GAME SUMMARY
Brantford, Ont. — OHL Friday night:
First Period
1. Brantford, Lieb 3 (DeGraff, McCrate) 13:32 (pp)
Penalties — DeGraff Bfd (roughing) 0:37, Edgar Bar (roughing) 7:53, Handsor Bar (cross-checking) 11:40, Andrew Bfd (kneeing) 13:58, Mowrey Bar (holding) 18:59.
Second Period
No scoring
Penalties — Mogull Bar (tripping) 13:17, Testa Bar (unsportsmanlike conduct misconduct) 20:00.
Third Period
No scoring
Penalties — Gauvreau Bar (goaltender interference) 3:08, Lappalainen Bfd (cross-checking) 7:06, Tsherna Bar (hitting from behind), Musa Bfd (unsportsmanlike conduct misconduct) 20:00.
Shots on goal by
Barrie 8 6 11—25
Brantford 16 8 11—35
Goal (shots-saves) — Barrie: Nikonovich (L,1-3-0-0); Brantford: Salen Forsberg (W,5-1-0-1).
Power plays (goals-chances) — Barrie: 0-3; Brantford: 1-5.
Referees — Scott Ferguson, Matt Boulby. Linesmen — Kevin McArthur, Dalton Kipp.
Attendance — 2,989 (2,952)
OTHER SCORES
Ottawa 6 Brampton 2
Soo 3 Erie 1
Kitchener 5 Niagara 2
London 4 Sudbury 1
Kingston 5 Oshawa 4 (OT)
Saginaw 9 Sarnia 2
Windsor 11 Owen Sound 3
Guelph 3 Flint 2 (OT)
Friday night at the TD Civic Centre featured a familiar, frustrating narrative for the Barrie Colts.
Despite putting together one of their most complete efforts of the young OHL season, the Colts once again found themselves undone by a familiar culprit: a lack of scoring finish.
Swedish import goaltender Vilmer Salen Forsberg turned aside all 25 shots he faced to record his first OHL shutout, lifting the Brantford Bulldogs (8-2-0-1) to a narrow 1-0 victory over the Colts (1-8-1-0), who have now lost four-straight games.
The game’s lone breakthrough came in the opening frame when Xavier Lieb capitalized on a power play at 13:32, beating Barrie netminder Matvei Nikonovich on a wraparound. Nikonovich was stellar the rest of the way for the Colts, stopping 34 of 35 shots, but his counterpart stood tall as Barrie’s offense remained snake-bitten.
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The Colts sit last overall in the OHL in goals scored, having managed just 19 tallies through their first 10 games.
“I thought we created chances. I thought the whole game,” said head coach Dylan Smoskowitz. “The first period, we started really strong. The penalties slowed us down. The second period was kind of even. It was a great road period. We didn’t have much, but we didn’t give up much. And the third was kind of back and forth.
“We had some good looks. We had some good chances. It just wasn’t meant to be tonight, but I told the guys after... ‘You play whatever it is, 58 more games like that, and you’re going to get the results more often than not.’ So, we just have to focus on the process, but that was a good game for us tonight.”
Barrie had nearly every part of their game working, particularly as they pressed relentlessly for the equalizer in a frantic third period. Justin Handsor, earlier in the contest, and Nicholas Desiderio both rang shots off the post. At 7:20 of the final frame, with Barrie operating on a power play, Eamon Edgar used a burst of speed and a pretty inside move to slip into the slot, only to have Salen Forsberg slam his five-hole shut.
Carter Lowe was also left all alone in front of the net for a golden opportunity late, while former Brantford forward Luca Testa nearly potted his first goal as a Colt after taking a feed in tight.
“They have a good goalie,” veteran forward Dylan Tsherna said. “We definitely played on an edge, and they didn’t want to play with us, for sure. I think we got them off their game. We just got to find a way to score, and when that happens, we’re going to be a good team.”
Smoskowitz noted that avoiding high-risk desperation hockey kept his group in a position to strike without exposing themselves on the back end.
