Played on Feb 26, 2025
Ontario Hockey League
Game Played in Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre
General Game Notes: The Owen Sound Attack scored two first period goals and with the first one in the second, they were able to make this a three goal game half way through. The momentum created was too much for the IceDogs to mount any type of comeback. With five different scorers, the Owen Sound Attack was able to show their depth in their line up tonight.
Noah Van Vliet (D, L, 6’2″, 222, Niagara Icedogs, 02/18/2004, Sacred Heart)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Van Vliet was able to show tonight that he is a large defenseman with solid mobility. He has good positioning, decent hockey sense, and reliable puck skills. He excels in the defensive zone, where he plays a physical game and is not afraid to deliver big hits. Was a bit inconsistent tonight is his own end but when he had the step on forwards, he closed well. Van Vliet was at his best tonight when he was using his size with his stick, getting his long reach on pucks and breaking up plays. When he leads with stick first and does not connect, he has the fortunate circumstance to then play the body.
Blake Arrowsmith (RW, R, 6’0″, 185, Niagara Icedogs, 04/17/2007)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Scored the lone goal for the IceDogs tonight just being in the right spot at the right time. As his teammate was able to create an entry with an impressive move at the blue line, he attacked the slot area with his other two line mates, one of them being Arrowsmith. The puck was able to bounce back door where Arrowsmith was waiting to bang home the rebound. Arrowsmith showed a couple different aspects on this goal and one of them was his ability to control his skating. He has good feet in small areas and off the rush but being fast at all times can hurt you and can get you out of position. Arrowsmith created pace early but as the puck found its way to the back door, he slowed up, read the play and was ready for when the puck came to him.
Sean Doherty (C, R, 6’0″, 180, Niagara Icedogs, 03/23/2006)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Doherty was able to show tonight that he is a big, strong forward who can both extend his possession and set up plays effectively. He plays bigger than he is, getting first on forechecks and finishing his hits. He is able to set tempos within a shift this way and does a good job at it. He has decent explosiveness, though his overall speed is average. However, he possesses a powerful shot and plays with high intensity, energy, and a strong work ethic. At times tonight, he had chances to get his shot off earlier and took the extra stick handle to place the puck. If he could limit his time choosing what to do when he is in a prime scoring chance, this will add to his value in the offensive zone.
Matthew Virgilio (D, L, 6’0″, 200, Niagara Icedogs, 03/24/2006)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Virgilio was able to show tonight that he is a skilled puck moving defenseman with solid hockey sense and passing ability. He can quickly change the games pace with precise, long range passes and consistently generates offense from the blue line with his playmaking skills. However, his mobility could use improvement. Despite not being an overly large defensemen, he is not afraid to play the body, but adding strength and size would further enhance his game. Virgilio was at his best tonight when he was making quick puck decisions, not over stick handling it and snapping it to the first open player. He could have improved his gap control, getting up in the play instead of the play coming to him in the neutral zone.
Elliot Arnett (D, L, 6’1″, 195, Owen Sound Attack, 03/12/2008)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: With his first goal of the season, Arnett found himself as a late wave attacker and got the puck in the slot from a great pass from his teammate. With no stick handling, he was able to get a catch and release goal from the hashmarks. A great goal from Arnett to start the scoring and get his team on the board but by no means is this where his game excels. He plays more of two way style with an emphasis in his own end and being able to transition the puck. For now, he looks to make the quick play when the puck is on his stick, and does a good job at knowing where he wants to go with it before possession. If he is able to incorporate more of the offensive awareness that his goal consisted of, he will become that much more of a threat shift in and shift out.
Benjamin Cormier (C, L, 6’0″, 177, Owen Sound Attack, 07/20/2006)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Similar to his teammates, Zurawski goal, Cormier picked a corner from a distance off the rush that beat the goalie clean low side. Either the scouting report indicated where to shoot for the night, or Cormiers release was as good at his looks. A clear offensive threat not only off the rush but in small areas where he is able to be deceptive with close stick handling and quick footwork. Multiple times tonight he took advantage of bad defensive gaps exploiting the space in front of him. It was easy to see that he can handle a puck but like most skilled players, tends to over handle it and make hope plays that look great on camera, but when they do not connect, it is what leads to rushes the other way. Couple times tonight from behind the net, he made no look passes to the slot that probably would have ended up in the back of the net, if someone were there.
Landen Hookey (RW, R, 6’4″, 222, Owen Sound Attack, 01/29/2004)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Hookey is not doubt an an elite scoring winger who blends speed, skill, and intelligence to create offense. A naturally gifted skater, he handles the puck effortlessly at high speeds and possesses exceptional vision and playmaking ability. If given even a moment of space, he can capitalize instantly. One aspect of his game that really stands out is his size for a dominant physical game, he willingly battles against larger opponents and, through his intelligence, skill, and agility, wins a remarkable number of puck battles. His relentless competitiveness and determination to win are key to his success as a dynamic and versatile offensive threat. He was not able to get on the score sheet tonight but could tell that he can hold on to the puck in the offensive zone and created momentum this way.
Cole Zurawski (RW, R, 6’0″, 185, Owen Sound Attack, 02/06/2008)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: With two points on the night tonight, Zurawski was able to show his offensive skill tonight. Scored a nice goal off the right down the right side of the ice where he was able to fire a wrist shot low and beat the goalie clean from a distance. This goal was impressive because of how far he took the shot and how accurate the shot was. He was able to get a ton of power behind his release, taking the goalie off guard. Zurawski has a great combination of being solid in size and strength and has the skating ability to push the pace, like he did on his goal. He showed some young age symptoms tonight wanting to create something out of nothing, and had some turnovers in dangerous areas leading to odd man rushes the other way. With the skill he has and the amount of time he has the puck, these type of management plays should only get better with experience, they have to.
Declan Waddick (C, L, 5’9″, 162, Owen Sound Attack, 01/24/2005)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Waddick was able to show why he is flanker on the power play with a pure half wall style goal skating down hill and picking a corner right over the goalies glove. The smaller but very agile winger packs way more behind his shot than his size suggests. This goal ended up being the game winner and a power play tally that his team ended up struggling with throughout the game. One area that Waddick needs to improve on his game is his ability to stand over a puck. Being on the smaller side is not going to match up as he progresses in his career, he needs to find that center of gravity it takes to with stand some of the bigger players looking to bump him off a puck. Too many times tonight when he did not have time and space, bigger defensemen ended his possession.
James Petrovski (D, L, 6’4″, 190, Owen Sound Attack, 08/12/2005)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Petrovski was able to show tonight that he is not afraid to dive into the offensive zone where he basically becomes a fourth forward. Multiple times tonight he caught his opponent at the point napping and snuck in behind to receive a pass in the slot for a quality chance at the net. He likes to break the puck out using his feet and will wheel the net with a forechecker on his back. He has the skating ability to break down a forecheck and get up the ice. The puck is on his stick more, and because of his want to beat players, this adds a little risk to his game. He needs to work on assessing where and when to use his feet to beat a guy and when to beat a guy with a pass. One of the best aspects of his game is that he has the size to defend but it does not limit him in the offensive zone.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images