2012-2013 OHL East Division Preview

It will be a tough battle this season in the OHL's East Division.  All five clubs feel they have a team that can make the playoffs.  In Oshawa with a new General Manager and Head Coach in place the Generals are getting some preseason love to finish strong despite the lose of some key offencive tools.  The Belleville Bulls are early favourites and have the tools to make a strong run at the J. Ross Robertson Cup.  The Ottawa 67's will be lead by the OHL's Top Prospect and can never be counted out, as they are rarely on the outside looking in come March.  The Peterborough Petes have never missed the playoffs three years in a row,  in franchise history and will be pushing hard to make sure this years squad doesn't let it happen.  After what feels like years of "Next Year" and "What Happened ?" it looks like the Kingston Frontenacs might be headed in the right direction.

OSHAWA GENERALS 2011-2012 ( 31-30-4-3, 3rd in East Division, 8th in Eastern Conference )

The Oshawa Generals felt they had to make some changes after finishing below expectations the last few seasons, including last season, finishing 8th in the Eastern Conference and bowing out in the 1st round to the Eastern Conference Champions the Niagara IceDogs in six games.  First they brought in former Peterborough Petes General Manager Jeff Twohey, who made former Windsor Spitfires assistant D.J. Smith the new bench boss. On the ice, gone are New York Rangers prospect Christian Thomas and Vancouver Canucks draft pick Niklas Jensen, but the Gens still have plenty of fire power left in the likes of Scott Laughton (Philadelphia Flyers), Boone Jenner (Columbus Blue Jackets) and Lucas Lessio (Phoenix Coyotes). They have added Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Tyler Biggs from the University of Miami-Ohio and will expect more from German import Sebastian Uvira.  Scoring goals should not be a problem with Lessio likely to be one of the OHL's top scorers. Michael Dal Colle is two way centre with strong finishing abilities and is a very smart player who will fit in real well in Oshawa.  Cole Cassels will participate in the inaugural CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game and was also recently named on NHL Central Scouting’s Players to Watch list for the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

On the back end Oshawa has five returning players.  They will depend on overage-rs Matt Petgrave and Geoffrey Schemitsch along with veteran Colin Suellentrop (Philadelphia Flyers), to eat a boat load of minutes.
In goal with the trade of Kevin Bailie to the 2012 OHL Champions the London Knights, the Generals open the door for Daniel Altshuller (Carolina Hurricanes ) to take over as the number one.  Altshuller showed several times throughout last season that he is capable of being a number one goaltender.  He held the Generals in games in last years playoffs after replacing Bailie.  Rookie Ken Appleby will be the back-up. Appleby is a big kid listed at 6'4" 208lbs and will look to impress in his draft year.

Leading Scorer(s) - Lucas Lessio, Boone Jenner
Top D-Man - Matt Petgrave
Top Rookie(s) - Tyler Biggs, Michael Dal Colle
Unsung Hero - Scott Sabourin
Top Draft Eligible - Cole Cassels, Ken Appleby
Prediction - Great goal tending and strong consistent scoring will help the Generals finish 1st in the East Division.


BELLEVILLE BULLS 2011-2012 ( 35-32-1-0, 2nd in East Division, 7th in Eastern Conference )

The Belleville Bulls are very deep with 18 players returning from last years team that finished 7th in the conference and lost a tight 1st round playoff match up to the Ottawa 67's in six games. The Forward core is lead by Vancouver Canucks 1st round draft pick Brendan Gaunce, who is one of the top two way players in the OHL and can score at a point per game or better pace, and Winnipeg Jets draft pick Austen Brassard.  They are Belleville's top two scorers from last season and should be again.  Russian Daniil Zharkov (Edmonton Oilers) will be a force and 40 plus goals is attainable.  He will be joined by country men  Sergey Kuptsov  who was inquired in a trade with Mississauga.  All four of Belleville's top four draft picks made this years team. 1st round pick Niki Petti with his strong skating skills and the ability to score and create chances should help a Bulls power play that  has struggled the last few seasons.  Bulls will also look to 2011 draft pick Aaron Berisha who attended Salisbury Prep School last season.  He has excellent skill, vision and hockey sense
On defence the Bulls have six returning and its a very good group lead by Brady Austin (Buffalo Sabres) and 2013 NHL Draft prospect Jordan Subban. Overage-rs Stephen Silas and Belleville native Jason Shaw will play a big part in helping to ease 2nd round draft pick Daniel De Sousa in to the OHL.
The main man in Belleville will be in goal. The Bulls will look to Boston Bruins 2012 1st Rd Draft pick Malcolm Subban to play the bulk of games. When healthy last season Malcolm was one of the top goaltenders in not only the OHL but in the CHL. He put up great numbers with a 2.50GAA and a .923SV%.  This season the Bulls will need him at his best if they plan on going far in the playoffs.

