DeSousa returning to Niagara - The Standard

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DeSousa returning to Niagara



Posted By BERNIE PUCHALSKI, Standard Staff

Posted 5 hours ago



A familiar face will return to the Jack Gatecliff Arena Thursday night.

Former Niagara IceDogs forward Chris DeSousa will make his first appearance in St. Catharines since being traded to Barrie and then London at the Ontario Hockey League trade deadline.

"I'm really excited and I've been thinking about it for a long time," DeSousa said. "I can't wait to see some of my old buddies again.

"I've talked to them every day since I left and I can't wait to play in the old barn again."

He is ready for the typical reaction from fans.

"I expect to hear a couple of boos, but it will be a lot of fun."

DeSousa has nothing but positives to say about his time in Niagara.

"I loved the city and the guys on the team, and the fans were amazing and unreal. I can't wait to get back for one last kick at the can."

In 10 games with the Knights, the 19-year-old Mississauga native has four goals, seven assists, with 14 penalty minutes and a -1 plus/minus rating.

"Things are going awesome," the 5-foot-9, 190-pounder said. "I absolutely love it here, it's a lot of fun and the guys are great.

"And I've been playing not too bad lately, so I'm pretty happy."

DeSousa, who scored 66 goals in 160 regular-season games for the IceDogs, said his role is identical to the one he had in Niagara.

"I'm getting on the power play, I'm expected to put the puck in the net, put up offensive numbers, but also be reliable defensively. And use my body and be physical."

IceDogs head coach Mike McCourt doesn't expect DeSousa's return to be a distraction for his players.

"The London Knights are the London Knights, and they've been the cream of the crop for the past little while. They always have the big-name players and marquee guys and you're up and excited to play them, no matter who is in the lineup."

McCourt agreed DeSousa was a big part of the IceDogs during his tenure in Niagara.

"He was a good player for us and he got some poor advice. What more can you say? It has been beaten to death, the whole discussion. We wish him the best — just not against us on Thursday."

Daunting week

Six points behind Brampton for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with the Battalion having a game in hand, the Niagara IceDogs need wins and need them now.

This week they'll have to do it at home Thursday against the London Knights, the third-best team in the OHL, and Saturday at home against the Windsor Spitfires, the best team in the OHL and the reigning Memorial Cup champion.

"I think guys look at the opponent and they know it's going to be full house, and it will be loud and there will be a lot of buzz in the building," McCourt said. "Any time you play these two teams, you get excited and ready to play.

"They're the measuring stick and you don't have to say a whole lot to get them motivated."

There is no magic game plan to beat the two upper-echelon teams.

"You certainly respect them, but you can't stand in awe of them. In Windsor, we did a real good job of that. We gave them seven shots in the first period and we have to take that same approach. In our building, we have to eliminate their time and space. They have skilled players and if you give them time and the opportunity to pick you apart, they will."

The IceDogs are rapidly running out of time to get themselves in playoff contention.

"I think we've approached every game the past little while with a playoff mentality and it can be no different this weekend," McCourt said.

All-star Festivities

Andrew Agozzino, Niagara's lone representative for the OHL all-star team, was chosen to take part in Tuesday night's puck control relay race at all-star festivities at the K-Rock Centre in Kingston.

Former IceDogs defenceman Alex Pietrangelo has been chosen captain of the Eastern Conference team for Wednesday's OHL game. In 10 games with the Barrie Colts, Pietrangelo has two goals, nine points and a +10 plus/minus rating.


ICEDOGS THIS WEEK

LONDON THURSDAY

London Knights: Second in the Western Conference with a 35-13-0-2 record, including 7-2-0-1 in last 10 games. Home record is 17-3. Road record is 13-9-0-2.

Local content: DeSousa.

Leading scorers: Nazem Kadri 26-37-63; Jared Knight 28-21-49; Steven Tarasuk 14-35-49; Justin Taylor 27-20-47.

Top goalie: Michael Hutchinson 24-10-0-1, .912 save percentage, 2.99 goals-against average.

NHL draft picks: C Kadri, first round, seventh overall by Toronto in 2009; C Taylor, sixth round, 180th overall by Washington in 2007; C Philip McRae, second round, 33rd overall by St. Louis in 2008; C Philip Varone, fifth round, 147th overall by San Jose in 2009; G Hutchinson, third round, 77th overall by Boston in 2008.

Players in NHL mid-term North American rankings: Michael Houser, 18th-ranked goalie; C Knight, 123rd-ranked skater; D Reid McNeill, 171st-ranked skater;

Previous meeting: beat Niagara 6-3 Jan. 8.

Leading IceDogs vs. London: Reggie Traccitto and Dylan MacEachern 1-1-2; Andrew Shaw 0-2-2.

Top Knights vs. Niagara: Kadri 0-4-4; Taylor 3-0-3; Steven Tarasuk 1-1-2.

WINDSOR SATURDAY

Windsor Spitfires: First in Western Conference with 40-7-0-5, including 7-2-0-1 in last 10 games. Road record is 18-4-0-3.

Local content: Niagara Falls native Justin Shugg.

Leading scorers: Taylor Hall 34-47-81; Adam Henrique 29-28-57; Eric Wellwood 28-29-57; Shugg 27-29-56.

Top goalie: Troy Passingham, 32-6-0-3; 2.55 goals-against average and .908 save percentage.

NHL draft picks: RW Zack Kassian, first-round, 13th overall by Buffalo in 2009 (currently suspended); C Henrique, third round, 82nd overall by New Jersey in 2008; RW Greg Nemisz, first round, 25th overall by Calgary in 2008; LW Wellwood, sixth round, 172nd overall by Philadelphia in 2009 draft; RW Dale Mitchell, third round, 74th overall by Toronto in 2007; D Ryan Ellis, first round, 11th overall by Nashville in 2009; C Scott Timmins, sixth round, 165th overall by Florida in 2009; RW Kenny Ryan, second round, 50th overall by Toronto in 2009; D Harry Young, seventh round, 202nd overall by New Jersey in 2008.

Players in NHL mid-term North American rankings: LW Hall, top-ranked skater; Shugg, 62nd-ranked skater.

Previous meetings: Windsor beat Niagara 5-2 Jan. 24.

Top IceDogs vs. Windsor: Alex Friesen 1-1-2; Reggie Traccitto 1-0-1.

Top Spitfires vs. Niagara: Shugg 2-1-3; Mark Cundari 0-3-3; Kenny Ryan 2-0-2; Hall 1-1-2.

PRO DOGS

Following are the stats of former Niagara IceDogs who have moved on to the pro ranks (Skaters' stats are listed in order of games played, goals, assists, total points and penalty minutes. Goalies' stats are listed in order of record, goals against average and save percentage):

AHL

Luca Caputi, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins: 41-18-16-34-47.

Matt Corrente, Lowell Devils: 21-3-10-13-46.

Michael Swift, Lowell Devils: 46-12-18-30-28.

Stefan Legein, Adirondack Phantoms: 41-17-3-20-24.

Drew Schiestel, Portland Pirates: 33-1-7-8-8.

ECHL

Scott Fletcher, Reading Royals: 21-2-2-4-62.

Jeremy Smith, Cincinnati Cyclones: 13-10-1, 2.72, .897.

IHL

Sebastian Dahm, Bloomington Prairie Thunder: 3-3, 3.23, .898.


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