In hopes of ending a season long four game losing skid, the Owen Sound Attack were sluggish out of the gates Friday night in London, as they dropped their fifth straight game, with a 5-2 lose to the Knights.
As the Christmas break looms, Owen Sound had some reinforcements return to the lineup as both Gavin Bryant and Teddy Sawyer were back in the Bears lineup since October, while rookie Ben Cormier also returned since late November. Even with some key players getting healthy, the early game struggles continued as it took London just five minutes to get on the board.
The early goal seemed to deflate any sort of energy out of the Attack bench, as the Bears were on their heels for the remainder of the period. The frustration of the past two weeks hit a boiling point as the Knights piled on with a four goal first period, with a late period scrum that say all ten skaters on the ice get involved.
The end of period skirmish seemed to have help the Attack let out their frustration, as they were able to switch focus onto the game at hand heading into period two. Though unable to get anything past Knights goalie Brett Brochu, the Attack were able to generate chances and have prolonged periods of hemming the Knights in their own zone.
Owen Sound may have dug their own grave early in the game, but they showed great character battling until the final whistle. It was Matthew Papais who finally broke Brochu’s shutout, just over the halfway point of the third period, beating the Knights goalie just under the glove with a shot from the slot. It was then just 13 seconds later when Attack rookie Ben Cormier netted his first career OHL goal, as his shot from the side boards ricocheted off Brochu’s glove, then the London defensemen’s glove to just trickle over the line. The Attack will be hoping that the goal propels Cormier’s confidence forward, as they look to get back in the win column.
With just one more game before a 10 day Christmas break, the Attack will look to snap their five game skid as they welcome the Windsor Spitfires to the Bayshore tomorrow night for their IG Wealth Management Food Drive in support of the Salvation Army. Tickets for the game can be purchased at the MacVicor and McCoumb Sutton Realty Attack Box Office by calling 519-371-7452 or going online at tickets.attackhockey.com.
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