Top Scorer(s) - Brendan Gaunce, Austen Brassard
Top D-Man - Brady Austin
Top Rookies - Niki Petti, Daniel De Sousa
Unsung Hero - Micheal Curtis
Top Draft Eligible - Jordan Subban, Sergey Kuptsov
Prediction - Belleville will need to score more then the 200 goals they had last season and get the PP rolling.  If they find a way to score they have the goal tending and the depth to finish at least 2nd in the East

OTTAWA 67's 2011-2012 ( 1st in the East Division, 2nd in the Eastern Conference )

The 67's will look to return to the Eastern Conference Final again where last season they went down in five games to the Niagara IceDogs.  Ottawa will be lead by Sean Monahan. Monahan is the OHL’s top prospect for the 2013 NHL Entry Draft and will be the leader of this team. Monahan will reach 40+ goals and the 100 point mark and challenge for the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy. One player doesn't make a team and that's where Steven Janes, Brett Gustavsen, Ryan Van Stralen, and Slovakian-born right-winger Richard Mraz come in. Mraz has played for Slovakia Jr Team, and has spent a full year in the Russian Junior League, then played 3 games in the KHL,  he's big at 6'2"200lbs and is ready for the OHL.

Ottawa Senators draft pick Cody Ceci will lead the 67's defence core. After finishing 2nd in OHL D-Man scoring last season Ceci should put up great numbers again and will be in the running for the Max Kaminsky Trophy.  Michael Vlajkov is in his draft year and will look to help the 67's with his NHL ready shot.

Add in overage-rs Jake Cardwell and Sean Callaghan and the 67's have a solid top 4 and they will need them to at their best because the biggest question in the Nation's Capital is in net. No one has more pressure in Ottawa then Keegan Wilson, an overeager who was brought in from Brampton in the off season is the new number one guy. Wilson is an over aged player but has only played one season in the OHL and he has a tough act to follow in All-World Goalie Petr Mrazek. It unfair to Wilson to expect him to turn in the performances that Mrazek made common place, but he will be needed to do his part. The 67's could really benefit from the NHL Lockout, as they temporally have moved to the Scotiabank place and as fans in Ottawa look for hockey, being the only ticket in town could see them play before some huge crowds.

Leading scorer(s) - Sean Monahan, Richard Mraz
Top D-Man - Cody Ceci
Top Rookie(s) - Dante Salituro, Andrew Abou-Assaly (a home town steal at 56th after he slipped to the third round because he was considering the NCAA route)
Unsung Hero - Tyler Graovac
Top Draft Eligible - Sean Monahan, Michael Vlajkov
Prediction - If Ottawa can keep the goals against down and avoid playing catch up they should finish 3rd in the East division.

PETERBOROUGH PETES 2011-2012 ( 27-34-3-4, 4th in East Division, 9th Eastern Conferance )

