Rookie line comes up big for Colts, but still not enough in shootout loss to Generals

Barrie Colts drop a 5-4 shootout loss to the Oshawa Generals

The Barrie Colts have good reason to be excited about the Philadelphia Flyers’ decision to return Tyson Foerster, but in the meantime, a trio of young guns reminded the coach they’re not to be forgotten when making up the lineup.

The rookie line of Chris Grisolia, Roenick Jodoin and Tai York combined for three goals and eight points, but it still wasn’t enough as the Colts dropped a 5-4 shootout loss to the Oshawa Generals, Saturday night, at Sadlon Arena.

Jodoin, York and Grisolia scored a goal each and were easily Barrie’s (29-20-4-1) most effective trio up front all night.

“That was our best line,” said Colts head coach Marty Williamson. “That’s why we put them out there with three minutes to go. Usually, they don’t get ice time at the time of the game, but our other lines weren’t giving us anything so I was real proud of those guys.

“They had a great game.”

Down 1-0 early in the second on a breakaway goal by Ty Tullio, Jodoin tied the game when he ripped one from the slot over the glove of Oshawa goalie Patrick Leaver.

York put Barrie ahead from his knees off his own rebound in front and then Declan McDonnell made it 3-1 late in the second, but three straight goals by Ryan Gagnier, David Jesus, shorthanded, and Ryan Stephien put Oshawa (26-26-1-4) on top midway through the third.

That’s when Barrie’s young guns came through again, this time Grisolia turned and beat Leaver in front to tie the game with a little more than five minutes remaining.

“It comes from practice,” York said of the trio playing so well together. “We practice like we play, so it just showed tonight. 

While the return of Foerster will mean one less spot up front, York and his linemates are doing what they can to stay in the lineup.

York has now scored four times in his last three games. He’s grateful the coaching staff has shown so much confidence in him and his linemates and it’s a big reason he’s producing on offence.

“It’s coming for me, that’s for sure,” said the 17-year-old who was a sixth-round pick (109 overall) in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection. “It’s just the confidence, I think. Every game I get more confidence.

Confidence and practice and it turns into the game and one goes in for me and they’re all going to go in.”

The Colts also have an elite veteran sniper coming in with Foerster, who was recently cleared to return to the ice after spending the last five months recovering from a shoulder injury.

The Flyers decided it was the best their 2020 first-rounder finish out the year in junior and assigned him to Barrie from the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

One of the OHL’s elite scorers with 36 goals and 44 assists for 80 points before COVID-19 shut things down in 2019-20, Foerster’s addition provides a huge boost to the Barrie lineup.

It’s like an awesome late Christmas present and a gift that rivals one like when the St. Louis Blues returned former Colt Alex Pietrangelo to junior

“It sure is,” said Williamson, who couldn’t stop smiling. “I talked to him today and he was on the ice this morning and he told me just how excited he is. I remember when Pietrangelo came back to us. For Tyson, he just wants to play games and get into shape, and help us down the stretch.

“We got a couple of weeks of practice with him and I think we’ll be getting him in at the end of the month there, and we’re pretty excited about it.”

A pure sniper with a big shot, Foerster instantly boosts the Colts’ offence and power play, while his improved skating makes him that much more lethal.

He showed he could play at the pro level recording 10 goals and 17 points in 24 games last year with the Phantoms and then another two goals in just nine games this season before getting hurt.

“I think Tyson can really add that leadership and playing at that pro tempo,” said Williamson. “That’s one of the things (associate coach) Chris Dennis talked to him about, was ‘Don’t move yourself down to this level. Play at the pro level and force this team to come up to you.’

“And if they do, that’s a real good thing for us.”

 It also gives the Alliston native a chance to help his hometown team win a championship.

“He’s never played a playoff game since minor midget, so he’s anxious to help us and play in the playoffs,” Williamson added. “He knows what an exciting time it is and he’s kind of missed out with that between injuries and COVID.”

The Colts had their chances Saturday night in overtime against Oshawa and were up in the shootout after Hunter Haight scored first, but Brett Harrison tied it and then Stepien beat Matteo Lalama for the winner.

“They’re (shootouts) always tough to lose, but I thought we had some chances in overtime with the two-on-ones and we just didn’t execute and get it done,” said Williamson. “Then we had the lead going in the shootout and we needed one of our guys to close it down, but it was that kind of game.

“I thought it was a little scrambly at times. The shorthanded goal really hurt. That was the turning point for me. The whole game kind of turns when you give up shorthanded goals.”

The Colts hit the road Sunday afternoon for an important Central Division battle with the North Bay Battalion.

The Troops have been hot of late, winning six straight and eight of their last 10 to overtake Mississauga for top spot in the Central.

Barrie has had a good amount of success this season against their rivals, winning five of the seven head-to-head contests.

“We got a little time to regroup and get two points (Sunday),” said York.

Game time at North Bay Memorial Gardens is 2 p.m.ICE CHIPS: Jacob Frasca was out of the lineup again after taking a high hit to the head from Niagara’s Rodwin Dionicio on Thursday. Dionicio has been suspended indefinitely. “His neck is sore and he’ll be out this weekend,” said Williamson. “We’ll see what happens with (next) Friday. . . McDonnell’s 23 goal of the season improved his point streak to eight games (7-2-9). . . Barrie outshot Oshawa 31-19. . . Colts had a season high of 3,667 fans in the rink for Saturday’s game.

Banner image – Terry Wilson – OHL Images

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