On so many nights for the Barrie Colts, it’s the big guns like Cole Beaudoin, Emil Hemming, and Kashawn Aitcheson leading the way.
Thursday night, it was the line of Jaiden Newton, Nicholas Desiderio, and Eamon Edgar that grabbed the reins to erase a two-goal deficit and lead the Colts to a come-from-behind 4-3 shootout win over the Owen Sound Attack at Sadlon Arena.
In a 3-1 hole after a sluggish start, the Colts’ fourth line came to the rescue.
“They had a great night,” Colts’ head coach Dylan Smoskowitz said of the hard-working trio. “It’s funny, because after the game, we gave them a shout out in our little post-game speech about that’s why we’re a family. It’s not just two or three guys, it’s all 20 guys. If all 20 guys aren’t pulling in the same direction and pulling the rope, or working as hard as they can, you’re not going to have success in this league.
“Most nights, it’s the big guys. It’s Beaudoin. It’s Aitcheson. It’s Hemming, it’s (Ben) Wilmott, or (Brad) Gardiner. Tonight, it was those three, and without those three, we lose the game.”
Newton helped fuel the comeback when he rifled a shot from the bottom of the left faceoff circle over the right shoulder of netminder Tristen Bennett to cut the Owen Sound lead to one with just under five minutes remaining in the second period.
The gritty veteran forward then evened things up midway through the third when he fired a pass across the high slot to a streaking Desiderio, who ripped it off the far-side post and in.
Bennett, who faced an OHL season-high 61 shots in this one, would get the Attack through to the shootout, where Hemming and Beaudoin scored to give Barrie (38-11-2-4) its eighth-straight win.
“Our line has been working really hard in practice,” said Newton. “It was our night tonight. We had a good night tonight, and it paid off. We’re just going to continue working.”
While Ben Hrebik did his job and slammed the door on Owen Sound’s Easton Mikus and Cole Zurawski in the shootout, Hemming and Beaudoin would come through for Barrie.
After an Aitcheson miss, Hemming ripped one over the glove of Bennett, and Beaudoin sealed it by rifling one into the top left corner.
“Those were such nice goals,” said Smoskowitz. “It’s almost like Kash was our decoy. We kind of let the goalie feel good about himself, and here comes Hemming and Beaudoin. I’d be lying if I said we don’t work on shootouts after practice quite often.
“It’s always tough going against your own goalies, because they know your tendencies, but I don’t care who’s in net, you put two shots like that, and they’re most likely going to go in.”
Bennett, who was the game’s first star, was the story in this one for the slumping Attack (20-29-2-5), which has now lost eight straight.
The Colts outshot Owen Sound 28-4 in the third and would have ended this one in regulation if not for Bennett.
“You throw 60 shots at a guy, you expect to score more than three goals,” said Smoskowitz. “He played really well.”
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Joe Salandra would open the scoring at 14:40 of the first, but the Attack would fight right back 17 seconds later. Mikus and Jared Langdon beat Hrebik 1:36 apart to put them on top.
Tristan Delisle would increase the lead early in the second for an Attack team that looked determined to end its skid. The Colts, on the other hand, resembled little of the team that has lost just twice since the Christmas break.
“We talk about these lulls,” said Smoskowitz. “Sometimes our lulls happen in the second. Sometimes they happen in the third, like against Ottawa (Monday). Tonight, our lull was in the first. We didn’t come ready to play. We thought showing up higher in the standings was going to be enough for the two points tonight.
“In this league, you can’t take a night off. Every team, no matter who you play, is a good team. I’m really proud of the guys for finding a way, sticking with it, and staying positive. I liked our push in the third period.”
It was quite the push. Barrie outshot Owen Sound 28-4 in the third as they completely took over the contest.
“We’re a good team, and we always find a way to bring it,” said Newton, who now has a career-high seven goals and 18 points in 55 games this season. “We’re never worried in the third, so whether we’re down a goal or up, we’re always good.”
That Newton was there leading the comeback was no surprise for Smoskowitz.
“I can’t say enough good things about Jaiden Newton. I just love that kid,” said the Colts bench boss. “He’s a heart and soul kid. He’s leadership. It oozes out of this guy. He’s everything I want this team to be. He’s a culture centre. He’s a grinder. He’s a great teammate. He puts the team first above everything.
“Here’s a guy who has been here three years, and he’s never really gotten out of that bottom six, and this kid doesn’t say a word. He just loves being a part of it. He just loves to win, and the guys appreciate that kind of effort so much. As a coach, you can’t have enough Jaiden Newtons.”
Also on Thursday night, Aitcheson drew two assists to give him 158 career points (59G, 99A) and moved into a tie with Brandt Clarke (40G, 118A) for the franchise scoring lead among defencemen.
Barrie continues its busy weekend on Friday night when it hits the road to take on the London Knights, before returning home Saturday night to host the Brantford Bulldogs.
The game will mark the first return to London for Ben Wilmott since being moved to Barrie at the OHL trade deadline in early January. While the Knights looked to the future at this year’s deadline, they remain quite competitive and sit fifth in the Western Conference standings with a 32-18-4-1 record.
“We don’t look past any team,” said Newton of the Colts, who now trail Brantford by just four points atop the Eastern Conference standings. “We prepare the same for every game, so we’ll be ready for (Friday).”
Game time at Canada Life Place is 7 p.m.
ICE CHIPS: Salandra, who hails Pleasantville, N.Y., and Aitcheson, a native of Toronto, have a friendly wager if the U.S. and Canadian men’s hockey teams meet in the Olympic finals. The loser has to wear the other one’s jersey. . . Final shots were 61-31 for Barrie. . . Owen Sound has won just four times since December 1. . . Brad Gardiner had an assist to run his point streak to four games (3-2-5).
