Niagara Icedogs 2024-25 Season, Part I

[bigsportsfan]

I think you’re missing the point. I’m sure everyone is pleased the injury is not as severe as feared but it’s not your information or the billets to share that with the public. It’s the player or teams prerogative to pass that on. It would make me wonder what else are my billets telling people about me. There is an expectation of privacy in a billet/player relationship. You broke that confidence.

Walk around the arena and talk to the billets. They will tell you a lot but it's nothing that the players themselves won't tell you. I knew a reporter that got an inside scoop from a billet and it got posted in the paper. Posting info from a billet is no big deal in my opinion.

 

[Leviathan899]

The 08s draft will have some really strong players in the Top 40. Unfortunately, the IceDogs traded away their 2025 2nd in the Frolov deal, so DD has to figure out a way to acquire a 2025 2nd before the 2025 OHL Draft, to pair up with their 1st rounder,

Perhaps, if the IceDogs draft in around 6 to 8 overall, John Walters (and Henrich) can get North York Ranger Camyrn Warren to that spot for the IceDogs 1st selection, in the same way, he got his client Colby Barlow to slide to 8th overall in the 2021 OHL Draft, for his brother Greg Walters at Owen Sound.

Him and Greg aren’t brothers lol

 

[three dog night]

OHL 2024-25 team attendance at hockeydb.com

Attendance for the Ontario Hockey League for the 2024-25 season

www.hockeydb.com

 

[Sam14]

DD’s cost-cutting measures will continue to increase or he’ll eventually be forced to #sell the team, followed by a the return of 100s of former STHs (myself included x2)

Bottom half of OHL attendance

A steep decline in attendance under DD

 

[Sam14]

Meridian Centre Attendance numbers.
Sellout = 5300

 

[Sam14]

The Jack Attendance Numbers
Sellout = 3145

 

[bigsportsfan]

DD has ruined the IceDogs franchise. I am not sure if attendance will ever be what it was when the Burke’s owned the team.

 

[bigsportsfan]

View attachment 926085

Meridian Centre Attendance numbers.
Sellout = 5300

The 2021 - 2022 season was when there was capacity restriction due to COVID. How could the IceDogs attract more fans that season than this season. This franchise has fallen so much.

 

[knowescape]

I would normally agree with you but in the IceDogs' case, they never say anything about injuries. As a paying fan, I think I have a right to know how long players might be out. They don't need to tell me what the injury is, just how long they will be sidelined. So if the team won't release this information, I am thankful others will.

Besides, with the trouble Niagara has in attracting billets and retaining them, I doubt there would be consequences for that type of disclosure. It almost sounded like something the team would authorize them to say if asked. Billets are great people and the expectations on them versus the compensation is laughable.

 

[Sam14]

Glad to get the win but man I am worried every time Virgilio and Cheynowski are on the ice together. They briefly switched in the 3rd to have Brauti with Wycisk and Van Vliet with Virgilio which I liked. NVV had some brutal giveaways at the end of the second and in the third too. Anyways 2 points.

It’s refreshing to read a constructive game post (as yours) from IceDog fans watching the game with an acute eye. It provides IceDog fans discussion points regarding team strengths and weaknesses, instead of the usual “great game” after a win or “need to be better next game” when they lose, that gets posted on the IceDogs’ fb and twitter pages.

 

[dogs777]

It’s refreshing to read a constructive game post (as yours) from IceDog fans watching the game with an acute eye. It provides IceDog fans discussion points regarding team strengths and weaknesses, instead of the usual “great game” after a win or “need to be better next game” when they lose, that gets posted on the IceDogs’ fb and twitter pages.

I haven’t really liked some of the goals against Flores the past 2 games especially against Barrie but most of them weren’t great that game

 

[Dogs Enthusiast]

11 - 4
1st in our Conference


8 in the OHL power rankings.

It’s just plain stupid. I don’t think we should be first or second. 4th or 5th for sure.

 

[Sam14]

I haven’t really liked some of the goals against Flores the past 2 games especially against Barrie but most of them weren’t great that game

He, Loshko, RR and Crete have scored 63% of the team’s F goals. As coach mentioned, the team is going to need contributions from others F (especially with the D’s inconsistent play thus far) to continue winning games consistently.

On a more positive note, “Injures present opportunities” and in Max Crete’s case, it allowed him to go from 4th line to 1st line and ever since that move, fans are seeing the emergence of a potential top-end talent.

 

[ScoutLife4]

11 - 4
1st in our Conference


8 in the OHL power rankings.

It’s just plain stupid. I don’t think we should be first or second. 4th or 5th for sure.

