The Owen Sound Attack are set to kick off 2015 with a bang, playing three games in just three days beginning January 1.
Owen Sound will play the Kitchener Rangers for the 7th time this year when the teams meet for a New Years Day matinee game at the Bayshore. The Attack boast a 4-0-0-2 record against their divisional rival this year, but the series has been a close one as three of the six games have needed a shootout to decide the winner.
Waterloo native and Owen Sound leading scorer Kyle Platzer has largely been an X-factor in the six meetings, picking up four goals and six assists against the team he grew up cheering for. Platzer enters Thursday's contest having tallied 17 goals and 28 assists after going on a tear in December, a month that saw him score 16 points in eight games.
Kitchener will be powered by Justin Bailey, just as they have been all season. The Buffalo Sabres draft pick has 18 goals and 20 assists on the year and the Attack will look to contain him the same way they have done in their four victories against the Rangers this year.
The Attack enter Thursday's 2:00 pm contest just two points ahead of the Rangers in the Midwest Division standings, as Owen Sound sits at 15-10-2-6 (38 points, 4th Midwest) on the year while Kitchener is 15-12-2-4 (36 points, 5th Midwest). Owen Sound will then travel to Guelph to take on the Storm on Friday night in what will be the first of a home and home against the Midwest Division's 3rd place team.
A reminder to fans that this weekend is Rogers Hometown Hockey in Owen Sound. For a full list of events for Hometown Hockey, visit: http://attackhockey.com/page/rogers-hometown-hockey-tour
Tickets for Thursday's game, and all Attack home games are available at the DJ's Furniture Attack Box Office, online at www.attackhockey.com, or by calling 519-371-7452.
This season of Attack Hockey is brought to you by Caframo.
KEYS TO VICTORY
The Kitchener Rangers and Owen Sound Attack always battle hard against each other and with those battles often comes some undisciplined play. For the Attack to be successful they will need to stay out of the penalty box and take advantage of their chances on the man advantage, something that has been very useful for Owen Sound this year.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Petrus Palmu, 17, RW - Owen Sound Attack
12 G, 12 A, 33 GP
The wily rookie import for the Attack is currently 2nd in Ontario Hockey League rookie scoring and it is largely due to his affinity for going to places that other players his stature wouldn't. Palmu is a grinder in the true sense of the word but also has an elite set of hands and is able to keep puck possession going for the team when it looks like any momentum might be lost. Palmu, Zach Nastasiuk, and Kyle Platzer drive the offence for the Attack and it is clear that the 17-year-old Finn is a large part of that.
Gustaf Franzen, 18, C - Kitchener Rangers
9 G, 11 A, 33 GP
Like his rookie counterpart, Franzen has been a big part of the Rangers' offence this season. Eligible for the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Franzen plays a very similar game to Palmu and is willing to go to the dirty areas. More of a playmaker than a scorer, Franzen has exceeded expectations in his rookie season in the OHL.
Source - Owen Sound Attack