In the lift lock city the Peterborough Petes want to return to the playoffs after missing the last two season and will look to veteran Alan Quine (Detroit Redwings) to carry the bulk off the offence. Quine should be the leading scorer and with help from new additions former Kitchener ranger Zach Lorentz and Brett Findlay from the Greyhounds will lead a promising group of young forwards. Sophomore Nick Ritchie will look to add to his point total of 39 from last year. Stephen Nosad had a real fine rookie season as well in 2011-2012 with 32pts. The Petes will look to this years rookie forwards, Eric Cornel and Josh Maguire who were selected on their skill, but the fact that they both have local connections is an added bonus. After Cornel's AAA team was beat out last spring, he joined the Kemptville 73's (CCHL) putting up 4pts in 8 games and he was a very good playing with older players. Eric is a great skater with great vision and the ability to find the open man around the net makes him an exceptional play maker. In Josh Maguire the Petes get a player that brings a physicality and competitiveness with top end nose for the net type skill but its his compete level which separates Josh from peers in his age group. One wild card for Peterborough is Import player Jonatan Tanus from Finland. Tanus plays a North American style game and has the ability to play in all situations. Jonatan is the youngest player ever to play in the mens premier in-line-league in Finland.
Most of the Petes experience will come from the back end in the likes of Captain Slater Koekkoek. The Tampa Bay first rounder is an elite level defender that excels in all situations. Connor Boland, Clark Seymour (Pittsburgh Penguins) and Steven Trojanovic round out a nice group of veterans that will cover up mistakes made by their young forwards.
In goal Andrew D'Agostini will handle the starters duties and will benefit from the strong defencive core. D'Agostini is a leader on and off the ice he has be awarded both the The Ivan Tennant Memorial Award in 2010-11 and the The Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy in 2011-12 and will teach this young team what it means to be a player in the OHL.

Top Scorer(s) - Alan Quine, Stephen Nosad
Top D-Man - Slater Koekkoek
Top Rookies - Jonatan Tanus, Josh Maguire
Unsung Hero - Andrew D'Agostini
Top Draft Eligible - Stephen Nosad, Jonatan Tanus
Prediction - No reason to think that the D and D'Agostini wont do there job, Petes need the Forwards to do theirs if they want to finish 4th in East

KINGSTON FRONTENACS 2011-2012 ( 5th in the East Division, 10th in the Eastern Conferance )

In Kingston fans have a reason to believe that their Frontenacs are on the right path, with a great draft where they had four of the first 24 picks, General Manager Doug Gilmour and Head Coach Todd Gill are looking forward to the next few years as thier fine crop of rookies develop, With the 2nd Overall pick in the OHL Priority Selection Kingston Selected Toronto Marlies' Captain Roland McKeown who Gilmour described as "a right-handed Scott Niedermayer". McKeown can play in all situations, is an effortless skater and Roland is at his best when he has the puck, He will make mistakes,  but he will learn so much this year and will be the cornerstone of the Fronts team moving forward. At the 9th pick Kingston brought in Sam Bennett who comes advertised as a highly skilled, strong skater with great mobility and elusiveness. Bennett is great in one on one situations. Kingston fans should look forward to seeing Ryan Kujawinski who put up 30 points in 30 games after coming over from Sarina via trade last season. and with both top scorers back from last year in Darcy Greenaway and overager Cody Alcock. The Fronts should be able to score.

On the back end Michael Moffat and import Mikko Vainonen will play big minutes Warren Steele and Ryan Hutchinson will be given plenty of opportunity to shine. Rookie D-Man Dylan DiPerna can jump up in the rush and create offense for his teammates and still be able to be one of the first ones back to defend thanks to his skating ability. He get will chances but brought along with ease. In goal the man in the Limestone City will be overager and former Kitchener Ranger and Peterborough Pete Mike Morrison.

Top Scorer(s) - Darcy Greenaway, Ryan Kujawinski
Top D-Man - Mikko Vainonen
Top Rookies - Roland McKeown, Sam Bennett
Unsung Hero - Henri Ikonen
Top Draft Eligible - Ryan Kujawinski, Ryan Hutchinson
Prediction - This should be the last year in a while the Fronts finish 5 in the east

Belleville Bulls 2012 OHL Priority Selections

In the 2012 OHL draft on Saturday the Belleville Bulls needed to address a weakness, The Power Play. They felt that Niki Petti could be part of the solution selecting the The Southern Tier Admirals Forward with their 1st round pick ,10th overall.

This is a break down on the Bulls selections as we see them.

1st Rd 10th Overall - Niki Petti - Southern Tier Admirals

The Scouting report on Niki Petti is that he has a boat load of offensive talent. He put up 40 goals and 45 apples in 57 games last season for his home town Southern Tier Admirals based in Welland. His skating is off the chart and should show up well on the big ice at the Yardman. He could be the best manufactured skater in the draft. Bulls chief scout and Assistant GM Barclay Branch went as far as to call Petti the Best Pure Skater next to 1st overall selection Conner McDavid. Its safe to say he can skate.

