It’s early, but the 2022-23 Ottawa 67’s have already achieved a milestone that no other iteration of the team has reached.
On the back of a 6-3 home ice win over the Guelph Storm, Sunday afternoon, the Barber Poles have begun a season 6-0-0 for the first time in franchise history. Brady Stonehouse, and Ottawa Senators prospect Tyler Boucher each scored a pair, with Nashville Predators pick Jack Matier finding the eventual gamewinner, while Montreal Canadiens selection Vinzenz Rohrer came through with a highlight reel marker of his own.
Starting his first game since November 21, 2021, Collin MacKenzie made 19 saves, for his first win of the campaign.
“It feels great. I’ve been waiting a little while now, and I shut the nerves off pretty early, got a little comfy, and got some energy going,” said the soon-to-be 18-year-old netminder. “It feels good to be back.”
Though the stat sheet may not totally favour MacKenzie, the second-year goaltender came up with some massive saves at key moments, particularly in the early second period. It was a stand that maintained Ottawa’s two-goal lead, and kept the game from spinning out of control.
Head Coach Dave Cameron vocalized that fact himself, and was complimentary of his young netminder.
“He was real good,” said Cameron. “I thought he was real good in the second, because we opened up our game, and were run-and-gun, which isn’t our style. It’s Guelph’s style, and we got drawn into it, which gave them chances.”
True to form, this season, the 67’s struck first, and early. Just 6:32 in, Stonehouse created some room for himself in front of the net, and banged home a pass from Cam Tolnai.
As the first period — in which Ottawa outshout Guelph 12-6 — wound down, it was Rohrer taking a pass from Stonehouse on the powerplay, rushing down the ice, and beating Storm goaltender Jacob Oster with a slick backhand move to give the 67’s a 2-0 lead.
MacKenzie held firm in the second, and the frame ended with no change in the score, but Braeden Bowman struck back for Guelph 1:19 into the third period.
It was as close as they would get, the rest of the night. A few minutes later, on another powerplay, the 67’s extended their lead again. Positioned at the top of the circle, Boucher took a pass from Henry Mews, and blasted a one-timer past Oster for his third of the campaign.
The 67’s got an extended powerplay opportunity soon after; with Storm standout, and Boston Bruins second-rounder Matthew Poitras earning a match penalty for a slewfoot on Rohrer. Ottawa made good on the opportunity, with Matier letting go a one-timer of his own from the point, making it 4-1 Ottawa near the midway point of the period.
Cooper Walker returned fire with a shorthanded goal for Guelph, but Stonehouse found a rebound a little over a minute later to restore the two-goal lead.
Michael Buchinger again drew the Storm closer late in the period, but a Boucher empty-netter with 50 seconds remaining secured the win, and record-setting start for the 67’s.
Cameron, now five wins away from 400 on his OHL career, points to a combination of factors that have his team at the top of the OHL standings.
“The biggest x-factor that’s in play when you have a young team, like we did last year, is how much those guys improve after a year in the league, and then a good summer to train,” said Cameron. “The powerplay is clicking right now, that’s certainly helped, but the main thing is we’re stronger [this year], so we’re getting some offensive zone time, and we’re able to cycle the puck.”
Cameron and the 67’s are looking to avoid a repeat of last season, where the team started off strong, but began to stack up losses as a depleted roster headed into the Christmas break.
With the benefit of experience, they’ll look to keep their record winning streak going, as they make the trip through Northern Ontario; facing the North Bay Battalion on Thursday, Soo Greyhounds on Friday, and Sudbury Wolves on Sunday.
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