67’s offence MIA against Gatineau
Mikey DiPietro expected to make much anticipated debut in Ottawa goal today
From standing at centre ice at the WFCU Centre in Windsor for an emotional standing ovation Thursday evening to sitting at the end of the visitors’ bench at the Robert Guertin Arena in Gatineau Friday night.
That’s just the kind of whirlwind few days it’s been for the biggest trade acquisition in Ottawa 67’s franchise history.
Mikey DiPietro only hopes things get back to normal Saturday just after 2 p.m. when he takes the net at TD Place for his much-heralded 67’s debut just five days after arriving in a blockbuster deal from the Windsor Spitfires and tries to get the 67’s on another streak.
For just one night, DiPietro served as a backup to Cedric Andree as he and the rest of the 67’s were humbled by the Gatineau Olympiques 2-1 in front of a turnout of 2,838 at the Bob to end Ottawa’s streak of games without a loss in regulation time at 23.
The teams skated through a scoreless first before Gatineau’s Giordano Finora and 67’s Tye Felhaber exchanged secondperiod goals with Felhaber’s 30th in 30 games. Jeffrey Durocher gave Gatineau the game-winner at 11:47 as Gatineau goalie Tristan Berube stole the show with 33 saves.
Back to DiPietro: His visit in Ottawa will amount to just the one start before he heads to Team Canada training camp in Victoria Sunday.
The long flight may give him time to catch his breath.
The 24-hour trip back to Windsor was special. It was also emotional.
“It was nice being able to say goodbye with my parents in the seats, my girlfriend and her parents too,” said DiPietro, who was fulfilling a promise to appear in support of his favourite charity in Windsor, the Ronald McDonald House, on a night to honour three Spitfire Memorial Cup wins. “The Memorial Cup was out there at centre-ice with us and I got to wave to all the fans.”
Then it was up early for one-stop service back to Ottawa where 67’s head coach Andre Touruigny was waiting to pick him up.
DiPietro was unsure if he would play Friday. Tourigny, too, wrestled with the idea.
“I would never dictate when I want to play,” said DiPietro. “I told coach if he wanted me to play, I was 100 per cent ready and we had a dialogue. He said it had been an emotional week and maybe it was better not to play back-to-back games and just go Saturday. I was fine with that.
“Really, it’s just another game. But I’m eager to put my foot forward and I’ll do anything to help make this team successful.
“Things might be different when I walked in the (dressing) room Saturday and see all the red, white and black. Windsor was red, blue and white. The colours are close. but not quite the same.
“I’m going to have to wait and see how it all feels. But I’m always pretty relaxed, and then when the game starts, I get dialed in and pretty intense.”
DiPietro is a shutout away from breaking the OHL’s all-time record for career shutouts. He has 16.
He also heard Connor McDavid was the last junior star to fill the rink at TD Place.
“Let’s fill it again,” he said. That said, the rink may not be full but he might be responsible for one of the largest home 67’s crowds since the team moved back to Bank Street in 2014.
“We’ve always had big walk-ups for big games and this is a very big game, historic,” said OSEG vice-president Randy Burgess. “Since the trade tickets have been moving three or more times faster than for a regular game day, so walk-up will likely be the same on Saturday.
“Best way to avoid a lineup is purchase online but if you prefer to buy in person, come early and take in the bonus alumni game, which is included in the ticket price, starting at noon.”