Niagara Icedogs 2024-25 Season Thread, Part III

[Dogs Enthusiast]

They got the 2 points I predicted. It certainly didn't happen the way I was guessing.

Decent game for our rookie goalie. I see some promising things there.

 

[the dog]

Humphries first star game

 

[three dog night]

Tough loss in North Bay 4 to 3 in a shootout. Humphries played great in his debut was hoping the Icedogs were going to hold on but a tough back tto back caught up to them. 2,802 in North Bay today . Next game Friday against Sudbury at home before a packed house.

 

[IceDogFan]

I think you're right. Looking on their site, the Calvinist Cadets are anticipating 1,100 attendees.

St Catharines Minor Baseball is also there Friday. Not sure how many tickets they would sell?

How does a player score a hat trick yet have a -2 for the game?

Powerplay goals don't give you a plus or score three and be on for 5 against!

 

[Sam14]

An outstanding OHL debut for Matthew Humphries. Sometime the hidden goalie gems can be found on the u16 teams (2024 Markham Majors) that regularly faced a lot of rubber, despite giving up a lot goals. Also, good to see Sean Doherty have himself a week. Interested to see if this the start of a breakout or just a one off week. Regardless, trading a 5th for a player who was a 3rd round talent in his draft year is an example of trade you take a chance on.

This version of the IceDogs can score goal, but can’t keep them out of the net, even though goaltending has been one of this team’s strength all season. The IceDogs are 1 goal away from being dead last in Goals Against in the entire OHL. Watching the games the problem is obvious to fans (and Ben).

At this point, the talent level on D is what it is, nothing can or is going to change much this season. However, looking ahead to 25-26, management needs to listen to the concerns expressed publicly by head coach Ben (even though, quite surprising, they do less of that than most might expect).

Next season, the IceDogs need a D core that resembles the current top teams in the OHL and upgrade significantly by add 2-3 top four D. This starts on the 2025 Import Draft day.

 

[dirty12]

An outstanding OHL debut for Matthew Humphries. Sometime the hidden goalie gems can be found on the u16 teams (2024 Markham Majors) that regularly faced a lot of rubber, despite giving up a lot goals. Also, good to see Sean Doherty have himself a week. Interested to see if this the start of a breakout or just a one off week. Regardless, trading a 5th for a player who was a 3rd round talent in his draft year is an example of trade you take a chance on.

This version of the IceDogs can score goal, but can’t keep them out of the net, even though goaltending has been one of this team’s strength all season. The IceDogs are 1 goal away from being dead last in Goals Against in the entire OHL. Watching the games the problem is obvious to fans (and Ben).

At this point, the talent level on D is what it is, nothing can or is going to change much this season. However, looking ahead to 25-26, management needs to listen to the concerns expressed publicly by head coach Ben (even though, quite surprising, they do less of that than most might expect).

Next season, the IceDogs need a D core that resembles the current top teams in the OHL and upgrade significantly by add 2-3 top four D. This starts on the 2025 Import Draft day.

A year from now when Virgilio, Cheynowski, and Brauti are among the older players in the league the defencemen will appear better.
Thankfully, the coach does not have a defence first system in place like Wilson in Peterborough. At the same time, you don’t want to be too much like Brampton. In addition to a game plan to play to the teams strength of scoring a lot of goals, forwards that are a bit young and small compared to the other teams at the top of the conference contribute significantly to the Icedogs’ team defence problems.

 

[Sam14]

A year from now when Virgilio, Cheynowski, and Brauti are among the older players in the league the defencemen will appear better.

Cheynowki, Virgilio and Brauti can suffice to fill in the back half of the D, but if that is the case than they’ll need to add probably 3 top-end D to be the team’s top pairing D, to look more like a championship caliber team with NHL calibre talent at the back-end. (e.g., Barrie: Akey, Bertucci, Eliasson, Aitcheson, Passmore; Oshawa: Gibson, Danford, Marelli; Kingston: Burns, Pieniniemi; Brantford: Jiricek, Protz, Hamara, Budnick). The three returning are nowhere near the talent level of the D on these teams.

