Jacob Frasca made sure the Barrie Colts had something extra to celebrate this Thanksgiving weekend.
With his team having blown a three-goal third period lead, the overager ensured he and his teammates would go home happy on their two-day holiday break when he scored his second goal of the game just 24 seconds into overtime to give the Colts a 7-6 win over the Niagara IceDogs, Saturday night, at Sadlon Arena.
“I started celebrating like a turkey for Thanksgiving,” said Frasca, who started flapping his arms like wings after taking a pass from Beau Akey in the slot, spinning around and firing it over the glove of Niagara goalie Owen Flores for the winner. “It was a good feeling to get those two points and have a nice win going into two days off.”
An ugly finish to a sloppy game almost ruined turkey weekend for the Colts (3-1). The IceDogs (0-3-1) scored four times in the final frame, including markers by Andrew Wycisk, on the power play, and Kevin He 50 seconds apart with less than three minutes remaining to tie it.
“Obviously the game slipped away from us a little bit,” said Frasca. “(Colts head coach Marty Williamson) was depending on us older guys to just lead by example and grab the game. So, just to do that in overtime it was huge for us and it’s a huge two points. It all adds up at the end of the year.”
A big night by Frasca and fellow veterans Roenick Jodoin and Beau Jelsma proved to be the difference against a pesky young Niagara team that refused to roll over.
Jodoin also scored twice, and Jelsma had a goal and two assists.
“It was a disappointing third period. You don’t play a third period like that,” Williamson said of his team’s late collapse. “Just sloppy, young guys not picking up the right guys and stuff like that. But we pulled it out. Guys like Frasca, Jelsma, JR, had good games for us offensively and kind of did it, but we’re not hitting on all cylinders.”
Bronson Ride gave the winless IceDogs the lead just 1:39 in before Jodoin scored late back-to-back goals less than four minutes apart to give Barrie a 2-1 lead after one period.
Rookie Ryan Roobroeck, the second overall pick in this year’s OHL Priority Selection, scored his first OHL goal with Niagara on the power play to help them draw even at 7:42 of the second, but goals by Jelsma and Frasca 12 seconds apart midway though the same frame put Barrie in charge.
Frasca slid a pass across the slot that Jelsma wristed over the glove of Flores and then Jelsma returned the favour when he stole the puck behind the net from Niagara’s Ryan Vannetten and fed Frasca in front.
“It was huge,” said Williamson of the back-to-back goals. “They’ve been good and even in the overtime they were solid for us.”
Zach Wigle would make it 5-2 a little more than three minutes later and then Barrie was handed a two-man advantage later in the second and a chance to bury the IceDogs, but the Colts, as they did all night on the power play, failed to take advantage.
“You got to execute,” said Williamson. “That’s junior hockey in this league. Teams can come back and when you get your chances you need to bury teams. That was a pretty poor five-on-three by us. We worked on it this week and they freelanced out there.
“They didn’t do what we worked on and that’s what happens, you don’t get goals.”
While Niagara got two goals on three chances with the man advantage, Barrie drew a blank on all six of its power plays.
“We got to watch video and go over our practice stuff,” said Frasca. “We got to be there on the power play and we’re going to take accountability on that end. Just like last year, we started slow, and it just kept coming and coming and we found our way.
“I’m not stressing about it. We’ll definitely work on it and watch video and guys are going to learn through experience too. It’s definitely going to go back the other way.”
Ryan Humphrey and Zakary Lavoie also scored for the IceDogs, while Flores finished with 35 saves on 42 shots.
Oliver Savard scored his first as a Colt, while Ben West turned aside 30 shots to pick up his second win in goal.
With a full week of practice and this the lone game of the weekend for the Colts, Williamson believes there was no excuses for this kind of sloppy play by some members of his team.
“I just need a quicker learning curve on some of the other guys,” he said. “We’re making the same mistakes, and we’ll just start sitting guys if they can’t get it. We had a full week of practice. We should be understanding things.
“Sometimes it’s thinking too much, you run into that problem. Maybe playing a bunch of games will get us back on track rather than practicing all the time.”
On a holiday weekend where one celebrates being thankful for what they have, the Colts at least got two points on a night they might have thrown them away.
“It’s two points,” said Williamson. “In March, it’s two points in the bank and it’s huge for us. We’re 3-1 and I’m upset where we are. In the big picture we’re doing OK, but we have some tougher teams coming in.”
The Colts will get two days off before returning to practice on Tuesday. Their next game comes Friday in Kitchener.
Game time against the Rangers is 7 p.m.
ICE CHIPS
The Colts are down to four overagers on the roster after releasing defenceman Josh Kavanagh. . . Eduard Sale was held off the scoresheet and had his three-game scoring streak (0-4-4) snapped. . . Colts forward Bode Stewart drew two assists. . . Akey and Jelsma were named co-winners of the community player of the month. Both players have partnered with Big Brother Big Sister Barrie once again this season to create “Beau’s Buddies.” The program brings families and children out to a game for a unique experience. “Our goal last year was to have the kids out and show them what it’s all about to be a Barrie Colt,” said Jelsma. “I’m grateful to be able to do the same this season, and it’s truly awesome that we’re able to help.”
Banner image via OHL Images