He sees the ice very well and believes one of his strengths is his vision to the weak side saying that he feels the big ice in Belleville will help his game and that's a skill he can translate on to the ice. GM George Burnett was quoted as saying that Petti was "through the roof about becoming a Belleville Bull. He has above average puck skills and can handle the biscuit well under pressure. He's dynamic with the ability to score and create chances.

Petti is ready to help the power play and he has the tools to work down low behind the goal line off the half boards or in front of the net. Not the biggest guy at 5'11" 175lbs but he can bring a physical game and he plans to. He plans to hit the weights this summer with the hope of becoming stronger more flexible and as efficient as possible.

I think this was the smart pick by the Bulls, it gives them an element their lacking and have been for awhile.

2nd Round 31st Overall- Daniel Desousa - Toronto Marlboros

This might turn out to be a huge steal for the Bulls with almost all mock drafts having Desousa going in the 1st round. In Desousa the Bulls get a hard-hitting defense man with flair. He is smart and skilled defensively, the OHL scouting report called him a defence man that players dislike playing against and is the type of player who can play in any situation, playing at his best on the PK and against the other teams top lines. His offensive skill set is also a big draw. Daniel loves to rush the puck and with a stride like his he should also benefit from the the large ice.

3rd Rd 52nd Overall- Michael Cramarossa - Toronto Marlboros

The brother of Bulls player Joesph Cramarossa Michael brings a big game presence, above average skill set, and he is a great two way guy. He plays a smart game and can mix it up physically. I know his skill set will fit real nice in the system that the Bulls run.

4th Rd 70th Overall- Chad Heffernan - Peterborough Minor Petes

This was an other strong pick for the Bulls. Heffernan is a good working, tough, consistent power forward. He works the puck to the net, cycles well down low and is a nice complementary player. He will be a fan favorite. Chad enjoys the physical side of the game and uses his size to dominate play. He hits hard but has the skill to be a complete player. Heffernan's stepfather is retired NHL veteran Steve Larmer

5th RD 90th Overall- Nik Coric - York Simcoe Express

Coric is a flashy puck handler who has speed to burn and can make very intelligent plays at top speed. He is a gifted play maker who makes his whole team better. With his explosive speed he gets a lot of breakaways.”

6th Rd 112th Overall- Hayden Lavigne - Toronto Young Nationals

The only goalie the Bulls drafted. Lavigne At 6' 3" is a big goalie who is both athletic and technical. He separates himself from other goalies his age using strong positioning, consistently challenging and making saves outside the blue paint.

7th Rd 132nd Overall- Andrew Ming - Eastern Ontario Wild

Ming has the intangibles to compete in the OHL, he is gritty, tough, and a hard worker who puts team interests ahead of his own. He is the brother of Kitchener Ranger Eric Ming.

9th Rd 172nd Overall- Brody Morris - Quinte Red Devils

Brody plays for the Quinte Red Devils and is a big, stay at home type defence man. he is tough to beat out of the corners. He will do whatever it takes to win, like block shots, and battle for pucks. Nothing flashy, he just moves the puck up the ice.

10th Rd 192nd Overall- Daniel Barnes - Toronto Red Wings

Barnes is a smart D man, has good vision and positioning away from the play

11th Rd 212th Overall- Connor Cobbold - Ottawa Valley

Cobbold is the wild card according to scouts, because the prospect plays a "roller-coaster" style game that sees him shine on one night and underwhelm on another. His brother Spenser Cobbold plays for the Mississauga St. Mikes Majors

12th Rd 232nd Overall- Trent Shore - Ajax Pickering

A nasty, physical defence man. You won't get much offence out of him, but unlike a lot of kids in this age group, he loves to play physical, he knows his role and plays it well.

13th Rd 252nd Overall- Joe Wegwerth - Brewster Bulldogs

Wegwerth is built like a tank at 6-2 and 205 pounds, and has skill to back it all up. Real good chance he will play for the USA NTDP.

14th Rd 272nd Overall- Mark Price - Peterborough Minor Petes

Mark Price could become a very good power forward in the OHL. His greatest attributes are his great hands and he's tough in the corners. He's a big body who comes out with the puck.

15th Rd 292nd Overall- Jacob Panetta - Quinte Red Devils

Panetta is the Captain of the Quinte Red Devils. Jacob is a great athlete. He was the smallest player the Bulls drafted and will have to work his but off to play in the OHL. It says here that he knows that and will.

