Colts rally from a 5-1 deficit in the third to beat IceDogs in shootout

“It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.”

Former New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra may have coined the phrase, but the Barrie Colts took it to heart Sunday afternoon in St. Catharines.

Down 5-1 early in the third period, the Colts (3-2-0-2) scored four times in the final 16:40, before Brad Gardiner buried the lone goal of the shootout to help them complete a stunning 6-5 come-from-behind win over the Niagara IceDogs at the Meridian Centre.

With only 3:28 left on the clock, former IceDogs forward Alex Assadourian—playing against his old teammates for the first time since his trade to Barrie in early June—parked himself in front of the crease and tipped home a pass by Calvin Crombie from along the boards, allowing Barrie to tie the game.

Gardiner then sealed it when he walked in and deked to his backhand before roofing it upstairs over Niagara goaltender Vladislav Yermolenko to send an ecstatic Barrie bench onto the ice to celebrate.

After having a William Schneid overtime winner ruled offside after a lengthy review, Gardiner celebrated his shootout winner with an enthusiastic “it’s over” motion with his arms.

“It just shows the heart of this group. All the character that all the players have,” Co-captain Kashawn Aitcheson — who scored twice in a little under four minutes to bring Barrie within one — said of the comeback win. “It’s not easy to come back from 4-1 going into the third, but we never lost doubt, never lost belief.

“I think we’re going to keep this in our back pocket, that going deeper into the season, into the playoffs, that we can be down in a game, but never out.”

Colts head coach Dylan Smoskowitz was beaming with pride after this one.

“We never quit, and I give these guys full credit,” he said. “It’s one thing for a coaching staff to try and pump these guys up when you’re down 5-1 in a game in a game like that, but the players didn’t need us today. The players were pumping themselves up. The players were all positive, talking on the bench. The players were commending themselves, even down 5-1, because the honest truth is we actually thought we were playing a good game.

“Yeah, a couple of loose plays here and there, but we couldn’t believe we were down 2-0 after that first period. We were very happy with the battle, the compete, but the credit goes to the players and their positive attitude the whole game.”

When Schneid’s overtime goal was ruled offside, the Colts still held faith, thanks in large part to their newly named leader.

Aitcheson, sporting the ‘C’ for the first time this season, skated by the bench and reassured his teammates that all was fine.

“I’ll give credit to Kash, our captain tonight,” said Smoskowitz. “He came to the bench and said, ‘If this counts, perfect. If not, we’re going to score again. And that got the guys going a little bit.

“So, once we mounted that comeback in the third, we just felt that it was kind of fate that this was going to be our game.”

That, says Aitcheson, is the mindset of the team.

“The mindset that Beaudoin and I try to bring,” said the New York Islanders 2025 NHL first-round pick, who has five goals over his last three games. “You know, don’t get too high, too low. Just keep your eyes on the little things ahead of you, and everything will turn out the way you want it to.”

Ryan Roobroeck made it 5-1 on a Niagara power play, and it appeared as though Barrie was well on its way to a fifth loss of the season.

There’d be no rolling over here. What followed was a big push and forecheck that helped Barrie dominate the remainder of the game.

Jonah McCormick scored his first OHL goal on a nice pass from Cole Beaudoin a little more than a minute later, before Aitcheson notched his team-leading fourth, on the power play, and fifth goals of the season to silence the home crowd.

By the time Assadourian had tied it, the Colts had spent the majority of the third in the Niagara end, outshooting them 19-4.

“We talk a lot about these investment days that we have early in the week,” said Smoskowitz. “We work these guys hard, and they respond really well. As the game gets going on a Sunday, the third game in four nights, and it’s the third period and we’re down a couple of goals, it’s that kind of work that we put in on Monday, Tuesday, earlier in the week that pays off later in the week.

“My staff and I just could not be prouder of the group tonight.”

 Ethan Czata, with the hat trick, and former Colt Riley Patterson also scored for the IceDogs (4-2-0-1), who appeared to take command of the contest in the second after jumping out to a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes.

These character-building wins are few and far between, says Smoskowitz. As coaches, you pray for games like this.  

“In terms of a culture, and a confidence, and the guys buying into the team systems and structure, you see a game like that where maybe things are going your way and the bounces aren’t going your way, you just stick with it,” said the Colts’ head coach. “That’s the identity of this team.

“We’ve been talking about that a little bit, trying to find the identity of this team. What kind of team are we? We’re just a tight-knit group who never gives up, always believes in each other. Always have each other’s back. That’s the identity of the Barrie Colts.”

Aitcheson’s team-leading five goals give him 40 over 157 career games, tying him for the franchise lead among defencemen with Brandt Clarke (143 games) and Aaron Ekblad (175 games).

The punishing defender is well on pace to break his own franchise record of 26 goals in a season that he set last year.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he does,” said Smoskowitz. “He looks like an NHL player playing against OHL talent right now. It’s going to be tougher and tougher for him as teams take notice, and they start to send their better players after him, and they send more guys to shadow him.

“But, if I know Kash, he’s up for the challenge. As a coaching staff, we just have to make sure we continue to develop him, get him ready for his pro career. He’s doing a heck of a lot for this team.”

Aitcheson pointed his success at the help he gets from his teammates, especially Beaudoin. The Utah Mammoth first-rounder has two goals and six points in two games since returning.

“Big credit to Cobo being back,” said Aitcheson. “I think we’re doing really well together. We’re finding each other, so hopefully we can just keep it rolling and take it game by game.”

The Colts return to action Thursday night when they host the Ottawa 67’s, the only undefeated team remaining in the OHL.

Puck drop at Sadlon Arena is 7 p.m.

ICE CHIPS: Gabriel Eliasson’s afternoon came to an early end when he received a cross-checking major right at the end of the first period. . . Ben Hrebik made 28 saves to pick up his first win of the season. . . Barrie outshot Niagara 42-33. . . Gardiner picked up two assists and now has eight points, tying him with Aitcheson for the team scoring lead. . .  Former Colts Grayson Tiller and Patterson dropped by the Colts’ dressing room after the game to talk to see their former teammates. . .  The pair of Central Division rivals won’t face each other again until Nov. 22^nd at the Meridian Centre.