As he headed into the Barrie Colts dressing room minutes after a 45-save performance, Ben Hrebik had it coming to him.
And seconds later his teammates surprised him and let him have it, drenching the young goalie in water as they celebrated his first career shutout in a 4-0 win over the Owen Sound Attack, Wednesday night, at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre.
“So happy for him. Everybody was so happy for him,” said Colts assistant coach Dylan Smoskowitz. “After the game, we gave him the big water bottle shower. You could just see how much support he’s getting from his teammates.
The second-year goaltender held the fort in the first period as the Colts were outshot 16-5 and was stellar the rest of the way while his teammates finally got the ball rolling offensively.
“It was awesome,” said Riley Patterson, who had a goal and two assists but was happier to see his young teammate record a special milestone. “He works so hard and to see him get rewarded and for him to help us win that game, it was a special night for him. I feel awesome for him.”
Hrebik, who only got into two games last season, now has a 9-1-1 record and boasts a sparkling 1.77 goals against average and .947 save percentage.
“It seems like at the beginning of the year it was a nice surprise, and it’s continued to be nice surprises, but how many surprises until it becomes the kid is just a good goaltender, and he’s been giving us solid effort night after night,” said Smoskowitz of the backup goalie. “I don’t think it should surprise anybody anymore that he’s giving us this kind of effort, but for him to get his first shutout, I just couldn’t be happier for the kid.”
Barrie's News Delivered To Your Inbox
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Central Ontario Broadcasting, 431 Huronia Rd, Barrie, Ontario, CA, https://www.cobroadcasting.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
It was another slow start by the Colts (21-8-1-1), who finally broke out late in the second period on a power-play goal by Dalyn Wakely at 14:01 and another goal by Patterson four minutes later.
A power-play goal by captain Beau Jelsma early in the third and a shorthanded marker by Zach Wigle midway through the frame gave Barrie more than enough offence on a night where Barrie’s special teams also came up big.
The power play finished 2-for-3, while the penalty kill held the Attack (9-19-2-3) scoreless on four chances.
“Our players take a lot of pride on our specialty teams,” said Smoskowitz. “We put a lot of hours into that at practice and coach Dennis Martindale has done a phenomenal job with the power play. He’s really getting the guys to buy in where every time we get a man advantage, other teams are getting a little scared of it.
“That’s exactly how a power play should be. Our guys are working hard alongside Dennis and they’re getting some results, which is fantastic for them. And again, when you get a goaltending performance like Hrebik puts forward for you, your best penalty killer is always your goaltender. When Hrebik is in net, we have a lot of confidence in the penalty killing when our goaltender is playing like that.”
Be it starter Sam Hillebrandt or Hrebik, both make their teammates in front of them feel a lot more secure.
“We feel very confident with both goalies,” said Patterson. “They’re both amazing and they both work so hard, and the numbers show. We play for them and we’re confident no matter who is back there.”
Wakely’s 14th of the season proved to be the winner, but it was Patterson’s 12th that gave Barrie the cushion it needed to end a two-game losing skid.
“It was a big goal,” said Smoskowitz, whose club finishes off the pre-holiday season schedule at home Thursday night against the Niagara IceDogs. “The whole team looked sluggish in the first and we weren’t really happy in the first 20 minutes.
“The last couple of games we’ve felt we’ve been good for the last 20, but we haven’t been great for the first 40, so Patty put it on himself to get the guys going and the team going in the right direction.”
Patterson showed off his baseball skills on his goal in the second. Owen Sound goaltender Matthew Koprowski went to bat away a puck in front off the back boards and it flipped up and Patterson, who was cruising to the front of the net, slugged it out of the air and into the net.
“That’s a funny one,” said the Vancouver Canucks prospect when asked if was going to demand a contract similar to Juan Soto’s $765 million deal with the New York Mets.
It was also a good night for Barrie’s three overagers. Wakely, Jelsma, and Wigle all found the scoresheet.
“I thought all three had great games tonight,” said Smoskowitz. “Then again, when we get into the room and (Colts’ head coach Marty Williamson) tells the guys he’s not really happy with our performance so far – it’s kind of been like that the last couple of games – you definitely look to your leadership group to turn the tide. I thought the three of them just did a fantastic job for us and the younger guys followed suit, but it definitely starts with them.
“The goals are definitely a bonus, it’s nice to see them rewarded, but just being vocal in the room, being vocal on the ice, and leading by example and how hard they’re playing is first and foremost.”
Barrie heads into Thursday night’s contest against Niagara up by just two points atop both the Central Division and Eastern Conference standings.
The IceDogs, who lost 7-3 to Barrie at home on Nov. 1, have won five of their last six and boast a talented, young offence that can put the puck in the net.
“Niagara is very opportunistic and when you give them an inch, they’re taking a mile, so we got to continue with our tight defensive ways,” said Smoskowitz. “It’s been a huge focal point with our team and our structure this year it’s defence first. . . so if we can continue that against Niagara and make them earn everything they get, then we’re going to like our chances (Thursday night).”
“It’s going to be a good battle and hopefully we can get one more under our best before the Christmas break,” said Patterson.
Game time at Sadlon Arena is 7 p.m.
ICE CHIPS: Wakely, in partnership with The Busby Centre and the Barrie Food Bank, will be collecting non-perishable food items, scarves, mitts, and coats at the game on Thursday night. Wake’s Sake is a continuation of the charity work the former Battalion player did in North Bay. Fans are encouraged to help out. . . Wakely, who also had an assist on the night, leads all Barrie players with 14 goals and now has 25 points in 23 games this season. . . Owen Sound outshot Barrie 45-32. . . Jelsma also had a goal and assist. . . Winger Jack Martin made his OHL debut with Barrie. He had 0 points and two shots on goal. . . While he failed to reach the scoresheet, Parker Vaughan had a strong effort with three shots in the win. He played on a line with Wigle and Carter Lowe.