15th Rd 295th Overall- Colton Keuhl - Ottawa Valley

He played a few games with the Jr.A Gloucester Rangers.

Bulls/Leafs 1989 Draft

The Bulls and Leafs draft connection from 1989 was a bust for the Leafs for sure, but not so much for some of the Bulls Alumni involved.

Scott Thornton was drafted 3rd overall, but I don't think anyone other then the Leafs staff at the time, thought he would be a NHL Superstar , He only scored 62 goals in 171 games with Belleville. I think Thornton turned in to the NHLer he should have, a good tough two-way player , a third liner that could give you good minutes. Its thanks to the lock out that he missed being the 1st Belleville Bull to dress in 1000 NHL games. Scott and others trade out of Toronto brought Glen Anderson, Grant Fuhr, and Craig Berube. Anderson was later Traded to the NYR for Mike Gartner, Fuhr was traded to Buffalo that brought the last Leaf 50 goal scorer to town in Dave Andreychuk, and Berube well he left town in the Gilmour trade. Thornton won a Calder Cup playing with the Cape Breton Oilers in 92-93 under current Bulls Head Coach and GM George Burnett.

Rob Pearson left the Bulls for the Generals and peaked playing with Lindros when Eric was at his OHL best.

Steve Bancroft was a guy I thought for sure would have played in the NHL, he was tough, he could fight, hit and had a beauty of a shot from the point. It helps that he is from Madoc. and was also a Centurion. He still holds track and field records at CHSS. He never panned out in the NHL but the minor leagues were an other thing . He played in 1024 minor pro games, 546 AHL and 478 IHL. Winning a Calder Cup in 1998-99. In 2005-06 when playing with the Calgary Flames farm team Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights, then Flames GM Darryl Sutter payed Bancroft a great complement saying he was that guy that was good enough for the NHL but you wanted him on your farm team to show all your kids how to be real pros.

OHL Eastern Conference Playoffs - (7) Belleville Bulls Vs (2) Ottawa 67's Game 6 and Series Review

OHL Eastern Conference Playoffs - (7) Belleville Bulls Vs (2) Ottawa 67's Game 6 Review

Monday night in Belleville, with 2857 on hand the Ottawa 67's ended the Belleville Bulls season with a 2-1 victory, winning the series in 6 games.

The first period was scoreless with the Bulls out shooting the 67's 16-11.

In the 2nd it was Belleville that got on the score sheet first when Garrett Hooey buried his 1st of the post season from Scott Simmonds and OA Adam Payerl at 3:22. The Party didn't last long and before the period would end at 18:08 Tyler Toffoli scored his 5th from Sean Monahan and Jake Cardwell to tie the game 1-1. The 67's outshot the Bulls 17-12 in the frame.

The third seen who else but Tyler Toffoli score the game winner his 2nd of the game and 6th in the playoffs from Cody Ceci at 5:51. With his team trailing Joesph Cramarossa dropped the mitts with Tyler Graovac in what was a very impressive bout by both player but it wasn't enough for the home team and the 67's defeated the Bulls 2-1. In the 3rd Ottawa out shot Belleville 9-4 and 37-32 in the game. Both clubs went 0/3 on the power play.

3 Stars 1- 67's Tyler Toffoli 2- Bulls Garrett Hooey 3- Bulls Malcolm Subban

The Belleville penalty kill was very good in the series going 16/18 with a shorthanded goal and was 2nd in the league during the 1st round, only the 67's were better going 28/29. Ottawa was also very good on the kill but that number also says alot about the Bulls very ineffective power play after being ranked 20th the last two regular seasons , it was also the last ranked power play in the playoffs running at very weak 3.4%.

Both goaltenders had some great moments in this series. 67's Petr Mrazek put up great numbers posting a 2.43GAA and a .934SV%. In the games two Ottawa lost in OT he was also strong. Malcolm Subban earned his 1st OHL playoff victory and was really strong facing an average of 36 shots a game. As we have seen this season there where times when Malcolm was holding the fort on his own. He is Belleville's best penalty killer. He posted a 2.93GAA and a .917SV%.

