The Owen Sound Attack will wrap up the first half of the Ontario Hockey League season with a trio of games before the Christmas break, starting with a trip to Barrie to take on the Colts on Thursday, Dec. 14.
Visiting the Barrie Molson Centre for the first time in 2017-18, Owen Sound will look to improve their 14-11-1-3 record (32 points, 4th Midwest) with a win over the Central Division leading Colts, who currently sit at 17-10-2-1 (37 points).
The Colts are having a resurgent season after dropping all six games to the Attack last year.
Buoyed thanks to the play of Ryan Suzuki - the 1st overall pick in the 2017 OHL Priority Selection and younger brother of Attack forward Nick - along with Russian snipers Alexey Lipanov and Andrei Svechnikov, the Colts have made a dramatic climb up the rankings after finishing 2016-17 in last place in the OHL.
While Barrie will be without Lipanov and Svechnikov who are at Team Russia's World Junior Evaluation Camp, the Attack will also be missing a number of their top players who are also away for international duty.
Polish native Alan Lyszczarczyk is away with Team Poland at the IIHF WJC D1B Tourament in Slovenia where he has seven goals and six assists through four games while Nick Suzuki and Jonah Gadjovich are with Team Canada in St. Catharines attending the World Junior Evaluation Camp.
In the absence of Suzuki, who has 44 points in 26 games on the year, Sean Durzi will be the offence driver for the Attack with 14 goals and 28 assists in 27 contests.
He and Aidan Dudas (33 points in 29 games) will look to help lift Owen Sound to victory in the game that begins at 7:30pm.
Owen Sound will also welcome recently acquired goaltender Olivier Lafreniere to the lineup after he was acquired in a trade with the Ottawa 67's earlier on Wednesday, Dec. 13.
Following the game against Barrie, which can be listened to live on Kia of Owen Sound/Terry's Trailer Service Bear Radio on 560 CFOS or watched on Rogers Local 53, the Attack will return home to take on the Kingston Frontenacs on Saturday, Dec. 16 before wrapping up their pre-Christmas schedule on Sunday, Dec. 17.
Fans are reminded that Saturday night's 7:30pm game against the Fronts is the Investor's Group Attack Hunger Night. Fans are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items with them to the game that can be placed in the Investor's Group Attack Hunger bin in the front lobby of the Bayshore. Donations can also be made at Owen Sound Foodland with all food being donated to the Salvation Army's food bank.
Finally, the Attack will host another Core Partner's Group/Investment Planning Counsel Sunday game against the London Knights on Dec. 17. As always, the first 200 children through the doors will receive free popcorn while all kids in attendance will be eligible to win a team autographed jersey. Following the game there will be a post game skate and autograph session with the team.
source: media release, Owen Sound Attack
