Roobroeck extends rookie scoring mark for IceDogs
Since Feb. 21, when Ryan Roobroeck tied the franchise record that Kevin He and one-time IceDogs captain Akil Thomas shared for goals scored by a 16-year-old with his 21st, the rookie has extended that record
Ryan Roobroeck added to his remarkable resumé as a rookie playing in the Ontario Hockey League when the Niagara IceDogs visited the Mississauga Steelheads.
He opened the scoring in Friday night’s game 14:03 into the first period with his 27th goal of the season. Only Kevin He, with 31, has found the back of the net more times than Roobroeck, the second overall selection in the 2023 draft.
Since Feb. 21, when Roobroeck tied the franchise record that He and one-time IceDogs captain Akil Thomas shared for goals scored by a 16-year-old with his 21st, Roobroeck has extended that record.
Mike Levin’s 18th of the campaign put Niagara up 2-1 midway into the second period, but the IceDogs weren’t able to hold or build on that lead.
Mississauga tied the score less than three minutes later and added the game-winner at the 13:51 mark of the third period to complete the comeback in the 3-2 victory.
Niagara, which lost its 10th in a row to fall to 16-40-6-1 with five games remaining in the regular season, was back on the ice hosting the Barrie Colts in a Sunday matinee at Meridian Centre in St. Catharines.
The Steelheads outshot the IceDogs 43-25 and neither team scored with a man advantage: Niagara was 0-for-1 and Mississauga finished 0-for-2.
Niagara closes out the schedule with four games in five nights. The IceDogs are in Barrie on Tuesday for a makeup game, visit the Brantford Bulldogs the following night before hosting Mississauga on Thursday and the Sudbury Wolves on Saturday.
’Dog Biscuits Forward Ryan Roobroeck is the younger brother of former IceDog Dylan Roobroeck, now with the Oshawa Generals and a selection of the New York Rangers in the sixth round of the 2023 National Hockey League draft … Erie Otters defenceman Matthew Schaefer, the first pick in the OHL draft, also has an older brother, Johnny, who played with the IceDogs.