Belleville's defence was good with Jake Worrad, Brady Austin and Stephen Silas scoring big goals for the Bulls. Jason Shaw even without any goals was Belleville's best defender.
With Captain Marc Zanetti missing the last 4 games due to suspension Ottawa turned to Cody Ceci who did his thing. Veteran Jake Carwell and Michal Cajkovsky both played well in the Captain's absence.

Upfront was the difference, Ottawa's big guns where their big guns, the 67's scored 20 goals in the series, their top 3 regular season goal scorers lead the charge, Tyler Toffoli with 6 , Shane Prince with 4 and Sean Monahan with 4 combining for 14 of the 20. For Belleville their top three regular season scorers Brendan Gaunce, Austen Brassard and Daniil Zharkov had 3 between them. The Bulls just couldn't match up, Toffoli's 6 goals matched the out put of Gaunce, Brassard, Zharkov, Luke Judson, Adam Payerl and Jordan Mayer combined. Sean Monahan was spectacular in this series and I look for him to be a deference maker for the 67's moving forward.

OHL Eastern Conference Playoffs - (7) Belleville Bulls Vs (2) Ottawa 67's Game 5 Review

OHL Eastern Conference Playoffs - (7) Belleville Bulls Vs (2) Ottawa 67's Game 5 Review.

On Friday night the Belleville Bulls traveled to the Nations Capital to face the Ottawa 67's in Game 5 of their very tight 1st round playoff match up. Coming in to game 5 every game in this series minus game 2 , where there was an empty net goal, had been decided by one goal, Three games have gone to over time. The series was tied 2-2.

On Friday Ottawa's big guns were their big guns and they defeat the Bulls 5-2 to take a 3-2 series lead. Game 6 goes Monday night in Belleville.

The Bulls did what they wanted to do and that was score early and take the 6838 fans in attendance out of it and at just over 5 minutes in at 5:18 Joesph Cramarossa scored his 2nd from Daniil Zharkov and Austen Brassard to give the Bulls a 1-0 lead. Things looked to be going the Bulls way, Ottawa had taken a penalty, their 2nd minor of the game. Belleviille looked great on their 1st chance doing everything but scoring. Some body scored but that somebody was Shane Prince shorthanded at 12:44 to tie the game. The first would end tied 1-1. Ottawa out shot the Bulls 11-8. In the 1st Dalton Smith layed a huge hit that rocked Daniil Zharkov and sent him to the quiet room for a check up. He returned.

The OHL has decided against applying supplementary discipline to Smith.
Smith caught Zharkov with his head down and rocked him with a solid check. Replays show Smith makes hard contact with Zharkov’s head with his raised arms. The Ref made the correct call — five for check-to-the-head and game misconduct.

Some others would argue that Zharkov had this coming, all series he has been doing his share of dirty work, but in a league that has made it clear it wants to rid its product of any kind of contact to the head or borderline legal hits to players in a vulnerable positions why was this hit to the head not punished ? Bulls rookie and 1st time offender Alex Carnevale got 8 games for a hit that was all shoulder but this one gets nothing ? Smith didn't have to raise his arms and it would have been a great hard hit, but he did. Smith plays a hard physical in your face game and is no saint . He is a repeat offender, I don't understand it ?

Shane Prince would score his 2nd of the night and 3rd of the playoffs from Cody Ceci and Mike Cazzola at 13:20. The 2nd ended with the home team up 2-1. Belleville had the lead in shots department 11-7 in the period.

At 9:27 of the 3rd Belleville tied the game 2-2 when Stephen Silas scored his 1st of the post season from Brendan Gaunce and Luke Judson. That was it for the Bulls as it was the 67's the rest of the way. At 12:26 Sean Monahan scored the game winner his 4th of the post season from Brett Gustavsen and Sean Callaghan. The OHL's regular season goal leader Tyler Toffoli got in on the fun lighting the lamp with his 4th from Monahan and Ceci. To round out the scoring it was Shane Prince with his 3rd of the game and 4th of the series from Toffoli in to the empty net at 19:02. Belleville would out shot the 67's 15-11 in the 3rd and 34-29 in the game.


Ottawa didn't not have any PP chances and the Bulls went 0/6. Belleville is now 1/26 in the series. The 67's with 2 have more shorthanded goals then Belleville has PP goals. The 67's are 2/15 with the man advantage in the series.