I don't see you guys as a top 5-6 team in the east to be honest.
By the end of the season you will likely be battling for 7th-8th.

 

[IceDogs452]

I don't see you guys as a top 5-6 team in the east to be honest.
By the end of the season you will likely be battling for 7th-8th.

Icedogs imo are probably a 4th at best 7th at worst in the east by the end of the year. Being 7-0 against the East division and 10-1 in Conference sure helps.

 

[dogs777]

Icedogs imo are probably a 4th at best 7th at worst in the east by the end of the year. Being 7-0 against the East division and 10-1 in Conference sure helps.

I had them anywhere from 6-8 coming into the season

 

[IceDogFan]

From the IceDogs’ perspective, it was an opportunity to potentially recoup the 3rd used on that player which did not report. It does not change the fact Niagara had previous troubles recruiting, but that trade can make up for feeling the need to reach for Reid, Frolov, and Czata in that draft. Gotta love Czata though, that was the correct safe pick in that spot imo.

To me he looks really ordinary for a 6th overall.

 

[dirty12]

To me he looks really ordinary for a 6th overall.

He was 15-25, not 5th BPA going into the draft. But it will turn out well, I think; Czata looks every bit a good 2-way player to me.

 

[dirty12]

I don't see you guys as a top 5-6 team in the east to be honest.
By the end of the season you will likely be battling for 7th-8th.

The IceDogs may up as the 7th-8th best playoff team, but 6-7 eastern conference teams are not passing them in the standings if He plays 60+ games. There isn’t a player in the conference that wants to win more than He.

 

[Sam14]

DD has ruined the IceDogs franchise. I am not sure if attendance will ever be what it was when the Burke’s owned the team.

Based on fan conversations with those in the office (and calculating seats sold prior to single game tickets going on sale to the public), unofficially, it’s quite possible DD lost approximately half of his inherent STH base (approx. 1200-1400 lost STHs) over the last two seasons. You are probably right in suggesting it may never get back to the “Burke Era” numbers, with DD as the owner.

 

[the dog]

It's too bad missing some good hockey games this year

 

[Sam14]

To me he looks really ordinary for a 6th overall.

A look back at the 1st rd of 2023 OHL Priority Draft

The three draft eligible players selected before Czata were: (A) M.Schaefer; (A) B.Martin; (C)T.Hopkins
- Ethan Czata (W)
The sixteen OHL first round players after him:
A rated (1st rd): J.O’Brien
B rated (2nd , 3rd rd): J.Ivankovic; J.Nesbitt; C.Reid; L.Romano
C rated (4th, 5th rd): Q.Beauchesne; C.Carson; H.Brustewicz; S.Moses; C.Taylor
W rated (6th, 7th): O.Griffen; C.Kostuch; J.Martin; A.Young;
Unranked: N.Addy; R.Brown
Not in the OHL: (A) William Moore
…because a lot can change over the course of a players’ draft season, this will be interesting to re-visit, when the mid-term and final rankings are released.

 

[Mcnotloilersfan]

A look back at the 1st rd of 2023 OHL Priority Draft

The three draft eligible players selected before Czata were: (A) M.Schaefer; (A) B.Martin; (C)T.Hopkins
- Ethan Czata (W)
The sixteen OHL first round players after him:
A rated (1st rd): J.O’Brien
B rated (2nd , 3rd rd): J.Ivankovic; J.Nesbitt; C.Reid; L.Romano
C rated (4th, 5th rd): Q.Beauchesne; C.Carson; H.Brustewicz; S.Moses; C.Taylor
W rated (6th, 7th): O.Griffen; C.Kostuch; J.Martin; A.Young;
Unranked: N.Addy; R.Brown
Not in the OHL: (A) William Moore
…because a lot can change over the course of a players’ draft season, this will be interesting to re-visit, when the mid-term and final rankings are released.

This one is tough though. Czata was taken with a comp pick, and if that player doesn't report, you don't get another. They took the guy they knew 100% would report.

 

[dirty12]

This one is tough though. Czata was taken with a comp pick, and if that player doesn't report, you don't get another. They took the guy they knew 100% would report.

And made the correct safe pick imo

 

[Sam14]

This one is tough though. Czata was taken with a comp pick, and if that player doesn't report, you don't get another. They took the guy they knew 100% would report.

Agree they were in a tough spot with that pick but it does bring to light the bigger issue.
Were none of those players after Czata willing to accept being the 5th overall pick to play for Niagara or was this Walters calling the pick for Niagara. Either way it is a bit concerning for this franchise.