The Owen Sound Attack are in the win column.
Harry Nansi’s first career Ontario Hockey League goal near the midway mark of the third period stood up as the game-winner as the Attack clipped the Brantford Bulldogs 5-3 Friday evening at Brantford Civic Centre, picking up their first win of the 2024-25 season.
“I think tonight was a result of our game against Guelph at home, just picking up where we left off,” says Owen Sound Attack head coach Scott Wray, who picked up the first win behind the Attack bench.
Rafik Varosyan, Tristan Delisle, Sam McCue and Bruce McDonald also scored for Owen Sound (1-2-0-0), which never trailed in the game.
Joshua Avery, Nikolas Rossetto and Zakary Lavoie had the goals for Brantford (1-2-0-0).
It was 0-0 after the opening period, then the Attack struck first early in the second. Varosyan picked off a pass in the neutral zone and skated down the left side, dangled his way through a defender near the net and then popped the puck under the crossbar. His first OHL goal, certainly one that will make its way onto highlight reels around the OHL this weekend.
The Attack made it 2-0 with 25 seconds left in the middle frame. Delisle chased down a puck deep in Brantford’s end and then let a low shot go from a tough angle, almost from the corner, that somehow caught David Egorov off guard. The Bulldogs’ goaltender was tucked deep in his net, and was helpless as the puck banked off the post and in.
Delisle’s goal was his first as a member of the Attack. He was making his debut with the Bears after joining the team Thursday in the trade that saw Colby Barlow join the Oshawa Generals.
But Owen Sound couldn’t get back to the dressing room with a two-goal lead.
Just 19 seconds later – with six seconds left on the clock in the second – Avery got a shot off from the right side and put it over the blocker of Carter George. The Attack lead was cut to 2-1.
It was a 2-2 game 1:51 into the third period. Rossetto was the recipient of a pass in the high slot area after a turnover and managed to whip one high past George.
But the Attack would respond. At 8:09 of the third period, Elliot Arnett took a pass on the left point in the offensive zone and found an open shooting lane, putting a low puck to the net that McCue tipped home in front. 3-2 Owen Sound.
Less than two minutes later it was a two-goal game. Nansi picked off a pass in the high slot and was left with a clean look at the net. He didn’t miss it, ripping a wrist shot past Egorov’s glove, just inside the far post. Nansi’s first OHL goal made it a 4-2 game.
But Brantford wasn’t done. With 8:17 on the clock, Lavoie took a shot from a bit of a sharp angle on the right side of the offensive zone. He managed to find a hole between George’s left shoulder and the crossbar, beating the Attack goaltender short-side to make it a one goal game.
Brantford pressured late with an extra attacker on the ice, trying to find a game-tying goal. The best scoring chance came in the final minute, a wide open look for Cole Brown from just above the hash marks in the slot area. He shot, and watched as George snagged the puck with his glove for a big save to preserve the Attack lead.
McDonald added an empty-netter.
George made 29 saves in the win, while Egorov stopped 29 taking the loss. Owen Sound outshot Brantford 34-32. The Attack did not have any power play opportunities. Brantford finished 0 for 3.
Next up for the Attack is a home game against the Kitchener Rangers (0-2-1-0) Saturday night. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m., at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre.
NEW LEADERSHIP GROUP FOR ATTACK
Defenceman Konnor Smith made his season debut for the Attack Friday, and was announced as the team’s new captain ahead of the game. He is the 27th captain in Owen Sound franchise history, according to the Fred Wallace encyclopedia of Attack hockey. The team also named its assistant captains this season: Landen Hookey, James Petrovski and Jake Crawford.