3 Stars - 1- 67's Shane Prince 2- 67's Sean Monahan 3- 67's Cody Ceci

OHL Eastern Conference Playoffs - (7) Belleville Bulls Vs (2) Ottawa 67's Game 4 Review

The 2363 fans who did their part to #packtheyard, were rewarded with a thrilling over time victory by the home town Belleville Bulls.  Belleville defeated the Ottawa 67's 4-3 in OT and tied the series at two games each.

Before the game there was a real buzz going around the Yardman, the fans,  the media,  Bulls staff and players, every one was fired up for game 4.  After winning Game three in OT on Sunday afternoon, and with momentum now on Belleville's side,  this was Belleville's game to lose.

Bulls Charlie Graham, Alex Carnevale, and Mack Lemmon were all victims of the numbers.  After leaving Sunday's game on his own with an upper body injury Dylan Corson also didn't dress.

67's scratches would be Shayne Campbell, Daniel Broussard, John McFarland, and Daniel Walsh.  Earlier in the day the 67's learned they would be without Captain Marc Zanetti for the next three games.  Zanetti was suspended 5 games for a spearing incident that happened during the pre-game warm-up in game two.

Belleville got off to a great start and scored at 0:52 of the 1st.  Bulls playoff goals leader Micheal Curtis scored his 3rd, when he finished a real nice passing play from Game 3 hero Jordan Mayer and Captain Luke Judson.  Its nice to see Curtis get rewarded,  after netting 19 goals in his rookie year followed by totals of 9 in 2010-11 and 13 this season, the offence hasn't came easy for Curtis , but he has turned in to a great defensive player that the Bulls have been known for under Burnett.  Belleville would keep the pressure strong in the games first few minutes.  At 3:11 Ottawa's Taylor Fielding took a 4 minute double minor for high sticking that lead to top NHL prospect Brendan Gaunce 1st post season goal from Judson and Daniil Zharkov.  The goal would break a slump of 0/14 on the PP in the postseason.  Belleville was clearly the better team in the 1st carrying the play and out shooting the 67's 14-6

The second period was scoreless with both teams firing 14 shots on net.  This was one of the most exciting scoreless periods I've seen this season.  Both goalies played very well,  both teams were skating well, some nice hard hits.  Everyone in Black was blocking shots.   Mayer blocked two in a row on one shift and Brady Austin had a great period and was up and down the ice leading the way for the Bulls.

The third period started good when Austen Brassard scored his 1st of the post season from Joesph Cramarossa and Garrett Hooey at  8:30 to give the Bulls a 3-0 lead.  But then everything changed Belleville started sending one guy,  maybe two and not skating the way they were in the 1st and 2nd.  We all know what happens when you stop skating , you take penalties.  So with Carter Sandlak in box 67's Tyler Toffoli scored his 3rd of the playoffs on the PP from Michal Cajkovsky and Mike Cazzola.  All of a sudden the Belleville Bulls are back on there heels and before you can say "Bay of Quinte" Ryan Van Stralen made it 3-2 on his 1st from Shane Prince.  Ottawa had taken the momentum back and was looking for the tying goal and at 18:22 Jake Cardwell  tied it 3-3.  in the third Ottawa out shot Belleville 16-11.

In OT both teams had 5 shots and it looked like they wanted to end it.  With everyone in the building on their feet, holding their breath and ringing their cowbells Brady Austin skated with the puck from inside his own blue line after a pass from Jake Worrad and ripped the winner home at 7:46.

This game was the third of the first four to go to OT.  Good goal tending has been the norm.

Petr Mrazek was good, just like he has been in every game and stopped 40 of the 44 shots he faced.  In the second and when the visitors where picking up steam in third, he was at his All World Best.

Malcolm Subban was also at his All World Best making 38 saves on 41 shots and was named the games 2nd Star.

3Stars -  1- Bulls Brady Austin   2- Bulls Malcolm Subban   3- Bulls Luke Judson.

This was a great game with lots of back in forth action. It didn't have the same edgy feel that Game 3 had , it had more of an lets get this win,  feel from both teams.  saying that there was plenty of hits, after whistle stuff, and Worrad and Giftopoulos dropped the mitts in the 3rd.  Ottawa took the games first 8 minor penalties and finished 6/7 on the PK.  Belleville went 2/3 on PK.  Game 5 goes Friday night in Ottawa.