DD has his work cut out for him. If he swings and misses in the Import Draft again this year, it will be almost impossible to build a championship D with the insufficient draft capital he carries over into next year

 

[dirty12]

Cheynowki, Virgilio and Brauti can suffice to fill in the back half of the D, but if that is the case than they’ll need to add probably 3 top-end D to be the team’s top pairing D, to look more like a championship caliber team with NHL calibre talent at the back-end. (e.g., Barrie: Akey, Bertucci, Eliasson, Aitcheson, Passmore; Oshawa: Gibson, Danford, Marelli; Kingston: Burns, Pieniniemi; Brantford: Jiricek, Protz, Hamara, Budnick). The three returning are nowhere near the talent level of the D on these teams.

DD has his work cut out for him. If he swings and misses in the Import Draft again this year, it will be almost impossible to build a championship D with the insufficient draft capital he carries over into next year

With a VanVliet type ahead of the next deadline, ideally the RH version, the IceDogs D will likely be fine. More concerning might be centre. Niagara will need more than 18 yr old Czata and a part-time Assadourian.
You can have very good D and high scoring wingers like Brampton, but with Karmiris, MacDonell, and Misa down the middle you’re not contending.

 

[Sam14]

With a VanVliet type ahead of the next deadline, ideally the RH version, the IceDogs D will likely be fine.

LOL. You're making a fool of yourself with comments like that ^. Don't you have anything better to do with your time than troll the IceDogs fan page?

dirty12 #attended one IceDogs in 2017

 

[Mcnotloilersfan]

Cheynowki, Virgilio and Brauti can suffice to fill in the back half of the D, but if that is the case than they’ll need to add probably 3 top-end D to be the team’s top pairing D, to look more like a championship caliber team with NHL calibre talent at the back-end. (e.g., Barrie: Akey, Bertucci, Eliasson, Aitcheson, Passmore; Oshawa: Gibson, Danford, Marelli; Kingston: Burns, Pieniniemi; Brantford: Jiricek, Protz, Hamara, Budnick). The three returning are nowhere near the talent level of the D on these teams.

DD has his work cut out for him. If he swings and misses in the Import Draft again this year, it will be almost impossible to build a championship D with the insufficient draft capital he carries over into next year

I agree we need some upgrades, but Brauti, despite not being drafted, is a very good #2

 

[Sam14]

I agree we need some upgrades, but Brauti, despite not being drafted, is a very good #2

He would fit well into the 2nd pairing. All upgrades have to be to the rest of the top 4, if they have any aspirations of competing for a champship next year. However, if DD, is looking to simply field a competitive team in that 4 spot again (and not a championship team) than he can just turn the roster over. I hope it's not the case but financially I don't believe DD is capable of doing much more than that. As I have mentioned previously, the Import Draft will provide fans a lot of answers.

 

[dirty12]

LOL. You're making a fool of yourself with comments like that ^. Don't you have anything better to do with your time than troll the IceDogs fan page?

dirty12 #attended one IceDogs in 2017

You know full well a bigger problem right now is the few 19-20 yr old forwards are small-ish and miss time. Assadourian playing as the #3, sometimes #1 centre gives the team three full lines.
With Assadourian & Paris in the line up the IceDogs are ~0.700. Without the two 19 yr olds the IceDogs are ~05.25.

 

[knowescape]

DD has his work cut out for him. If he swings and misses in the Import Draft again this year, it will be almost impossible to build a championship D with the insufficient draft capital he carries over into next year

I am less afraid of a strikeout that I am of failing to even hover over the plate.

DD has shown a lack of willingness to draft European or American players. If he has any hope of filling in the gaps in next years line-up, he has to take advantage of obtaining the best possible players, including those he has to pay for, draft and through effective trading.

 

[Sam14]

You know full well a bigger problem right now is the few 19-20 yr old forwards are small-ish and miss time. Assadourian playing as the #3, sometimes #1 centre gives the team three full lines.
With Assadourian & Paris in the line up the IceDogs are ~0.700. Without the two 19 yr olds the IceDogs are ~05.25.

