next: at Guelph (Friday, 7:30 p.m.), vs. Kitchener (Oct. 9, 7 p.m.)
- Victor Fernandes
KITCHENER, Ontario – Kitchener doesn’t need Jeremy Morin and Jeff Skinner to beat the Erie Otters.
While both offensive leaders remain at NHL training camps, the Rangers pulled away in the third period for a 7-3 win in front of 6,366 at Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on Friday night.
The Otters (1-3-0-0) have lost three straight since a season-opening win in Brampton. They also have lost nine straight to the Rangers (3-0-0-0), dating back to the opening game of an eight-game season series last year. Morin and Skinner combined for 22 goals and 33 points in the Rangers’ season sweep.
But Morin and Skinner have performed well this preseason with the Chicago Blackhawks and Carolina Hurricanes, respectively. Meanwhile, their Rangers’ teammates have picked up the offensive slack.
Gabriel Landeskog, a potential first-round pick in the 2011 National Hockey League Entry Draft, scored twice – his fourth and fifth goals of the season. Ryan Murphy had a goal and his four assists.
Murphy and Landeskog scored consecutive goals in less than a minute midway through the third period to cap a three-goal stretch that turned the Rangers’ 3-2 lead into a 6-2 advantage.
Kitchener scored all seven goals on 34 shots against rookie goaltender Chris Festarini, who was playing in only his second Ontario Hockey League game. David Shields, Anthony Luciani and Mitch Gaulton scored for the Otters, which complete their three-game weekend tonight at home against London.
SUMMARY
Rangers 7, Otters 3
Erie 1 1 1 — 3
Kitchener 2 2 3 — 7
1st Period — 1. Kitchener, Andrew Crescenzi 1 (Murphy, Akeson), 13:03. 2. Kitchener, Michael Catenacci 1 (Landeskog, Murphy), 14:39. 3. Erie, David Shields 1 (Broll), 16:26. Penalties — Appio (E) 5-min. fighting, 6:12; Lowry (K) 5-min. fighting, 6:12; Cook (E) 5-min. fighting, 6:47; Randell (K) 5-min. fighting, 6:47; McKegg (E) interference, 7:16; Crescenzi (K) holding the stick, 10:43.
2nd Period — 4. Kitchener, Gabriel Landeskog 4 (unassisted), :50. 5. Erie, Anthony Luciani 3 (McKegg, Holden), 8:51. 6. Jason Akeson 1 (Catenacci, Murphy), 18:59. Penalties — Shields (E) tripping, 12:22.
3rd Period — 7. Kitchener, Landeskog 5 (Rieder, Catenacci), 9:15. 8. Erie, Mitch Gaulton 2 (Cazzola, McKegg), 10:59 (pp). 10. Kitchener, Matthew Tipoff 3 (Akeson, Murphy), 15:46. Penalties — Sol (K) roughing, 3:24; McKegg (E) roughing, 6:52; Landeskog (K) roughing, 6:52; Cazzola (E) holding the stick, 7:15; Marcantuoni (K) roughing, 10:55; Rieder (K) interference, 11:47; Melchiori (K) delay of game, 19:44.
Shots on goal — Erie, 11-15-12—38; Kitchener, 10-8-16—34.
Goaltenders — Erie, Chris Festarini 0-1-0-0 (34 shots, 27 saves); Kitchener, Brandon Maxwell 2-0-0-0 (38 shots, 35 saves).
Power plays — Erie (1-5), Kitchener (1-3).
Referees — Darren Price, Scott Hoberg. Linesmen — Matt Gregory, Dave Pfohl.
Attendance — 6,366.
Three stars
* Ryan Murphy, Rangers (goal, 4 assists) ** Gabriel Landeskog, Rangers (2 goals, assist) *** Jason Akeson, Rangers (goal, 2 assists)
ST. CATHARINES, Ontario – The penalty kill killed the Erie Otters on Thursday night.
The Otters allowed four goals on eight chances in a 5-4 loss to Niagara in front of 2,982 at Gatorade Garden City Complex. The four straight goals against erased the Otters’ early 2-0 lead.
The Otters (1-2-0-0) built that lead on goals from Jordan Coccimiglio and Matthew Paton in the opening eight minutes of the first period. But the IceDogs (2-1-0-0) rallied to tie at 2 with power-play goals from Alex Friesen and Dougie Hamilton less than three
Greg McKegg (Contributed/Toronto Maple Leafs)
minutes apart late in the period.
After a scoreless second period, consecutive penalties to Otters forwards Chris Marchese and Shawn Szydlowski handed the IceDogs a 5-on-3 opportunity midway through the third. Niagara responded with power-play goals from Ryan Strome and newly acquired Jason Wilson to open a 4-2 lead.
The Otters have allowed six goals on 15 power-play chances in three games this season.
Greg McKegg’s first goal of the season, the Otters’ lone power-play goal of the game, sliced Niagara’s lead to 4-3 with 7:25 left. But Steven Shipley scored 56 seconds later to regain Niagara’s two-goal lead.
The Otters moved within 5-4 on Mike Cazzola’s goal with 4:31 left. But they were unable to score the equalizer and avoid a second straight loss. Niagara outshot the Otters 51-31. Ramis Sadikov made 46 saves in the losing effort. McKegg had a goal and assist. Friesen and Strome had a goal and two assists apiece for the IceDogs. Shipley and Hamilton each had a goal and assist.
