The Owen Sound Attack will face their biggest challenge of the season when the puck drops on their upcoming weekend of action.
Playing three games in less than 72 hours, the Attack will kick off a trio of games against Midwest Division opponents by heading to London to face the Knights on Friday, Dec. 2 before returning home to do battle with the Erie Otters in the teams' traditional back-to-back weekend.
The weekend will also feature a pair of special events for fans at the Bayshore, beginning with the Investor's Group Attack Hunger food drive on Saturday night before the Investment Planning Counsel Skate with the Team following Sunday's game. Fans are encouraged to bring on-perishable food items to Saturday's game in support of Investor's Group Attack Hunger.
But before the Attack can interact with their fans, they must head to Budweiser Gardens for their 2nd matchup with the Knights in the last 10 days.
Getting underway at 7:30pm, the Knights - who own the OHL's best record at 18-3-2-2 - will be looking to avenge a 2-1 shootout loss to Owen Sound on Wednesday, Nov. 23.
The Attack enter the game winners of three straight and five of their last six, with a 15-11-1-0 record which puts them at 6th place in the West, just two points back of the Kitchener Rangers.
Petrus Palmu and Nick Suzuki, who each have 34 points on the year, lead the way for Owen Sound offensively, while London's Cliff Pu is 5th overall in league scoring thanks to his 42 points.
Like last Wednesday night, however, Friday's game is likely to be a goalie's duel.
Owen Sound netminder Michael McNiven, who on Tuesday was named as one of three goalies invited to Canada's World Junior Selection Camp, enters play this week at first place in the league with a goals against average of 2.29 and a save percentage of .920.
His counterpart, Tyler Parsons, is no slouch either.
Parsons' 2.39 GAA has him ranked 2nd in the OHL while his .917 SV% is good for 4th overall in the league.
In a fitting tribute to two of the league's best goalkeepers, Friday night's game between the Attack and Knights will be shown nationwide as part of Sportsnet's CHL On Sportsnet series.
Fans can watch live on Sportsnet Ontario, East, Pacific and SN1 when the puck drops at 7:30pm. As always, the game will also be available live on Kia of Owen Sound/Terry's Trailer Service Bear Radio on 560 CFOS.
Following the game the Attack will return home for games four and five of the year against the Erie Otters.
Erie, bolstered by the return of Dylan Strome from the Arizona Coyotes, is tied with London at 40 points on the year but is in 3rd place in the standings by virtue of having played one more game.
The Attack currently trail the season series with Erie, having won just once in three visits to the Erie Insurance Arena.
Fans who are coming to Saturday night's game, which gets underway at 7:30pm at the Bayshore, are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items with them to donate as part of the Investor's Group and Owen Sound Attack's Attack Hunger campaign.
Those who were in attendance at last Saturday evening's Bears In Blue game are encouraged to fill and return the Attack Hunger food bag they were given upon exiting the building.
The teams will also play on Sunday afternoon, in what is one of seven of the Attack's Investment Planning Counsel games on the season.
Getting underway at 2:00pm, the first 200 children through the doors will receive a small bag of popcorn and a pair of jerseys will be given away over the course of the game. Fans are reminded to bring their skates to participate in the post game skate and autograph session with the team, also made possible by Investment Planning Counsel.
Tickets for both of Owen Sound's weekend games against Erie are available for purchase at the MacVicar & McComb ReMax Box Office, online at www.attackhockey.com, or by calling 519-371-7452.
source: media release, Owen Sound Attack