And once again, as usual, you are so completely off topic! Wow. The original post is about improving next year’s (25-26) D core!!!
An IceDog fan (who attends games) chimed in wit had some thoughts on that topic. If you can’t follow a discussion and your only intention is to troll, why not find something better to do with your time. Seriously.
#Awkward

 

[dirty12]

And once again, as usual, you are so completely off topic! Wow. The original post is about improving next year’s (25-26) D core!!!
An IceDog fan (who attends games) chimed in wit had some thoughts on that topic. If you can’t follow a discussion and your only intention is to troll, why not find something better to do with your time. Seriously.
#Awkward

You might have some better thoughts if you watched the hockey games rather than watch for things to whine about.

 

[Dogs Enthusiast]

Dirty12 I am glad you are here.

Attn. IceDogs management.

Erie is coming to town on Feb 27. Please only play a recording of the American anthem. To save somebody singing it getting booed.

 

[Sam14]

You might have some better thoughts if you watched the hockey games rather than watch for things to whine about.

Wow weird. You just proved my point again. You don’t read. Check the orginal Post #505. What did I complain about?

 

[Sam14]

I am less afraid of a strikeout that I am of failing to even hover over the plate.

DD has shown a lack of willingness to draft European or American players. If he has any hope of filling in the gaps in next years line-up, he has to take advantage of obtaining the best possible players, including those he has to pay for, draft and through effective trading.

The IceDogs' financial restraints, that were self-induced, are a without a doubt a concern and present a major obstacle for this franchise. I’m very interested in this year's Import Draft. Not expecting anything but willing to be surprised.

 

[Dog Fan]

Dirty12 I am glad you are here.

Attn. IceDogs management.

Erie is coming to town on Feb 27. Please only play a recording of the American anthem. To save somebody singing it getting booed.

The last few that have sung it deserved to get boo'd! One forgot the words and the other had a terrible voice but thought she was Bionce Knowles.

I go to almost every game. I believe players like Roobroeck and Wassilyn have put up great numbers but have been invisible in their own end which puts tremendous pressure on our D. Ben has been asking for more from his forwards to help the d without much effect.

We are fine in free flowing games but when the puck is in our end and we are playing a good team, the puck stays in our end way too long and usually results in a goal.

 

[IceDogs452]

IceDogs next season likely need:
1- 1st-2nd line Centre
1- 1st-2nd line RW
1- LD
2- RD
1- starting goalie

2 import slots, 2 OA’s and a draft to do it (assuming Assadourian is only OA).
if Paris and Wycisk are kept they would be below average OA’s but are free and would fill the RW and 2nd line RD slots.

 

[IceDogs452]

A year from now when Virgilio, Cheynowski, and Brauti are among the older players in the league the defencemen will appear better.
Thankfully, the coach does not have a defence first system in place like Wilson in Peterborough. At the same time, you don’t want to be too much like Brampton. In addition to a game plan to play to the teams strength of scoring a lot of goals, forwards that are a bit young and small compared to the other teams at the top of the conference contribute significantly to the Icedogs’ team defence problems.

I think Cheynowski gets cut next year. He’s just not very good. Could see Brauti LD2 Frasca LD3 Virgilio RD2/3

 

[bigsportsfan]

The last few that have sung it deserved to get boo'd! One forgot the words and the other had a terrible voice…

I think the suggestion that people will boo the American National Anthem was in regards to the Tariffs and not the singer’s performance.

 

[knowescape]

I think the suggestion that people will boo the American National Anthem was in regards to the Tariffs and not the singer’s performance.

I'm of two minds for this. While I wouldn't object to booing the Peach Palpatine, I think there is a big distinction between the President and The People. I have plenty of friends, family and associates in the US. They are on both sides of the political fence but none support tariffs against Canada. I suspect the Otters organization would not condone this either.

I think a classier, more Canadian, course of action is to support our American friends, respect their anthem and their attendance as guests in our country, but then put the blame squarely where it belongs. There are plenty of memes we could boo instead.