NEWS RELEASE
BARRIE COLTS JUNIOR HOCKEY CLUB
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Recent Team Canada World Junior invitee Ty Dellandrea stole the show, registering a four-point night with a hat trick and an assist leading the Flint Firebirds to a 5-2 victory over the Barrie Colts on Thursday night.
The Colts were kicking off the first of a three-game set on the weekend, with the second and final matchup versus the Firebirds.
It would be a rough opening 20 minutes as the boys would find themselves playing catchup early. Jack Phibbs opened the scoring just under five minutes into the game and Dellandrea would score a pair of his own, two minutes apart to give the Firebirds a 3-0 lead.
The Colts would kick things into gear with a much better effort into the middle frame as they attempted to claw back.
Just past the midway point of the second period the teddy bears would fly. Matej Pekar would gather the rebound off a shot from rookie Trey Zagrzebski to put home his 15th of the season. The point for Zagrzebski was his first as a Barrie Colt.
Four minutes later, though, the Firebirds would regain the three-goal lead. Jet Greaves would make the initial pad save, but the rebound kicked right to the stick of Cody Morgan to make it 4-1.
Before the period was out, the Colts would catch a lucky bounce and cut the lead in half again. Aidan Brown sending what looked like a harmless dump in into the Flint zone would ricochet off a stanchion directly into the visitor crease. Tyson Foerster would blast the loose puck into the open cage for his 17th of the season. Jack York also assisted on the Colts second goal of the night.
Despite being down by two goals the Colts would outshoot the Firebirds 23-6 in the second period and hope to carry that momentum into the final frame, but the hill would prove too much to climb as Flint netminder Anthony Popovich would turn aside 13 more shots from the Colts to seal the win.
Dellandrea added the empty netter with just over a minute to play to give the visitors the three goal lead and ice this one 5-2.
The Colts are right back at it tonight as they hit the road for the weekend. Friday night will see the Colts take on the Guelph Storm and then a trip up to Sudbury on Sunday afternoon.
Tickets for all upcoming Barrie Colts home games can be purchased online, by calling 1-888-655-9090, or in person at the Colts Store.
Join the conversation on all things Colts by using #25Strong. You can also follow the Colts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @OHLBarrieColts.
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