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By David Clark
In Play! Magazine
The IceDogs sputtered their way through the 2009/2010 campaign. With a frightful record @ 26-34-2-6, they had very little to write home about back then. This season the IceDogs have outperformed their previous incarnation by leaps and bounds. They have a productive season under way with an amazing 38 wins this far compared to the entire season totals generated during 2009/2010. The IceDogs only managed to get 26 wins in that season.
At the moment, with a 38-15-2 4 showing so far this year, Niagara is 9th on the BMO CHL MasterCard Top Ten list. The IceDogs have been ranked 17 times at this point and were gloriously sitting in the 7th position last week.
Surprising everyone this year, Niagara made some key acquisitions in the off-season and invited a new coach into the program. The always controversial Marty Williamson from last year’s powerhouse Barrie Colts team came into IceDog territory in 2010/2011. Another previous member from that team, sniper Darren Archibald is a force in the front end like he was for Barrie last year.
He was certainly entertaining when measuring goalie sticks and was blown away by Windsor’s Bob Boughner who refused to shake his hand after the playoff series between Windsor and the Colts. Williamson’s winning ways have moved along with him to Niagara this season where he currently sits with the team in the 3rd position in the Eastern Conference. He almost took the Colts to an OHL championship last year and is expected to go deep into the playoffs this year.
Throughout his OHL career, goaltender Mark Visentin has resided with the IceDogs where he climbed his way up to #1 in GAA (2.45) in the league as of late. Visentin is positioned in the number two spot in Save Percentage in the OHL @ 0.918. Mark has a productive record of 25-8-2-4 with Niagara.
He backstopped in the World Junior’s tournament with Olivier Roy, having shared responsibilities with Roy between the pipes. Mark was inserted into the net for the championship game in the “Juniors” where Canada fell short against the highly competitive Russian team.
The most prolific goal scorer with the Niagara IceDogs is the sensational Centre Ryan Strome who has reached the top in the OHL in points this year and is now competing with a lofty 92 pts under his belt, 3rd in the league at this time.
Strome has been named OHL Player of the Month for January after leading the OHL in points for the month. To see him in action is the only way to witness his offensive ability including his speed and puck-handling skills. On October 28, 2010 he had a highlight-reel goal against Plymouth where he undressed the defenceman in an embarrassing way and weaved his way towards the net and stick-handled his way past the goalie and tucked it in the left corner. Many observers from the NHL saw the spectacle and we’re most impressed with the NHL calibre goal he produced in a smooth, effortless play that appeared to be one for the highlight-reel. This is a stunning example of Strome’s ability to score goals that appear to be impossible to execute.
A real phenomena, the Hamilton brothers, Freddie and Dougie are a fixture in Niagara’s house this season. Freddie is having a banner year having accumulated 32 goals and 41 Assists (73 pts.) He is a natural goal scorer in this league.
Defencman Dougie was selected to play in the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game earlier this year. Dougie is also approaching the Niagara IceDogs record for points by a defenceman during this season that has him ranked seventh among North American Skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings. Dougie has a +36 plus/minus and older brother Freddie was drafted last year by the San Jose Sharks. He is the number two sniper this year, behind Strome. Dougie will follow his brother down the same road in this year’s draft. Both are tremendously talented and going places.
Another honourable mention on the roster, Andrew Agozzino (Captain) has a flair for finding the net too with 35 goals and 27 assists, a 62 pt. season. Possibly the hardest working player on the team and lead Niagara in scoring last season. Agozzino wasn’t drafted but has been invited to several NHL camps including the rookie camp with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
It’s quite likely that the IceDogs will go far into the playoffs, possibly meeting the Majors who enjoy Eastern Conference supremacy at this time. Niagara’s record against the Majors is not very good but the IceDogs are inching forward having been victorious last month on 6 occasions. On one of those dates, Mississauga slaughtered the Dogs 10-1. Fortunately they have been improving lately. On a good note, Niagara has beaten the Ottawa 67’s on three occasions this season - Ottawa is a contending team.
