Niagara IceDogs 2021-22 (Week 06)

[NiceDawg]

Welcome back to week 6 of the IceDogs 2021-22 season, which finds Niagara at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and 19th overall. Ironically, Erie, the team at the bottom of the league beat us 6-4 last week in a match that was tilted their direction most of the night. So with the same 8 points we've had for a few weeks now, and a 0.333 percentage, there is nowhere to go but up.

[Blacksox]

Spotlight on Costanzo...


IceDogs’ Joey Costanzo Named to Team Canada (05s) for Capital City Challenge
https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/na...an-full-roster

Costanzo one of the three Ontario 05 goalies
05 Joseph Costanzo - Niagara (OHL)
05 Nathaniel Day - Flint (OHL)
05 Mason Vaccari - Cobourg (OJHL)
05 Kyle Hagen - Que. Lac St-Louis (LHM18AAAQ)
05 Scott Ratzlaff - Seattle (WHL)
05 Jackson Unger - Calgary Edge School (CSSHL)


A LOOK BACK TO WEEK 5…

Game 10
Niagara unable to come back from four-goal deficit
By Bernd Franke
https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/...l-deficit.html

Game 11
IceDogs drop fourth in a row
By Bill Potrecz
https://www.bpsportsniagara.com/iced...urth-in-a-row/

Game 12
IceDogs falter late in Mississauga
By Bill Potrecz
https://www.bpsportsniagara.com/iced...n-mississauga/

The weekly number of rookies in the lineup are a clear indication that the Icedogs switched gears this season – going for a post-pandemic restart - and most fans are on board with this. So, a top 5 finish is not a realistic expectation, but .500 hockey and a 6-7th finish is. At the 17% mark of the season, the IceDogs only need to make-up 5 points over the next 56 games to accomplish that. However, the fact that the team's play regressed over the last two weekends – requires some accountability.

The future/strength of this team is in the excellent 04s and 05s Joey Burke has drafted – and the 06s (1,2,4) and 07s(1,2,2,2,3,4) they will be adding to this core. This draft class is considered one of the best in quite some time – the only one better will be the 07s AND the IceDogs have picks in place to capitalize on this. Both drafts are extremely deep in talent and feature Top 10 lists that are elite NHL calibre talents.

Ten good reasons to get a high 06 pick…all have 1st overall franchise type talent!
Malcolm Spence F, Mississauga Senators GTHL (6.01 / 0.00)
Kieron Walton F, Toronto Titans GTHL (6.05 / 203)
Gabriel Frasca F, Mississauga Senators GTHL (6.00 / 155)
Michael Hage F, Toronto Jr. Canadiens GTHL (5.10 / 150)
Nathan Villeneuve F, Navan Grads HEO (5.10 / 000)
Henry Mew D, Toronto Jr. Canadiens GTHL (5.11 / 165)
Matthew Virgilio D, St. Andrew’s College CISSA (5.11 / 175)
Tyron Fevry F, Toronto Red Wings (5.10 / 000)
Kevin He F, North York Rangers GTHL (5.10 / 155)
Justin Huynh D, Mississauga Senators GTHL (5.11 / 185)

So, figure out a way to play consistent .500 hockey, entertain the fans, develop our rookies, earn a playoff spot and score that high 06 pick. Continue with the original plan of developing the 04s and 05s, even though the waters are rough at the moment – don’t panic now!


A LOOK AHEAD TO WEEK 6…
IceDogs W/L Record vs BARRIE, HAMILTON, KINGSTON: 2-3-0
IceDogs W/L Record vs the REST of the EAST: 2-4-0
IceDogs W/L Record vs ERIE: 0-1-0

…play your PRO-LINE wisely.

Game 13
FRIDAY @ Niagara vs Barrie
ODDS-MAKERS
No Gushchin, No Uberti, No Betts, No chance.
No Gushchin, No Uberti, No chance.

Game 14
SATURDAY @ Niagara vs Oshawa
Uberti will still be out, but Gushchin returns to the lineup and if Betts is back, this is the only game they have a reasonable chance of winning this weekend.


***

[three dog night]

Is Copeland back

[dogs777]

Originally Posted by three dog night

Is Copeland back

I heard it was a concussion so who knows

[bulldog]

As much as I love my Dogs, 0 points this weekend

[Dogs Enthusiast 104]

We looked so good in the first week or two. Damn.

[three dog night]

I would even settle of an extra time loss we need points.

[bulldog]

According to the Ice Dogs pre game report there is no-one on the injured list

[AuldBone]

Originally Posted by bulldog

As much as I love my Dogs, 0 points this weekend

Yeah... Sadly, this isn't a statement of negativity... This is a statement of the facts as they stand.

If the boys continue to be under-coached, under-developed, and under-disciplined... We're going to be under-impressed...

In other words... If the team continues their play from last week, I am not expecting them to get any points at all...

Enright needs to tighten up his game, stop the mental mistakes that are causing his buttery fingers... He was a bloody first round pick, he's playing like a rookie. I was willing to cut him some slack for the first month after coming back from a lower body injury, to get up to speed. His skating is really good, his passing (in the past) was beautiful, and he has a nose for the net (not that he's been able to show it at the OHL level, especially concerning with him losing a year of development that was already suspect).

Perhaps a visit to the Mental Performance Coach... Because (and it may just be me projecting my own hockey horror stories) it's looking like he's trying to avoid contact, and is rushing his break out passes... It's not like his decision making otherwise seems suspect, it's just a strong forecheck has looked like it can make him panic, and force him to cough up the puck...

Again, maybe I'm projecting my own issues, but young Mr Enright was very highly touted coming in... I wonder how much losing a full season of development (especially in his draft year) has hurt his overall game... And if that is the problem he's having? No way of knowing really. No one on this team is "covering themselves in glory"... There were a few strong games played early in the season, but that's normal, at the beginning of the season, a bunch of talented individuals can steal games from better teams... As the season progresses, the talented individuals can be eliminated as a threat, with a good system run "Team First"...

Anyway, will be an interesting weekend for sure...

[dogs777]

I’m not expecting much from tonight but then again I thought Barrie would destroy us the other games we’ve played but I’ll be interested to see what we look like tomorrow with Gushchin back and going forward with the team back to “full strength”