Playoff intensity
Captain Johnny Corneil scores in his 250th career OHL game
It was only December, but this game had a May playoff atmosphere feel to it.
The London Knights are easily the Niagara IceDogs biggest rival now. Losing twice in the Ontario Hockey League finals to the same team will build that animosity.
The IceDogs exacted a little revenge with a gritty 4-2 win over London in front of 4,596 boisterous fans Thursday night at Meridian Centre.
Team Canada World Junior invitee and Knights leading scorer Robert Thomas opened the scoring 5:03 into the game but just minutes after he was acknowledged for his playing in his 250th career Ontario Hockey League game, Niagara captain Johnny Corneil tied things up with his sixth goal of the season.
Corneil is the only current IceDogs player who faced the Knights in the 2013 OHL final.
“Every game against London is a battle,” said the 20-year old Lindsay native.
“A couple of years ago they beat us four straight in the finals, and it’s something close to the heart playing them every time. We haven’t beaten them since then and to get the win tonight was important for me, and important for this team and the coaching staff.
“It was fun tonight. It feels great to beat them.”
IceDogs head caoch Billy Burke knows what Corneil brings to the team, and what he’s meant to the organization over the past five seasons.
“Johnny is tremendous. He literally is the glue that keeps the room together,” Burke said.
“He does a great job of including everyone and making sure there are no cliques.
“He’s a true leader, and we’re lucky to have him.”
The game featured two spirited fights as both Kyle Langdon and Willy Lochead dropped the gloves for the homeside.
“The guys responded, and it got us going tonight,” Burke said. “It absolutely gave us confidence … this is our barn.”
Three minutes after Corneil’s goal Akil Thomas, on the power play, wristed home his eighth tally of the campaign.
The goal was created after Liam Ham made a tremendous play at the point to keep the puck in and feed it to Thomas.
Niagara led 2-1 after one and just 43 seconds into the middle stanza Oliver Castleman scored his sixth of the season for what turned out to be the game-winning goal.
Max Jones cut the lead to 3-2 midway through the third period while Kirill Maksimov, into an empty net with his team-leading 17th goal of the season, closed out the scoring.
As for looking back at his IceDogs career and being asked if he could ever imagine playing 250 games in the OHL, Corneil offered this:
“I’d be excited,” a smiling Corneil said. “I’d want to drive to get there right now. It feels good to be here. I want to do more and be the best leader I can.”
Niagara now travels to Kingston Friday night and Ottawa on Saturday evening.
’Dog Biscuits: Joshua Dame, Adrian Carbonara, Drew Hunter and Billy Constantinou were scratched for the IceDogs … Zach Shankar returned from his fivegame suspension and picked an assist in the win … The Knights held a 32-18 shot-advantage … Knights starting goaltender Joseph Raaymakers was pulled after Niagara’s third goal … The two teams will meet again Friday, Jan. 19, in London, Ont.