The hard work, the effort, and the scoring chances have all been there for Barrie Colts’ Joe Salandra.
Now the rewards are finally coming his way as well.
The rookie winger scored the game-winner at 8:05 of the second period, his second goal in as many games, and added an assist to help the Colts hold off the Niagara IceDogs 2-1 and earn their fifth straight win on Saturday night at Sadlon Arena.
It was Salandra’s fifth of the season, but his fifth point (2-3-5) in his last four games.
“The only thing Joe was missing was the actual results,” said Colts’ head coach Dylan Smoskowitz of Salandra not finding the back of the net more. “The process of what he was doing in games, and the chances he was generating, were fantastic. And it was consistent.
“Then you look at his point totals, and it’s not what his actions are showing, so it didn’t add up. It’s just the hockey Gods.”
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When it comes to dealing with those Gods, Smoskowitz laughs as he recalls some advice former head coach Dale Hawerchuk had for him when he couldn’t seem to buy a goal in his playing days with Barrie.
“Hawerchuk used to tell me when you’re in a slump, take your stick and dump the blade in a toilet,” he said with a big smile. “Rub some toilet water on it, and you score the next game. I don’t know if Joe did that, but something happened where he’s just getting rewarded for his work.
“That work has been there all season long, but I’m really happy to see Joe put some in the back of the net.”
With Barrie scoring leaders Cole Beaudoin and Kashawn Aitcheson away at Canada’s national junior team camp, the Colts are looking for players to step up in their absence, and Salandra, who now has 20 points in 30 games, is starting to heat up.
He also scored in the 6-1 win over the Owen Sound Attack on Thursday night.
“I’m just trying to do what I can to help the team win, and today that was scoring a goal, so I was happy for that,” said the 17-year-old Pleasantville, N.Y. native, who is on the radar for the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
Emil Hemming, in his last game before heading to join Finland for the upcoming 2026 World Junior Hockey Championships in Minnesota, also scored for the Colts (18-8-1-4), who got a huge 42-save performance in goal from Ben Hrebik.
Since Oct. 25, the Colts have 15 wins and just one regulation loss over their last 18 games and have increased their lead over the North Bay Battalion atop the Central Division standings to seven points.
“We’ve been getting closer and closer every day, going to work every day, and just getting better and better,” said Salandra, who credited team unity for helping to turn around a tough start to the season. “It’s been an awesome experience, so far. We’re really excited to get it into the playoffs and get it going.”
Along with another outstanding performance from Hrebik, the Barrie penalty kill also played a major factor in getting them the win.
After giving up a power-play goal by Ethan Czata to tie the game at 1-1 just 39 seconds into the second period, the Colts killed off four other power plays in the second and two more in the third, including one late in the frame.
“Even the power-play goal was an unlucky bounce,” Smoskowitz said of the shot by Kevin He from the point that deflected in front by Czata. “It was a spin-o-rama shot, kind of a seeing-eye goal.”
Smoskowitz credits the ‘detailed work’ assistant coach Patrick Sexton has done with the players in practice to turn around a penalty kill that was dead last through October, and is now 13th overall.
“I feel so confident in whoever we throw over the boards. They know exactly what the assignment is,” said Smoskowitz. “And we’re making it harder on power plays. Not only does (the penalty killing) keep pucks out of the net, but it takes momentum away from them.
“It felt, a lot of times, when Niagara had five-on-five momentum and got a power play, our penalty kill took that momentum back. Patty has been doing a great job with the group, and the group’s really responding to him, and it’s a lot of fun to watch.”
Another positive storyline from the win was the play of Gabriel Eliasson. With Aitcheson gone, the Ottawa Senators prospect took on a bigger role, especially on the penalty kill.
He logged major minutes and was a force in shutting down Niagara (13-12-2-1), which came in having won three straight games.
“That’s his bread and butter,” said Smoskowitz of Eliasson’s defensive game. “It’s funny, when he got here last season, he was all over me about getting more reps on the penalty kill. He wanted to be that guy. He’s put in so much time and effort working, perfecting his skills. He knows, at the next level, that’s going to be his paycheque.
“Now, with a guy like Aitcheson at world juniors, a lot of the load falls on Gabe. He did an exemplary job tonight. It’s not a coincidence, because of how much work, time, and effort he puts into perfecting that. It’s really nice to see him rewarded with some good shifts.”
Salandra’s winner came off a nice play along the boards at centre that started with a nice pass from Bode Stewart up to Brad Gardiner.
The overage centre spun around with the puck and found himself on a two-on-one with Salandra. He then slid a perfect crease across the slot to the streaking winger, who put it over the pad of Niagara goaltender Vladislav Yermolenko.
“You have to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations,” said Smoskowitz of his team coming out on top of another one-goal game. “When you’re nursing a one-goal lead and the team is pressing, and you’re taking some penalties, that’s an uncomfortable situation. Our guys never wavered.”
ICE CHIPS
Colts overage forward Alex Assadourian has committed to play next season at Yale (ECAC).
The Colts took a moment to pay tribute former Colts draft pick and Ice Dogs’ player Mike Robinson, who died in late September in a drive-by shooting in Sheboygan Falls, Wis. Robinson, a new father, was selected by the Colts in the 15th round of the 2009 OHL Priority Selection and was living in Pennsylvania while working with a golf company.
Niagara outshot Barrie 43-25.
The Colts have a three-in-three next weekend to close out the pre-Christmas schedule.
ADD. OHL
Erie 3 North Bay 1
Sarnia 3 Flint 2 (OT)
Peterborough 5 Brantford 3
Kitchener 5 Saginaw 4
