Pitre Brothers Net a Pair of Goals, But Firebirds Fall 7-3 in Niagara
October 15, 2022 – Ontario Hockey League (OHL) – Flint Firebirds News Release
St. Catharines, Ont. – After spoiling Flint’s home opener back on October 1, the Niagara IceDogs won the second and final game of the series at the Meridian Centre 7-3 Saturday evening. Kaden Pitre scored his first OHL goal for the Birds, and older brother Coulson scores along with defenseman Luca D’Amato. The three goals weren’t enough, as Niagara potted seven to earn their third win of the year. Will Cranley (St. Louis Blues) got his fifth start in goal but was relieved by Nathaniel Day after making 28 saves on 33 shots. Day went on to stop 12 of 14 shots over the balance of the game, while Niagara’s Owen Flores turned aside 29 of Flint’s 32 shots for his first win of the season.
Goals came early and often, with the Firebirds lighting the lamp first. Amadeus Lombardi (Detroit Red Wings) made a short drop pass to Riley Piercey at the top of the left circle. Piercey sent a cross-ice pass to sophomore forward Coulson Pitre, who one-timed it on net and recorded his second goal of the season just 2:34 into the opening frame.
Six minutes later, Luca D’Amato stepped out of the penalty box and received a breakout pass from Zack Terry. He was off to the races, all alone from the red line in on Flores. He made a late deke before burying it five-hole for his first of the campaign at 8:44, assisted by Terry and Coulson Pitre.
Past the midway point of the first, Nolan Dann set up Pano Fimis, who carried in from the right point on the power play. From the middle of the right circle, he hit Pasquale Zito (Detroit Red Wings) in the slot for a quick one-timer goal at 12:09.
Then, Samuel Assinewai sprung rookie Kaden Pitre on a two-on-one break up the left side with Owen Pitters pacing to his right. The younger Pitre brother opted to shoot and it paid off with his first career OHL goal at 15:57, assisted by Assinewai and Pitters at even strength.
The IceDogs scored two more quick goals 51 seconds apart to tie the game at three before intermission. First, Aiden Castle fed Femis who skated around a defender from the right circle and lifted a backhand up high around Cranly for his second of the campaign at 16:32. Then Femis walked the blue line with the man advantage before finding Gerard Keane with a D-to-D pass. Keane sent a slapshot on Cranley, who made the initial save. Nolan Dann collected the rebound and tied the game with his second of the campaign at 17:30.
First-period shots heavily favored the Dogs 24-11. Faceoffs ended even at 15 wins per side. Niagara scored twice on three power-play opportunities while the Birds went 0-for-2.
Niagara claimed their first lead of the night at 4:22 into the middle stanza. After cycling with three passes in the left corner, 16-year-old forward Kevin He spun and snapped a quick shot that struck twine for his third of the year, assisted by Daniel Michaud and Declan Waddick.
Next, Brenden Sirozzotti made a hit on a Flint defender in the left corner and freed the puck in the process. He slipped a pass to Juan Copeland in the near circle, and a few short strides left him all alone within a few feet of Flint’s goaltender. He shot low and recorded his third of the season at 13:24.
Nathaniel Day relieved Cranley between the pipes for the remainder of the game following Copeland’s marker and made the only save required of him during the balance of the second period. Niagara held the 5-3 lead after 40 minutes of play. The clubs were even on shots 10-10 in the middle frame, and faceoffs ended 13-9 to the IceDogs’ advantage. Both teams were scoreless with one power-play chance in the middle 20 minutes of play.
The Dogs found paydirt once again at 4:37 of period three, initiated by an intercepted pass at the left point. Copeland slapped it into traffic in front of Day and snuck by everyone for his second of the night and fourth of the season, assisted by Rodwin Dionicio and Zito.
The final goal was scored with 1:36 remaining in regulation, as Jacob LeBlanc kept the puck from leaving the zone at the blue line. He immediately fed Sirizzotti to the right of Day, and he showed patience in waiting for an open man in the slot. That player was Waddick who received the saucer pass and one-timed it past Day for goal number three of the season.
The IceDogs held on for the 7-3 win, and outshot the Birds 47-32 in the contest. They also outdrew Flint 44-34. The Firebirds finished scoreless on four power plays, and Niagara scored twice on five chances.
Next Up: The Firebirds will play their final game of the three-games-in-three-days weekend at Kitchener versus the Rangers on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. (ET) on Sunday. They’ll return to Flint for their next home game on Wednesday, October 19, as they host the Sarnia Sting. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. (ET) in Flint and tickets are available now from Etix HERE. Members of Dort Financial Credit Union can get up to four tickets for free to Wednesday’s game.
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