Ben Jones scored a goal and added two assists as the IceDogs topped the Bulldogs 4-1 in Hamilton. In the season opener for both teams, Stephen Dhillon was top notch in goal with 39 saves.
It was a scoreless first where the Dogs from St Catharines had numerous power-play opportunities, including a 5 on 3 for over a minute. The home town Bulldogs still had the shots edge at 15-10.
Oliver Castleman goes down as the first IceDogs goal scorer of 2017-2018 at the 1:02 mark of the second. A great three way passing play with Jones and rookie first rounder Philip Tomasino allowed Castleman to tap the puck into the Hamilton net. Captain Johnny Corneil would register the official winning goal at 7:58 with help from Kirill Maksimov and Liam Ham. As it turned out, the only hiccup for this night would be a short-handed Hamilton marker late in the second. Dhillon again faced 15 shots in the middle period.
The IceDogs would come out flying in the third and outshoot the Bulldogs 14-9 and be rewarded with the only two tallies. Ben Jones would go five hole to make it 3-1, 2:18 in, with help from Castleman and 2017 second rounder Billy Constantinou. Kirill Maksimov rounded out the scoring with a power-play blast in the final 5 minutes from Jones and Corneil.
Shots on goal for the night, Hamilton 40 and the IceDogs 37.
610 CKTB Three Stars of the Game
1-Ben Jones
2-Kirill Maksimov
3-Stephen Dhillon
Next action, the home opener, Friday night versus Erie. 610 CKTB will have all the action beginning with the pre-game at 6:30.