OHL Eastern Conference Playoffs - (7) Belleville Bulls Vs (2) Ottawa 67's Game 3 Review

OHL Eastern Conference Playoffs - (7) Belleville Bulls Vs (2) Ottawa 67's Game 3 Review

In the playoffs when teams are down like the Belleville Bulls were to the Ottawa 67's two games to none,  they look forward to coming home and turning it around,  Belleville did just that winning 4-3 in OT on Sunday afternoon.   The win cuts Ottawa's series lead to 2-1.

Game 3 in the most important game in a 7 game series.  If the series is tied , it gives the winner a lead in the series,  if the team that wins game 3 is already up 2 games like the Ottawa 67's were coming in.  it gives that team a stranglehold on the series, and on the other side if your a team down 2 games like the Belleville Bulls were, you have to win game 3 to have any chance to claw your way back in to it. 

In Belleville they don't have $1 hot dogs (they should), they have $2 cowbells and they know how to use them.  The Yardman doesn't get lots of credit for being a loud building every night, mainly because its not. But when motivated it can be and today the 2509 in attendance were super motivated.  There was a strong group of Ottawa fans at the Yardman and you could hear them.  To be honest they brought the best out of the Yardman faithful and the atmosphere was the best its been in Belleville in a long time.

The 1st period was scoreless with Belleville out shooting the 67's 13-8.  It didn't take long for the tone of the game to be set, at 0:54 Micheal Curtis and Mike Cazzola each headed to the sin bin for slashing.  After every whistle sticks got high, and someone took a face wash.  It's easy to see that a strong dislike for each other is building in this series.

Belleville's version of the "Russian Rocket" Daniil Zharkov scored his 1st of the post season to open the scoring at 1:00 mark of the 2nd. The lead was Belleville's first in the series.  The crowd was already fired up from some great music selections from the Bulls DJ, and the Zharkov goal really got them going.  Unfortunately the Ottawa 67's also like Gun and Roses and scored the next three goals.   Tyler Graovac at 5:09 tied the game.  Next it was Brett Gustavsen scoring his 2nd of the series from Nicholas Foglia and Cody Ceci at 5:50.  Sean Monahan scored his 3rd a shorthanded beauty from Tyler Toffli and Bratislava Slovakia native Michal Cajkovsky putting the 67's up 3-1 after 40 minutes.  The visitors had the edge in shots 14-11 in the 2nd.

The 3rd started kinda flat for the Bulls and Ottawa was looking like they were ready to cruse to a 3 games to none series lead, when at 4:43 with Joseph Cramarossa in the sin bin Belleville's Micheal Curtis scored his 2nd of the series on a shorthanded break a way, after breaking up a play at his own blue line.   The goal brought the building and the Bulls bench back to life, all of a sudden it was the Bulls bringing the play to the 67's.  At 5:41 Jake Worrad tied the game on a long shot that Petr Mrazek got a piece of and the puck literally trickled across the goal line.  Carter Sandlak wearing a full cage and Jason Shaw picked up helpers on the goal.  Belleville out shot Ottawa 15-13 in the third.

In overtime the Belleville Bulls ended it real quick when Kingston native Jordan Mayer found the back of the net at 0:14 with his first as a Bull in the post season from Adam Payerl and Shaw.  Belleville had the only shot in OT. and out shot Ottawa in the game 40-35

This game lived up to the hype and was just as good as the first two held in Ottawa.  Both Malcolm Subban and Petr Mrazek played well.  Subban faced 35 shots and made 32 saves in his 1st career OHL playoff victory.  Mrazek made 36 saves on 40 shots.  Mrazek's best work in the game was after the Bulls tied it up 3-3, Belleville was pushing to end it in the 3rd and he shut the door forcing the game to OT.

Both Clubs went 4/4 on the PK.  And in the series so far Ottawa's PP is 1/12, and Belleville's  PP is 0/13. We knew Belleville was a good penalty killing team and bad power play team, but Ottawa's PK has been very strong looking just as dangerous offensively at times as they do 5 on 5. This game had a nasty edge to it and was very entertaining,  Game 4 goes Tuesday in Belleville,  Lets hope we can #packtheyard. 

3 Stars 1- Bulls  Jake Worrad  2- Bulls Michael Curtis  3- 67's Tyler Graovac