The Otters return to action today in Kitchener with a 7:30 p.m. game.
- Victor Fernandes
SUMMARY
IceDogs 5, Otters 4
Erie 2 0 2 — 4
Niagara 2 0 3 — 5
1st Period — 1. Erie, Jordan Coccimiglio 1 (Gottzmann, McDonnell), 2:29. 2. Erie, Matthew Paton 1 (Hostetter), 8:03. 3. Niagara, Alex Friesen 2 (F. Hamilton, Strome), 14:46 (pp). 4. Niagara, Dougie Hamilton 1 (Friesen, Strome), 17:10 (pp). Penalties — McKegg (E) holding, 13:35; Appio (E) roughing, 16:20; Hamilton (N) checking from behind, 19:39.
2nd Period — None. Penalties — Strome (N) holding the stick, 2:31; Visentin (N) delay of game, 3:09; Gaulton (E) holding, 4:36; Agozzino (N) high sticking, 4:36; Austin (E) 4-min. checking from behind, 5:36; Doan (N) roughing, 5:36; Luciani (E) unsportsmanlike conduct, 15:42; Billingsley (N) cross checking, 15:42; McKegg (E) hooking, 17:41.
3rd Period — 5. Niagara, Ryan Strome 3 (D. Hamilton, Friesen), 10:56 (pp). 6. Niagara, Jason Wilson 1 (Shipley, Pacan), 11:13 (pp). 7. Erie, Greg McKegg 1 (unassisted), 12:35. 8. Niagara, Steven Shipley 1 (F. Hamilton, Wilson), 13:29. 9. Erie, Mike Cazzola 2 (McKegg), 15:29. Penalties — Marchese (E) 4-min. high sticking, 9:02; Szydlowski (E) hooking, 10:03; Pacan (N) delay of game, 12:22.
Shots on goal — Erie, 12-10-9—31; Niagara, 15-13-23—51.
Goaltenders — Erie, Ramis Sadikov 1-2-0-0 (51 shots, 46 saves); Niagara, Mark Visentin 1-1-0-0 (31 shots, 27 saves).
Power plays — Erie (1-4), Niagara (4-8).
Referees — Mike Bolibruck, Matt Parlette. Linesmen — Jesse Wilmot, Darryl Wolfe.
Attendance — 2,982.
Three stars
* Steven Shipley, IceDogs (goal, assist) ** Ryan Strome, IceDogs (goal, 2 assists) *** Alex Friesen, IceDogs (goal, 2 assists)
The Mercyhurst College women’s hockey team and Erie Otters will play three day-night doubleheaders at Tullio Arena this season. The games are a lead-in to the NCAA Women’s Division I Frozen Four, set for March 18-20 at the downtown arena, Lakers coach Michael Sisti said Monday.
The Lakers have moved three games – Nov. 27 against Colgate and a two-game series with Brown on Jan. 14-15 – from Mercyhurst Ice Center to Tullio Arena. All three games are scheduled for 2 p.m. starts, said Casey Wells, Erie County Convention Center Authority executive director.
The Otters have home games against Kitchener on Nov. 27, Barrie on Jan. 14 and London on Jan. 15. All three games begin at 7 p.m.
“(The Tullio staff will have) extra people with locker rooms and things to juggle,” Sisti said. “It’s a nice trial run for everyone to get used to things and to smooth out anything as they get closer to hosting the (Frozen) Four.”
- Victor Fernandes
Otters-Lakers doubleheader schedule
at Tullio Arena
Nov. 27
Colgate at Mercyhurst, 2 p.m.
Kitchener at Erie, 7 p.m.
Jan. 14
Brown at Mercyhurst, 2 p.m.
Barrie at Erie, 7 p.m.
Jan. 15
Brown at Mercyhurst, 2 p.m.
London at Erie, 7 p.m.
Vince Scott
The Erie Otters will retire the late Vince Scott’s No. 18 sweater before the OHL club’s home opener this coming fall. Scott, who played for the Otters from 2003-07, died in an automobile accident on April 28.
Scott’s banner will hang in the rafters with Brad Boyes’ No. 16, the first number retired in the 14-year-old franchise’s history. Sherry Bassin, Otters managing partner and general manager, made the announcement during the team’s 15th annual Summer Awards Banquet at Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel on Sunday.
“That’s only the right thing to do,” Bassin said of Scott, one of the Otters’ most popular players. “I want to look up in the rafters all the time and look at that number and remember what he meant to us.” Left wing Brett Appio wore No. 18 this past season.
In other news, OHL commissioner David Branch, the banquet’s keynote speaker, emphasized the need for respect among players, as he did in November after suspending former Otter Michael Liambas for the rest of his final junior season for a hit that seriously injured Kitchener rookie Ben Fanelli. “No boos?” Branch jokingly asked the crowd after being introduced. Liambas wasn’t in attendance.
Right wings Anthony Luciani and Shawn Szydlowski will attend Chicago Blackhawks rookie camp later this summer. … The Otters introduced their 2010 OHL draft picks and 2009 prospects, including forward Mac McDonnell, 17, an Allen Park, Mich., native who had five goals, eight points and 18 penalty minutes in 23 games this past season with the North American Hockey League’s Motor City Metal Jackets.
