After a practice late this week, Barrie Colts head coach Marty Williamson approached Shamar Moses with some encouraging words.
Barrie’s first-round pick this year has got off to a solid start this season, but despite playing playmaker to his teammates, the young rookie had yet to score an OHL goal.
That advice paid off Thursday night as Moses scored twice on the power play and added an assist to lead the Colts to a 5-3 win over the Kingston Frontenacs at Sadlon Arena.
“It’s funny, we had a quick talk at the end of practice and I was telling him I wanted a power forward with good hands, and not to play fancy and not worry about scoring because it’s going to come,” said Williamson. “All of a sudden, he gets two.”
Moses had six assists coming in 12 games coming into the night and after finally finding the back of the net after numerous missed chances, the 16-year-old was beaming from ear-to-ear after his big night.
“It’s an unreal feeling. I’ve been waiting a couple of games now to get that first one,” said the 19th overall pick who moved into the top 10 in rookie scoring with his big night. “I’ve been telling (myself) it’s coming. You almost get inside your own head, but to get that first one is the biggest relief I’ve felt in a while.
“It felt amazing, and I’m looking to get a few more now.”
His first goal just passed the midway mark through the first period, with Barrie on the power play, will be certainly one to remember.
The six-foot-one, 208-pound developing power forward parked himself in front, with his back to the net, before pouncing on rebound off a Connor Punnet shot from the point and sliding it around Kingston goalie Mason Vaccari.
“I’m proud of him because I know he wanted to get that first one to get the monkey off his back and he was pressing a little bit, so it was nice to see him get it,” said Williamson. “He really had a chance for three (goals) there.
“He’s going to be a good player for us. He’s got some growing to do as far as his game, but he’s got a lot of good attributes.”
The Colts bench erupted in celebration for the popular young forward and then again when he deflected a shot from the point for his second of the night on the power play nearing the midway point of the third to make it 4-2 Barrie.
Moses nearly had his first OHL hat trick in the same game as his first OHL goal when later in the third he took a pass from linemate Carter Lowe, and his rising shot went was kept out of the net but just the knob of Vaccari’s goalie stick.
“It definitely boosts your confidence coming in and getting your first one and, as they say, they start coming,” said Moses, who opened the scoring. “I’m looking forward to that, hopefully.
“I almost had that third one there. Lowe gave me a good pass on the backside and the goalie got his knob on it. You got to keep looking for it and keep playing hard and simple, and hope it comes to me.”
Moses was especially happy that his big night came with a win. After losing in Kingston and Ottawa last weekend to make it six losses in eight games, Barrie (7-8) bounced back at home to kick off another busy three-games-in-three-nights weekend.
“After losing two on the road obviously it never feels good, but to beat Kingston after having that first chippy game against them and getting a win at home for the fans was just great,” he said.
With top forwards Eduard Sale and Jacob Frasca out of the lineup, the Colts turned to their youth to lead the way and Moses certainly stepped up to the challenge.
“He’s got great vision,” Williamson said Moses. “He’s really a well-rounded (player). He can score goals, he’s a big body and he can play physical, and then he’s got a niftiness to him where he sees things really well.
“Guys that play without any kind of fear, they just see things better and he’s that kind of guy.”
The Colts also got big nights from Connor Punnett (1G, 3A) and Cole Beaudoin (1G, 1A). Riley Patterson, who was centring Moses and Carter Lowe, scored his sixth of the season to move into a tie with London’s Sam O’Reilly for the most goals scored by a rookie this season.
On a night where Nolan Newton was making his OHL debut for Barrie on the same line with rookie Jaiden Newton, who was playing in just his second game, youth served the Colts well.
The line of Patterson, Moses and Lowe especially stood out all night, collecting five points in the win.
“They gave us great shifts,” said Williamson. “We were out a couple of guys tonight and we had to fix our lines a little bit and I thought they gave us a great game. The two Newtons kind of got their nose wet. It’s a tough thing to step in and play at this level at this time. Both of them hadn’t played an awful lot and I thought they worked their rear ends off, and (Beau) Jelsma was kind of mentor for them.”
Paul Ludwinski, Ethan Miedema and Matthew Soto scored for Kingston (7-9), which held a 2-1 lead after the first period before the Colts reeled off the next three goals to grab the lead.
Ben West (illness), who missed last weekend’s Eastern Road swing, made 26 saves to pick up his third win of the season for Barrie.
“I’m proud of the guys,” said Williamson. “We got a good skating team; we got good movement. I know we miss those guys (Sale and Frasca), but we got some depth to this hockey team and the more we keep growing the better we can play.”
The Colts hit the road Friday to take on the Mississauga Steelheads, before wrapping up the weekend at home Saturday night against the North Bay Battalion.
Game time tonight at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre is 7 p.m.
ICE CHIPS: Sale is expected to return to the lineup in Mississauga, but the Colts will be without Frasca for some three to four weeks. The veteran forward is out with a hip injury. “He’s got a bad bruise, but there’s actually a big pooling of blood, so he’s got to go really quiet for a couple of weeks and just rest it,” said Williamson. “It’s kind of serious.” . . . Colts import pick Endo Meier has returned home to Switzerland after recording one point in four games. . . After a breakout season last year with 14 goals and 48 points, Punnett is off to an impressive start with four goals and 17 points in 15 games . . . Nolan Newton had a good scoring chance right off the start of the game. . . Barrie outshot Kingston 38-29. . . The Colts power-play had arguably its best night, scoring three times on five chances. Kingston went 0-for-2.
banner image: Sam Hossack,Barrie Colts
