By Tracey Richardson

For once, Attack rookie Keenan Reynolds had more on his mind than hockey as his team prepared to play the Barrie Colts Wednesday night.

Reynolds is from Ottawa and his father Jim works near the Parliament buildings. When the 16-year-old heard the news of the deadly shooting in the nation's capital, "I was freaked out," he said after the Attack's 6-1 win against Barrie.

"I was relieved my family was OK, but I heard later a soldier was shot and killed," Reynolds said. "I was happy my family was safe, but one family's not going to have a brother coming home, and it's just tough to think of in my hometown."

By the time he hit the ice for the warmup, Reynolds said he was feeling thankful to be playing the game he loves.

"I'm so blessed to be playing this game, when some people are on the front lines defending their country, and even in their home country someone decided to put their messed up head and their needs above someone else's, and killed a hero. So I'm just really blessed to be able to play hockey."

Coach Greg Ireland said he checked on Reynolds during the day to make sure his family and friends were all right.

"When you see these things happen, it takes you back and you start to think the worst, and anybody who loses their life, it is the worst," Ireland said.

"You always think it can't happen to me, but when it happens in your hometown and not far from where your parents work, then I certainly would think it (brings it home)."

The Attack dominated the Colts in Wednesday's game, scoring six times on 40 shots. But it was ugly at times, with a parade of Barrie players sent to the penalty box, and four of them sent to the showers early for infractions.

The Attack lost veteran Holden Cook after Barrie players piled on him. Cook left the ice doubled over and holding his wrist. Sophomore player Ryan Heeps was also injured near the end of the game in a kneeing incident, and Ireland was seething by the final buzzer.

In a throwback to old time hockey, Ireland confronted the Colts' coaching staff as the teams were exiting the ice, and an argument ensued.

After the game, Ireland said Colts assistant coach Mike Rosati yelled something at the Attack bench.

"He said, do you think we sent them? And I just said you didn't stop them. They didn't seem to want to stop their guys from going out and doing silly things. That's all it was. Outside of that I get along with those guys."

But Ireland was clearly frustrated at losing Cook and Heeps.

"That's what really frustrates me," Ireland said. "It gets silly at the end, and we've got two guys now (injured). It was kind of cheap, a guy jumping on Holden Cook from behind and then after the five crosschecks to him, then jumps on his shoulder. And then the knee (to Heeps). I don't know what to say. I might want to bite my tongue right now because I don't think it's called for."

Ireland was happy with his team's play, saying the Attack players executed the game plan. It was the team's second consecutive win.

"I thought we were great for 60 minutes, we executed our game plan, I thought we had good puck support, I thought we out-worked them, we were able to make breakout passes and really spring our transition game, which gave them fits," Ireland said.

The Attack got two goals each from Ethan Szypula and Chris Bigras. Singles were scored by Daniel Milne and Thomas Schemitsch. Zach Nastasiuk collected two assists, and goalie Brandon Hope saved 20 of 21 shots.

BETWEEN THE LINES: Captain Zach Nastasiuk and assistant captain Chris Bigras were both named this week to the roster of the two Subway Series games next month between the OHL and a team from Russia... Former Attack player Joseph Blandisi has 22 points for the Colts this season, including an assist Wednesday night... The Attack are now second in the Midwest Division with 15 points... The Attack are in Kitchener Friday and play at home Saturday against Guelph.

Follow Tracey Richardson on Twitter @trich7117