The Belleville Bulls come out of the Christmas break, with the Yardman faithful thinking, about the 2nd half. In a season with some Questions. GM/Coach George Burnett & his staff have done a good job (Minus the PP) of steering this group of kids in the right direction. And it starts in net with Malcolm Subban & John Chartrand. Both goalies are in their draft years.
One of Burnett's trademarks since coming to Belleville has been great goal tending. Year after year its been, Tobia, Lalande, Murphy and now Subban. After last year , and ex specially after his playoff performance Vs St.Mikes, It was to no ones surprise that coming in to this season Subban was going to challenge real hard for the #1 job. After Belleville native and former 1st round pick Tyson Teichmann was traded to Erie, it was clear that the #1 job was Malcolm's. Once the Bulls knew that Daniel Altshuller, wouldn't be coming to camp. It was expected that the number one job belonged to Malcolm.
Subban has been nothing short of Outstanding. Twice this year he has been named CHL goalie of the week. His number's speak for them selves . A 1.93 GAA and .938SV% both tops in the OHL, To go along with a 13-6 record. He missed some time early in the season with an ankle injury & rejoins the long list of Bulls to visit the injury list this season with a pulled groin .
An other trade mark of Burnett's tenure has been more then capable back up goal tenders, Names like Dahm, Pasquale, Van Buskirk, Grubauer and now enter John Chartrand.
Chartrand was brought in from Barrie, & what a steal. When called upon John has been really good. Early in the season when Subban was injured Chartrand showed that he can and will be prepared, & game ready when he gets the nod. John's numbers - GAA of 3.49 & a .898 SV% both are career bests to go along with 8 wins. Of the wins & in some of his loses, John has been outstanding. Being named one of the 3 stars on a number of occasions. The hope is he can hold the fort again.
On Thursday after Subban was hurt in the morning skate, in what assistant coach Jake Grimes called "very flukey and very unfortunate injury" saying that "its wasn't an accident, a fall, or a collision, he just pulled it." The Bulls called on John Chartrand. Good or bad the game Vs. The Greyhounds was all John's, no back up was available till the next night.
The Bulls had not won in the Soo since 2006, and were able to pull out a 6-5 victory with just 18 players dressed including Chartrand, who made 31 saves. As always the PK was outstanding going 5/5, the PP even added an odd goal going 1/3. Both Curtis and Payrel lead the way with 3 points (1G 2A each).Payrel's goal at 19:04 of the 3rd was the game winner. Austen Brassard had 2 goals. Zharkov and Gaunce rounded out the scoring with singles. Silas(3), Gronvald (2), Judson, and Branden Morris in his return to the line up after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in training camp all had helpers. The win was just the Bulls 5th ever in The Soo.
After a long bus ride due to bad road conditions, the Bulls arrived in Subury at 3 AM & it showed early, The Wolves scored at 5:05. Thanks to the play of Chartrand it was only 1-0 after 20 minutes. Again this time just 0:27 seconds in to the middle frame Sudbury scored. The Bulls were looking sluggish and out of sync, the wolves were like a pack attacking. The Bulls needed a goal and got one from the Skipper, Luke Judson with his 11th to make it 2-1 after 40 minutes, Thanks again to the work of Chartrand. To start the 3rd the Bulls got a quick goal from Brassard on a beauty pass from Payrel, but on a bad turn over the Wolves scored again to take the lead 3-2. Just under a minute later Belleville native Jason Shaw tied the game for the Bulls with his first career goal, scored with a shot that we rarely see. The Bulls lose in OT on a goal by Sudbury at 4:27. But thanks to John Chartrand's 43 saves the Bulls leave the North with 3 of four points.
Its been a few years since Belleville has had a home New Years Day game. On this new years day it was the red hot Brampton Battalion in town. The Toros and the Troops are very similar teams, both teams don't give up much and both teams don't score much. The game had a quick pace & was over in just 2:03. On the first goal of the game the Bulls looked very tired and were giving up the puck. Brampton scored on a rebound off a point shot with all 5 Bulls standing still. Belleville answered with a PP goal from Grodvald, their first on a 5-3 this year. After an other 5 on 3 that the Bulls had for 2 minutes where there were no goals but also no shots to be had, the Battalion next goal was scored at 17:12, but at 19:21 the home team answered with Brassard netting his 18 to keep alive his 7 game point streak and tie the game 2-2. Payrel and Curtis assisted on the goal and also have 5 and 4 game point streaks currently. the 2442 in attendance got to see the PP score and the PK go 5/5 in the third it was all Brampton and they scored 2 goals in the third to coast to a 4-2 Victory.
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