Moes breaks the ice with Dogs

[hockey123]

Moes breaks the ice with Dogs

St. Catharines native scores first two goals with Niagara

Posted By ROD MAWHOOD, Special to The Standard

Posted 4 hours ago



In took 18 games, but St. Catharines native Josh Moes couldn't be happier.
The former Owen Sound Attack player, who was acquired by the Niagara IceDogs in a trade Oct. 5, scored twice — his first two goals in an IceDogs uniform — but it wasn't enough as the Dogs dropped a 4-3 decision to the Sarnia Sting before a sellout crowd Friday night at Jack Gatecliff Arena.
"Yeah, I feel relieved a little bit," the 20-year old Moes said. "It's frustrating that it took me so long, but it was nice to finally score, for sure."
Moes admitted coming back to play in his hometown after four years away did present a certain level of pressure.
"At first I was kind of nervous," Moes said. "It definitely was a bit of a challenge.
Moes, who began his OHL career with Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in 2005, appreciates the home cooking he's been receiving, but jokingly said it comes with a price.
"My parents love to talk about hockey. So I wake up and they're there.
"If I was in Sault Ste. Marie or in Owen Sound, my billets wouldn't come and sit on my bed and talk to me about hockey, but it's OK," a smiling Moes said.
Moes gave Niagara leads of 1-0 and 2-1. In fact newly named captain Andrew Agozzino gave the IceDogs their third lead of the game eight minutes into the second period with his team leading 18th goal of the season, only to have the Sting respond 50 seconds later as the two teams headed to their dressing rooms tied 3-3 after 40 minutes.
The team announced during the game that Agozzino will wear the C for the rest of the season while Niagara-on-the-Lake's Alex Friesen, Reggie Traccitto and Dylan MacEachern are the assistants.
"It's a big honour (to be named captain), said Agozzino, an 18-year old Kleinburg native. "You look at the two previous captains in this club's history.
Advertisement



"You've got Michael Swift and Alex Pietrangelo, and those are two big names. I've tried to take a bit from each of those guys and be the best leader I can be."
And, according to Moes, Agozzino was the player that stepped up this week when Chris DeSousa and Jay Gilbert left the team.
"Just the way Andrew organized everything and took control when those guys left," he said. "It just showed a lot of leadership from him.
"I have a lot of respect for Andrew. Since I got here, I knew he was one of the leaders. And just the way he handled everything this week, you can tell he's a real leader."
"It was a difficult week for the team," Agozzino said. "The message that we put out there, the coaches, myself, Alex Friesen and Reggie Traccitto, the leaders.
"We just said it was tough to see them go, but we have to move on and try to use this as something to rally around and bring the guys that are here, and that want to win, together.
"We have to go out and play for each other"
IceDogs head coach Mike McCourt said naming Agozzino captain was the logical choice, but it wasn't easy.
"It certainly wasn't an overnight decision," McCourt said. "A lot of healthy conversation and a lot of healthy debate went into it. If you would have gone with Freeze (Friesen) or you would have gone with Aggy (Agozzino), you would have a great choice either way.
"I think it was the right time to make that decision. I think all four guys, Agozzino, Friesen, Reggie (Traccitto) and Dylan (MacEachern) all bring a good presence to the room."
The IceDogs play host to the first-place Barrie Colts tonight. Game time at Jack Gatecliff Arena is 7 p.m.
Notes: The start of the game was delayed 13 minutes as two panes of glass (one at either end of the rink) broke in warmup.… The sellout crowd littered the ice with Teddy Bears after Moes scored his first goal.… Nik Knezic shocked many in the stands when he decided to drop the gloves with legitimate tough guy Kyle Neuber midway through the first period. It was Knezic's first OHL fight.… Defenceman Mike Schwindt didn't answer the bell for the third period after sustaining a lower-body injury late in the second. The big blueliner is listed as day-to-day.

The SCOOP
Sting 4 IceDogs 3 (SO)
Standard Star of the Game: Niagara forward and St. Catharines native Josh Moes with his first two goals as an IceDog.
For the Niagara IceDogs: Moes 2 (3); Andrew Agozzino (18).
For the Sarnia Sting: Ben O'Quinn, Brandon Alderson, Miroslav Preisinger; Jordan Hill scored the shootout winner.
Game stats: Shots on goal: by the IceDogs on Adam Courchaine 29, by the Sting on Mark Visentin 34; Penalty minutes: Niagara 13, Sarnia 13; Power plays: IceDogs 0-for-4, Sting 1-for-4.
Attendance: 31,45 (sellout)
Up next: The IceDogs face the Barrie Colts today at Jack Gatecliff Arena at 7 p.m.

[three dog night]

great game by moes the team fell short but a point is better then none