Troops spoil Colts' home opener

Marty Williamson knows his Barrie Colts could have played much better in their 4-1 loss to the North Bay Battalion Saturday night at Sadlon Arena.

While the loss isn’t one for the highlight reels, the good news is there is still a long way to go.

“We got 66 games,” said Williamson, adding a chuckle. “Maybe some other (loss) I’ll pull my hair out, but I’ll get through this one OK.”

Alliston native Lirim Amidovski scored twice, including the game-winner with just under five minutes remaining, and Wasaga Beach native Ethan Procyszyn and Anthony Romani also found the back of the net to help the Battalion (2-0) spoil the Colts’ 30^th anniversary season home opener in front of 3,076 fans.

Kashawn Aitcheson had the lone goal for Barrie (1-1) against rookie goalie Charlie Larocque, who stopped 24 shots to win his OHL debut.

“Too much of the game we played pond hockey,” said Williamson. “We just weren’t structured. We didn’t play well; we weren’t moving our feet.

“We showed spurts and had chances. Give their goalie credit he made a lot of big saves, but that’s not how we want to play hockey.”

With Beau Jelsma (shoulder) hurt and Beaudoin (Utah) and Beau Akey (Edmonton) set to return early next week, the Colts were missing some key veterans.

For a team still trying to get used to playing with new linemates, it also didn’t help when one of their top scorers Riley Patterson was kicked out of the game after receiving a match slewfoot penalty a little more than two minutes into the game.

“You don’t want to make that your excuse, but obviously there are new players, and you have to learn (to play with) them on the ice,” said Aitcheson. “We can’t wait to have those big three (Jelsma, Beaudoin, Akey) back and they’ll make a huge impact.”

Procyszyn, with the Troops on the power play, scored 8:03 into the opening period to give the visitors a lead they would hang on to into the third.

With his team on the power play, Aitcheson notched his second goal in two games to even things up 2:34 into the final frame, but the Colts couldn’t keep the momentum on a following power play.

“We just seemed off,” said Williamson. “We didn’t seem fast, didn’t seem to be in sync with our rushes, and have everybody on the same page.”

“The game just gets tough when you start playing that way, and it leads to a breakdown.”

That breakdown came late. Senators prospect and import rookie defenceman Gabriel Eliasson was caught trying to finish a check in the North Bay end, drawing a penalty.

In the meantime, Amidovski raced along the boards into the Barrie end, fighting off Nolan Newton and then Tai York before cutting in and beating Sam Hillebrandt glove side.

Empty net goals by Romani with 47 seconds remaining, off a giveaway by Triston Bertucci, and another by Amidovski 22 seconds later sealed Barrie’s fate.

“Eliasson tries to do something on his own and then everybody else is kind of at half speed,” said Williamson. “York lets him go and I don’t know where Bertucci was, and then we give up poor plays at the end even with the goalie out.”

One play can make the difference in the game.

“In a close game like that, tensions are high, pressure is up, and it always comes down to a couple of plays, a couple of shots, and a couple of saves,” said Aitcheson. “They got the better of us tonight, but we’re looking strong.

“We’re gelling as a group and we’re only going to get better from here.”

Viewed as one of the top NHL prospects entering this season, Aitcheson is off to a great start with two power-play goals in two games.

The third-year blueliner led the rush at various times and, at other times, jumped into the play. It paid off on his equalizer.

 After being robbed on a one-timer earlier in the game by Larocque’s glove hand, Aitcheson would make good this time.

With Emil Hemming storming in on the right side, he spotted Aitcheson charging in on his left and slid the puck over to the blueliner who beat Larocque this time.

“Yeah, good timing,” Williamson said of Aitcheson jumping into the play. “His timing has gotten much better. A couple of other guys have to learn their timing. We talked about Gabriel and that kind of stuff.

“There are times to make those plays and get into the rush, and then there are times that it’s not there and you don’t force the play.”

Aitcheson is playing with much more confidence and joining more rushes.

“That’s also a credit to my coaches,” he said. “They’ve been working with me for the last three years, summertime and obviously throughout the year. They help me continue to learn and progress with my development, and that’s how it’s going right now.” 

The six-foot-one, 198-pound defender is also playing his usual physical, in-your-face game and as usual, he’s drawing attention from his opponents.

North Bay’s Andrew LeBanc spent a part of the night trying to engage with Aitcheson.

“I love it,” he said of getting involved out there. “It really gets me going and I think it gets the team going, too. I always like to try and stir it up.”

The Colts return to action next Thursday night when they face another tough Central Division battle against the Brampton Steelheads at Sadlon Arena.

“There’s some good signs out there, it’s just not consistent right now,” said Williamson. “It’s early and you give (North Bay) credit because they played a more consistent game than we did.”

Game time on Thursday is 7 p.m.

ICE CHIPS: The Colts sported their special 30th-anniversary jerseys and blue chrome helmets. . . Barrie killed off Patterson’s five-minute major in the first period. . . Hillebrandt stopped 25 of 27 shots he faced. . . Newcomers Brad Gardiner and Hemming each have two assists in two games. . . North Bay outshot Barrie, 27-24. . . Barrie was 1-for-7 with the man advantage, while North Bay was 1-for-5.