Tristan Bertucci admits his return Saturday night to the Dort Financial Center to face his old Flint Firebirds team for the first time felt a little different.
The Barrie Colts defenceman not only found it strange being a visitor at the building he called his OHL home for three seasons, but it was also the first time he was on the winning side of a game between the two teams in Michigan.
“It was awesome,” the Dallas Stars prospect said after the Colts rallied for a 3-2 win to make it eight straight victories in Flint. “It was kind of weird playing there as a visitor, but I’m just super happy we got the two points there.”
The Colts (14-7) have yet to lose a game in Flint since the Plymouth Whalers moved there in 2015. While the win continued that dominance, more importantly, it was one the club wanted for Bertucci.
“It was, and I thought he played fantastic,” said Colts general manager and head coach Marty Williamson. “It was nice to get one for him. We battled hard. I liked our game, and I thought we played three hard periods. We’re not quite clicking offensively, but we played hard enough to get the win.”
It was an emotional night for Bertucci who requested a trade from Flint (9-13-0-1) before the season to be closer to his home in Vaughan.
“I’m super grateful for my time there,” he said. “It really helped me with my development and helped make me the player I am today. It was kind of exciting. I was a little nervous and just mixed emotions playing back in that building as a visitor, but I really enjoyed it.
“They always have a good atmosphere and fan base, and I want to thank them for the tribute they gave me. It was really special.”
After a scoreless opening period, the Firebirds grabbed the lead just under five minutes into the second on goals by Nolan Collins and Nathan Aspinall just 10 seconds apart.
Barrie, though, would come right back on the power play exactly a minute later. Beau Akey slid it across the top of the slot to Emil Hemming who teed up a one-timer to beat Flint goalie Nathan Day.
“It was huge and huge for a couple of reasons,” Williamson said of his team’s quick response. “It was nice to see the power play score and then secondly just to get us right back in the game right away. We were playing awfully well and going down 2-0 for long and the game kind of changes a little bit.
“There’s a little bit more panic in your game and we were able to get one right away and then just keep plugging away and not get any panic in our game, and that was what I was happy about.”
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Rookie Parker Vaughan tied the game later in the second when a Jaiden Newton shot went off him and in.
Dalyn Wakely would cap off the rally at 8:37 of the third. Urban Podrekar fell in the corner, allowing Beau Jelsma to pick up the loose pick.
The Colts captain slid the puck to Brad Gardiner who dropped it back for Wakely in the slot and the overager ripped one over the right pad of Day for the winner.
“We played a more complete game,” said Bertucci after a disappointing 2-1 loss in Windsor on Thursday to open the weekend road trip. “We played the full 60 tonight then just the third period on Thursday. I’m really proud of the group for bouncing back. We got to keep that rolling.”
Williamson loved the effort by his team to battle back.
“Unfortunately, we had a mistake on the first goal and then it was quite a shot off the post, that second goal,” he said. “To dig yourself that hole and then be able to dig yourself out of it with a 3-2 victory, you’re pretty proud of the guys.”
The OHL’s top defensive team held Flint to just six shots in the third and a total of 23 shots through the night. Flint had few chances as the Colts pretty much shut them down.
“I thought we did too,” said Williamson. “There were a couple of deflections, just more lucky plays, but I thought we were pretty rock solid defensively.”
Barrie once again relied on a balanced attack, though the offence continues to have its share of struggles.
“It was nice to see Hemming get one and hopefully he can kind of continue with that now,” said Williamson. “(Riley) Patterson has been a little snack bitten; we got to get him going. Even Jelsma would like to pop a couple, but there are some good nights ahead because those guys aren’t going to stay too quiet for long.
“If we keep winning games by committee that’s kind of the best way.”
Barrie wraps up its weekend road swing on Sunday afternoon against the Sarnia Sting.
“That’s a big thing for us,” Williamson said of getting a victory and making it a winning weekend. “We lost that first one and we were pretty disappointed with a couple of periods that we played.
“We know it’s going to be a heck of an effort. This Sarnia team is very pesky, and you got to be on your toes otherwise they can get their victories.”
Game time at Progressive Auto Sales Arena is 2:05 p.m.
ICE CHIPS:
Colts’ rookie Sam Black recorded his first OHL point with an assist on the goal by Vaughan. . . After getting Newton back on Saturday, the Colts will also have Bode Stewart (3-games) and Evan Passmore (5-games) return from their suspensions on Sunday. “Stewart will help us going on (Cole Beaudoin’s) line and giving us energy, and Passmore’s been good for us,” said Williamson of the reinforcements. “I thought (Justin Handsor) went in and did a great job that he’s had to give us for these five games, but it’s good to get the big guy back and keep growing his game.” . . . Jelsma is on the verge of a career scoring milestone after his assist gave him 199 points in 214 games. . . Wakely has an eight-game point streak (4-5-9).