“We had a lot of good chances. I like how you said that you don’t have to open it wide open,” Smoskowitz said. “There’s sometimes this season, so far, that maybe we get a little bit lackadaisical trying to push for offence and end up going down by two or three goals.
“Tonight, we didn’t give them much in the third, but we still managed to create some offence ourselves. That’s going to be a recipe for success for this group.’
Penalties have continuously punished the Colts early this year, with Brantford’s game-winner coming directly with the man advantage. Tsherna emphasized the vital importance of staying out of the penalty box moving forward.
“Discipline’s a big thing we’re preaching on, and, honestly, we’re trying, and we’re going to get better,” he said.
Despite the tough results, the young Colts squad recognizes the imperative to stay the course, focusing on their growth and the strong foundation they are building.
“We don’t have a lot of OHL experience, for sure, but it’s definitely coming,” Tsherna added. “I have a lot of confidence, and it’s good that every game, win or lose, no matter the outcome, we have a lot of positives to take out of it. And when you have that, you have a lot of good things. You just need to piece them all together, and the wins will come along.”
ICE CHIPS
Edgar led all shooters in the game with six shots.
Jonah McCormick (ankle) and Arvin Jaswall (foot) remain out of the lineup.
BULLDOGS SALUTE FORMER STARS
Friday night also marked an emotional homecoming for Tsherna and fellow forward Testa, who returned to Brantford for the first time since being acquired by Barrie in separate offseason trades. During separate first-period stoppages, the Bulldogs played video tributes on the scoreboard honoring both players.
The appreciative crowd rewarded them with a thunderous reception, highlighting the lasting impact they left during their time in Brantford.
“It definitely felt welcoming,’ Tsherna said of the reception. “This place was home for me for three years, right? So, as much as I move along to the next chapter, I’ll always remember this place. I’ll always remember the fans and, obviously, remember what the city of Branford did to me.”
WILLIAMSON TO STEP BEHIND COLTS BENCH DURING WORLD U17S
Barrie Colts head coach Dylan Smoskowitz will trade junior hockey for international competition next month, heading to Oakville to lead Canada’s national under-17 White team at the 2026 U17 World Challenge, running Nov. 1-7.
The international assignment will see Smoskowitz step away from the Colts for a stretch of games. In his absence, assistant coach Patty Sexton will take over head coaching duties behind the bench, while assistant coach Connor Cadaret will manage the blueline. To provide veteran stability during the busy stretch, general manager Marty Williamson—a longtime former Colts coach—will step behind the bench to assist the staff.
Smoskowitz admitted there is plenty of mixed emotion in leaving the club behind for the global showcase, particularly missing out on having Williamson pitch in on game day.
“It’s going to be great. The only thing I’m mad about is that I’m not there to experience that,” Smoskowitz said. “I got to hang out with Marty on the bench for three years. He’s going to come back to the bench when I’m absent for five games here.
“Marty is going to be there in that support role. That mentor that he has always been to us.”
With the team hitting the road during the tournament window, Smoskowitz joked about the travel logistics awaiting his general manager on the schedule.
“Unfortunately, Marty has to go on the furthest bus ride of the year for those four away games, but I know he’s looking forward to it,” added Smoskowitz with a chuckle. “I’m jealous I’m not going to be there with him.”
UP NEXT
The Colts, looking to bounce back immediately, travel to face the Peterborough Petes on Saturday.
“There are a lot of positives to build off of tonight,” Smoskowitz said. “Sometimes it’s hard coming off a loss when you don’t feel like you played that well, but that’s not the case tonight. These guys are going to get back on the bus. We’re going to feel good about ourselves. We’ll have a good little meeting in the morning, get back on the bus to Peterborough.
“That place will be rocking on a Saturday night. It should be a good atmosphere. It should be a lot of fun."
Meanwhile, Brantford hosts the Soo Greyhounds on Sunday afternoon.
