The Owen Sound Attack's 2nd annual Heart Beats & Hockey Sticks goes this Saturday night, part of a big two game weekend for the CHL's #9 ranked team.
After being ranked at 10th overall in the CHL Top 10 Rankings for the last two weeks, the Attack moved into the 9th spot when Week 19 of the season's rankings were released on Wednesday, Feb. 1.
The new rankings sets up a battle between the CHL's #3 ranked London Knights and the 9th ranked Attack on Friday night at Budweiser Gardens, before Owen Sound returns home for its Heart Beats and Hockey Sticks fundraising game against the Windsor Spitfires, who received an honourable mention in the CHL rankings.
Friday's contest, a 7:30pm start at Budweiser Gardens, will mark the 2nd game in less than a week between the Attack and Knights.
In three games on the year, Owen Sound (32-13-1-1, 66 Pts, 3rd Midwest) and the Knights (33-8-3-4, 73 Pts, 1st Midwest) have needed a shootout to decide the winner, with the Attack having been victorious twice to the Knights' one head to head win.
Unfortunately for Owen Sound, that one London victory snapped the Attack's 15 game winning streak this past Saturday, a game that saw the Knights come from behind to win 7-6 in the skills competition.
The Attack will look to avenge that on Friday night, and will be bolstered by the return of Nick Suzuki and Markus Phillips to the lineup after the pair missed the last two games while participating in the Sherwin Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.
Suzuki leads Owen Sound in points on the year with 57 points in 45 games of action, while Phillips is also enjoying an outstanding sophomore campaign that has seen him register nine goals and 14 assists on the year.
Also paving the way for the Attack this year has been captain and overage defenceman Santino Centorame. Recently named the Ontario Hockey League's Defenceman of the Month for January, the Mississauga native has scored three times while contributing an astounding 42 helpers for 45 points in 47 games this season.
Donning the captain's "C" for the 2nd year, Centorame has already surpassed his previous career high point total (41 points in 67 games, set in 2015-16) with 21 games still left on the schedule. In the month of January, Centorame suited up in all 11 of Owen Sound's games and contributed two goals and 18 assists for 20 points while also going a stellar +14.
The former Knight and his teammates will look to avenge Saturday's loss to London and take down the league leaders live on Rogers Local 53 and on Kia of Owen Sound/Terry's Trailer Service Bear Radio on 560 CFOS on Friday night.
Following the game the Attack will return home for their Heart Beats & Hockey Sticks fundraising game against the Windsor Spitfires on Saturday, Feb. 4.
In support of the Owen Sound Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, Heart Beats & Hockey Sticks gets underway at 7:30pm at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre and will see the Attack don special jerseys that will be auctioned off by MPP Bill Walker following the game.
Also taking place on Saturday will be the Baywest Nissan Chuck-A-Puck, featuring three exclusive prizes, that will take place during the 2nd intermission, as well as a bucket pass during the 1st period, all in support of the Cardiac Rehab Program.
Fans can also show their support by purchasing a special edition Heart Beats & Hockey Sticks long sleeve t-shirt, which will be available at the Attack Shack as well as in the South Concourse on game night.
Tickets for Saturday's game are available at the MacVicar & McComb ReMax Attack Box Office and more information on Heart Beats & Hockey Sticks can be found HERE.
source: media release, Owen Sound Attack
