Firebirds Slip Past Bulldogs
On Friday night in front of 524 at the Wilmot Recreation Complex, the Bulldogs and Firebirds engaged in an entertaining game that saw the Birds slip past a gritty performance by the Bulldogs, 6-3.
New Hamburg got the scoring started at 2:36 through Ian Geffros and the score would stay at 1-0 until 14:21 when Frankie Varga would equalize for the Bulldogs. A few minutes later however, Tyler Reid would nudge the Firebirds ahead, 2-1 for the home team heading into the first intermission.
The Bulldogs started the second period with a bang as defenseman Jake Phelan brought the game level at 2-2 via the power-play at 3:33. Antonio Pasqualino (7:11), Cole Stannix (15:49), and Cedrik Roth (16:16) would reply for the Firebirds, 5-2 after two.
On the power-play again, it was Derick Da Silva striking for the Dogs to bring the game within two goals. The score stayed at 5-3 until 15:03 when Kaden Eichler pushed the game (and final score) to 6-3.
Caleb Ursu stopped 52 of 58 fired his way. Jake Durrer shoved aside 30 of 33 shots for the Firebirds.
Merchants Edge Bulldogs in Overtime
An intense rivalry saw its second installment of the 2021-2022 season at the Bulldogs hosted the Norwich Merchants on Saturday in Burford. The cozy quarters of the Burford Community Centre & Arena was electric as 179 fans packed the barn on Saturday evening.
Jack Gee got the game rolling just (0:53) seconds into the contest and Austin Forsyth (9:14) would add another for the Merchants in the first stanza. Just before the intermission, Derick Da Silva notched a power-play goal (17:43) to bring the game within one. 2-1 after one for the Merchants who were outshot 15-9 in the first period.
Jake Phelan would add another power-play goal at 1:39 of the second frame to tie the game at 2-2. Jack Gee would add his reply for the Merchants just 20 seconds later to push the Merchants ahead, 3-2. Despite the early goals in the second period, the game settled into a back and forth frenzy until 12:52 when over-ager Hunter Mabee got his first of the season, tying the game at 3-3 heading into the final period.
The drama was left until the end of the final stanza as the Dogs and Merchants continued their back and forth efforts late into the third period and at 19:12, Burford-born Connor MacPhee fired the Bulldogs ahead. Norwich would then call for a time-out and with 7 seconds left on the clock in regulation time, Jack Gee scored to bring the game to 4-4 and complete his hattrick on the night.
At 5:50 of overtime, the Merchants would gain the extra point through Joel Storoschuk, thus ending a thriller in Burford, 5-4.
Shendon Smith stopped 20 of 23 shots thrown his way but did sustain an injury in the early stages of the third period. Caleb Ursu finished the game for the Dogs, stopping 16 of 18 shots his way. Carver Munroe turned aside 35 of 39 shots for Norwich.
Two Home Games This Weekend
On Saturday night, the Bulldogs will continue their stretch of home games as the Hespeler Shamrocks are set to come into town. Puck-drop is scheduled for 7:20PM. The “Shammies” are coming off an impressive 5-2 victory over the Woodstock Navy Vets this past Sunday.
On Sunday afternoon, the Dogs welcome the Wellesley AppleJacks to the Burford Community Centre & Arena during Minor Hockey Day in Burford. Puck-drop is slated for 3:00PM. The “Jacks” are looking to keep their winning ways rolling as they downed the Shamrocks last Saturday night, 5-2 in Wellesley.
For more details on Minor Hockey Day in Burford – Click Here
Bulldogs Movember Update
The Bulldogs are continuing to participate in Movember throughout the month of November. To date, the club has raised $710.00. Please consider donating today by clicking here for more details. Thank you in advance, Bulldogs Country!
Photo: Jordynne Kinrade