Dazzling IceDogs debut for duo
There was no buyer’s remorse when two players acquired in a blockbuster trade made their debut for the Niagara IceDogs.
High-scoring forward Jason Robertson collected three assists and shut-down defenceman Jacob Paquette collected an assist finished with a plus-2 as Niagara tripled the Barrie Colts 6-2 Friday night at Meridian Centre in St. Catharines.
Saturday afternoon, Robertson netted a goal — his 24th of the season — and had a team-high six shots on net in a 5-2 road loss to the Hamilton Bulldogs. Paquette collected an assist on the play.
“They’re all that was advertised, and more,” IceDogs head coach Billy Burke said Friday night. “I know it’s one game, but obviously a fantastic start.
“Paquette and J-Rob were great tonight.”
Burke said Paquette, regarded as underrated part of a trade that sent two players and 11 draft picks to the Kingston Frontenacs, showed his worth with strong play on defence.
“And Jason Robertson at times looks like a man among boys,” the coach added.
In addition to adding two
NHL prospects to a team that already had five on the roster, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Robertson and 6-foot-3, 216pound Paquette give the IceDogs much-needed size.
“We love our speed, we love our skill, but you do need to be a little bit of a heavier team if you want to make these long runs, if you want to grind teams down,” Burke said.
“In this league, you usually win with older guys and you usually win with bigger guys.”
Robertson, who earned firststar honours in his first game with the IceDogs, is looking forward to a deep playoff run, just like he did last season with Kingston.
“When Jake and I got traded here, I’m sure all the fellows in the locker room kind of knew that this is go time, this is our time to win.”
Robertson, the second-round pick of the Dallas Stars in the 2017 NHL Draft, was part of a Frontenacs team that lost to the eventual Ontario Hockey League champion Hamilton Bulldogs in the Eastern Conference final.
“Last year was a very special year for me, it was the year that Kingston went for it,” he said Friday night. “That will forever be in my memory.”
Akil Thomas, back in the lineup after missing five games recovering
from an upper-body injury, wasted little time making up for lost time. His goal 19 seconds into the game against Barrie was assisted by Robertson.
Kirill Maksimov, with two; Jonathon Schaefer, Kyen Sopa, Philip Tomasino rounded out the
scoring for Niagara as the IceDogs improved to 2-0-1 versus the Colts this season.
The ’Dogs won again Saturday, but it was Bulldogs, not the IceDogs, winning Round 2 in this season’s Canine Cup series.
MacKenzie Entwistle, with two
goals; Arthur Kaliyev, Bradon Saigeon, Matthew Strome found the back of the net for Hamilton. Andrew Bruder and Robertson scored for Niagara.
This season’s K-9 Challenge Cup series between the QEW rivals is tied at one win apiece. Niagara won the opener 6-3 Nov. 15 in St. Catharines.
’Dog Biscuits: MacKenzie Entwistle, F, Chicago, from Arizona; Nicolas Mattinen, D, Toronto; Brandon Saigeon, F, Colorado; Matthew Strome, F, Philadelphia; are the NHL prospects on the Hamilton … Saigeon, a Grimsby native, has 17 goals, 23 assists in 24 games in his fifth season in the Hamilton Bulldogs/Belleville Bulls organization.
‘‘ “They’re all that was advertised, and more.” BILLY BURKE Niagara IceDogs head coach