Cardwell’s big night leads Colts past Steelheads

Barrie Colts got the 5-2 win over the Mississauga Steelheads at home

Ethan Cardwell is making up for lost time since returning from a 15-game suspension.

The Barrie Colts veteran filled up the scoresheet once again, this time recording a shorthanded goal along with three assists in a 5-2 win over the Mississauga Steelheads, Saturday night, at Sadlon Arena.

Beau Akey, with a goal and assist, Hunter Haight, Anthony Tabak and Declan McDonnell also scored for the Colts (28-19-4-0), who got a huge 39-save effort in goal from Mack Guzda.

Zander Veccia, who opened the scoring just 2:20 in, and Jake Uberti scored for the Steelheads (32-18-1-5), who have now lost 12 of their last 16 games.

Cardwell, who hadn’t played since being suspended in a game against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds on Jan. 29, returned to the lineup Thursday night with a strong effort in a 3-2 loss to Hamilton.

The San Jose Sharks prospect then scored once and added a pair of assists in 6-3 win Friday over the Niagara IceDogs, before exploding Saturday for a season-high four points to give him seven points in three games since returning.

“I thought the time off was obviously a tough thing for me having to serve that suspension, but I worked hard and I think it’s paid off,” said the 19-year-old who was disciplined for contact that resulted in Greyhounds forward Tanner Dickinson breaking his right femur.

“I feel like I’m coming out of summer training and right back into it with a month and a half off there, and I just tried to use it to my benefit.”

Cardwell’s lone goal on this night proved to be the winner. Less than two minutes after Uberti had tied the game at 2-2 early in the second, the speedy Barrie winger responded less than two minutes later with one for the highlight reel.

After forcing the turnover at his own blueline, he raced in alone and as he moved right to go to his forehand he pulled his stick back to the left and tucked it around Steelheads goaltender Roman Basran who had already committed the other way.

“His speed and skill is obviously something that we really value. It’s just his demeanour,” said Colts associate coach Chris Dennis. “He’s been full of energy for us, especially (three-games-in-three nights) is tough.

“His speed and his energy on the bench has been great for us and he got rewarded for it.”

Cardwell has picked up right where he left off before he was suspended. The 19-year-old had been scorching with eight goals and nine assists for 17 points in nine games.

“The training staff with Keith Kling (head athletic therapist and strength coach) and the rest of the coaching staff kept me in great shape, giving me a good workout program,” he said. “I was just doing my best to stretch, stay loose and take care of my body and just be the best version of myself I could be when I came back, and just try to get some wins for the boys.”

Cardwell now has 14 goals and 28 assist for 42 points in 34 games.

The winger got off to a slow start this season with just four goals in his first 22 games despite numerous chances.

He’s definitely put that behind him.

“Hockey is a game that comes and goes for you,” Cardwell said. “You’re going to get good bounces, you’re going to get bad bounces. You just got to stick to the program and things are going to happen for you, so you just work hard every night.

“I feel like that’s kind of like what’s happened. Just go out there and give the same compete every night and whatever happens, happens.”

A couple of timely goals did the trick for Barrie in this one.

McDonnell managed to bank it off Basran’s pad from behind the net to give Barrie a 2-1 lead right at the buzzer. After a lengthy review, it was ruled the puck had crossed the line just before time expired.

Akey then scored with just 24 seconds remaining in the second to give the Colts a 5-2 lead heading to third.

The last time these two teams met back on Feb. 24, Mississauga scored four goals in the third period, including three in the final two minutes, to rally for a 5-3 win.

Despite outshooting Barrie 13-3 in the final frame, there’d be no comeback on this night.

“The third period they basically carried the play for the most part” said Dennis, whose club will travel to Mississauga for a rematch on Tuesday night. “It was three-in-three for us, so we weren’t as sharp as we’d like to be, but we definitely have to be ready for that Tuesday game because I’m sure they’re looking to put a stop to their little tough stretch here and I’m sure they’ll be ready.

“They were ready tonight. They scored right off the bat here and I thought we responded well after that though.”

The win moved Barrie to within 10 points of Mississauga and North Bay atop the Central Division standings. With the season heading into the stretch drive, time is running for the Colts to catch both.

That makes these head-to-head games that much more important.

“They’re huge games and Tuesday is just as big,” Cardwell said. “We’re going to enjoy this one tonight, but we’re going to get right back to work tomorrow morning and try to prepare for Tuesday night.”

ICE CHIPS: Barrie holds five games in hand on Mississauga and four in hand on North Bay. . . Jacob Frasca made his return to the lineup Saturday. Frasca had been out since Jan. 20. . . With captain Brandt Clarke suspended indefinitely, that meant bigger roles on the blueline for Artur Cholach and Connor Punnett. “We all know what Clarke does for us and the fact that he’s not there they want to step up for the team and for themselves to show that they can do it, so they’ve been really good,” Dennis said. . . Mississauga outshot Barrie 41-23. . . McDonnell has scored five times during his four-game scoring streak. . . Tabak stretched his points streak to seven games (1G, 10A). . .

Banner image – Terry Wilson – OHL Images

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