The Owen Sound Attack are set to kick off their 2nd Eastern Conference road trip of the year when they travel to Peterborough for a Thursday, Jan. 15 match up.Thursday's 7:05 pm puck drop is the 1st of three games in four nights, with the Attack playing in Ottawa on Friday before travelling to Mississauga for a game on Sunday, Jan. 18.

After having last week's initial match up postponed to March 3 due to weather, the Attack and Petes will meet with largely revamped rosters.Peterborough will be without World Junior gold medallist Nick Ritchie and captain Connor Boland after they were traded to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds at the trade deadline.

While Owen Sound will be looking to build chemistry with their new players, the game marks the 3rd with Erik Bradford and Liam Dunda in the lineup, as well as the 3rd game Holden Cook will play in since returning from injury.

The Attack enter Thursday's game with a 17-12-2-7 record, good for 43 points and 6th place in the Western Conference, while the Petes have struggled to find consistency this year. Peterborough is currently 9th in the Eastern Conference with 34 points after going 15-19-1-3 in 38 games to this point.

With the departures of Ritchie and Boland, Peterborough will turn to Josh MacDonald and his 38 points on the year, as well as newly acquired overager Nathan Pancel to lead the team.

Kyle Platzer continues to lead the Attack in scoring with a career 48 points thanks to 19 goals and 29 assists, while captain Zach Nastasiuk is on pace to score a career high of his own with 43 points in 38 games. Nastasiuk reached his career high of 51 points in just 62 games played last season.

While the road trip may end on Sunday, the Attack will continue battling with Eastern Conference opponents when they return to home on Saturday, Jan. 24. The Attack will host the Kingston Frontenacs at 7:30 pm and tickets can be purchased at the DJ's Furniture Attack Box Office, online at www.attackhockey.com, or by calling 519-371-7452.

To follow the Attack on this current road trip, you can watch live on Rogers Local 53 or tune in to Fred Wallace on Kia of Owen Sound/Terry's Trailer Service Bear Radio on 560 CFOS.

This season of Attack Hockey is brought to you by Caframo.

KEYS TO VICTORY

With the Attack still inserting new faces and welcoming old ones back into the lineup, the biggest key to success in Peterborough will be developing chemistry. If the forward lines can click quickly, the new depth should create offence that the team has yet to see. A fragile Peterborough lineup will also be likely to succumb to the trademark forecheck of the Attack and that is something Greg Ireland will ask his squad to capitalize on.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Nathan Pancel, LW, Peterborough

15G, 17A, 36 GP

Pancel was a highly sought after overage forward at the trade deadline, and Peterborough succeeded in stabilizing a young group with the addition of him. A good two way forward, Pancel will impact the game at both ends of the ice and as such, the Attack will need to be aware of where he is at all times.

Kyle Platzer, C, Owen Sound

19G, 29A, 38GP

Owen Sound's leading scorer has been held fairly quiet in the month of January with just three points in five games, but that shouldn't last too long. Platzer has had a breakout season playing on the Attack's top line and has earned himself some penalty killing time as well. With the work ethic he has shown this year, it is only a matter of time before he starts filling the net again.

Source - Owen Sound Attack