The Ottawa 67’s kicked off their home campaign with a commanding 7-3 win against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Sunday afternoon at TD Place, completing the touchdown to stay undefeated.
Coming off two victories against Kingston and North Bay to start their season, the 67’s looked to stay hot against the Greyhounds, who were riding their own momentum with a three-game win streak heading into Sunday.
“Just got to keep yourself and each other responsible for your actions out here … and make sure you’re working harder than the other team,” Ottawa rookie Thomas Vandenberg said after the game. “We’re moving out there.”
Ottawa looked to crack Soo goaltender Landon Miller, who was dominant in his two games before Sunday’s matchup, stopping 65 of 67 shots and leading the league in save percentage.
It only took the Barber Poles one shot to beat him.
Vandenberg struck first, scoring a netside tip-in on the power play just five minutes into the opening frame. The hometown rookie was eager to get on the scoresheet early in front of the home crowd.
Vandenberg racked up four points, including a hat trick, in his OHL debut against Kingston. He would finish the game with two points.
“He can move his feet, he’s really easy to play with,” Ottawa forward Shaan Kingwell said of Vandenberg.
The visitors, however, were not letting up early.
Less than two minutes after Vandenberg opened the scoring, Greyhounds forward Jordan Charron found himself with an empty net off a rebound, where he cashed in his league-leading fifth goal of the season.
Things quickly devolved for Ottawa. A netfront turnover just 62 seconds later handed rookie Tobias Zvolensky a dangerous scoring opportunity and the lead for the Soo.
Despite the score, the 67’s high-volume offense outshot the Soo 10-7 after the first. Through their first three games, Ottawa has outshot their opposition 98-64.
Two minutes into the second frame, Ottawa capitalized after their third overall pick Brock Chitaroni buried the equalizer off Vandenberg’s backdoor feed on a two-on-one.
With Kingwell joining Vandenberg and Chitaroni on Ottawa’s top unit, the three have powered the offense this season, combining for 12 points through three games. On Sunday, they were no different.
“Our whole line played pretty well today, we were all going today … going in on the forecheck and winning our fifty-fiftys,” Kingwell said.
Later in the second, the 67’s executed a long shift in the Greyhounds’ zone, cycling and forechecking, which led to Jack Dever finding Jasper Kuhta wide open in the slot, regaining the 67’s lead at 3-2.
Ottawa’s Spencer Bowes scored the game-winner, levelling the Soo defender before picking up the puck and doubling the lead with his first career OHL goal.
Kingwell then joined his linemates on the scoresheet in the third, firing home Chitaroni’s rebound under three minutes in. The line would finish each with a pair of points.
Chitaroni’s minor hockey teammate, Nathan Amidovski, added to the total in the third with a breakaway goal for Ottawa’s fifth straight. Although the two haven’t played together at this level, Chitaroni hopes to rekindle their chemistry from Barrie.
“It was really fun, we both have a lot of speed and made a lot of plays [together],” Chitaroni said of his relationship with Amidovski. “I think that I have great linemates right now, but I’m good playing with everyone. I like development chemistry.”
In an attempt to claw back, Miller headed to the bench and Greyhounds centre Christopher Brown banged in a quick goal to cut the lead to three before Ottawa’s Nic Whitehead pushed the game out of reach with an empty netter.
With the win, Ottawa has propelled itself into the top spot in the OHL Eastern Conference and remains one of just three undefeated teams in the league.
The 67’s will look to stay perfect on Oct. 4, where they will host the struggling Erie Otters at TD Place Arena.
Featured image by Tim Austen/Ottawa 67’s
