ON TO THE FINAL FOUR: HAMILTON 4, NIAGARA 2
The Hamilton Bulldogs are making their first trip to the OHL’s conference finals after eliminating the Niagara IceDogs in five games. Find more photos and story online: thespec.com. Game report inside:
The Hamilton Bulldogs had success against the Niagara IceDogs the same way they had success all season — by sharing the load.
Four players on three lines found the back of the net at FirstOntario Centre on Thursday to give the club a 4-2 win and a berth in the OHL’s Eastern Conference final. The Bulldogs finished off the IceDogs in five games.
“It’s definitely by committee,” said head coach John Gruden. “We try to hold all of our guys accountable for certain things and I’m just proud of them. We’ve got bigger fish to fry, but we can take a few days to mentally decompress and recharge and get ready.”
The fact the Bulldogs spread out the scoring in Game 5 was appropriate, since it really had been the story of the series so far. They didn’t have much choice in the matter — the IceDogs set out to keep their top line of Brandon Saigeon, Robert Thomas and Will Bitten in check, and were exceptionally effective at it. After the first four games of the best-of-seven, none of the three had registered a goal five-on-five, and Bitten was still in the hunt for his first point.
“It’s definitely a big part of our game plan,” IceDogs coach Billy Burke said of shutting down the trio. Here’s the problem, though. With its top personnel keeping tabs on Saigeon and his linemates, Niagara had trouble matching up against Hamilton’s No. 2 and 3 trios, which ultimately combined for 15 of the team’s 19 goals.
“That’s the luxury of having a team with depth,” said Gruden. “Not one person, not one line should feel that pressure.”
On Thursday, the clock had just expired on a Bulldogs penalty when Thomas picked up the puck at his own blue line and fired it past Stephen Dhillon to open the scoring 13 minutes into the first. His was the only goal until midway through the third when Matt Strome, Nick Caamano and Niagara’s Johnny Corneil scored in a one-minute and 21second flurry.
Ben Jones pulled the IceDogs within one with just over to go in regulation, but that was as close as they would get to a comeback. Mackenzie Entwistle rounded out the scoring with an empty netter as time ticked down.
The Bulldogs, who are the first team in the league to move on to Round 3, will be up against either Kingston or Barrie in the conference final. The Frontenacs lead their series 3-2.
NOTES: Five Bulldogs prospects were named to rosters for this year’s OHL Gold Cup on Thursday. Marco Costantini and Davis Young will play for GTHL Blue, Logan Morrison for OMHA White, Michael Renwick for GTHL Red and George Diaco for the Alliance. The Gold Cup is an annual showcase tournament in which 160 of the province’s top players vie for an invite to Hockey Canada’s national under-17 camp. It gets started May 3 in Kitchener.