OHL trade deadline is one week away. Photo Credit: Ice Dogs/Facebook
The Niagara IceDogs have the longest playoff drought in the Ontario Hockey League.
2019 was the last time Niagara qualified for the postseason. Three current NHLers played for that IceDogs team. Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars, Phil Tomasino now with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Akil Thomas of the Los Angeles Kings.
Fast forward six years, and Niagara’s playoff drought could and should end here in 2025.
The IceDogs currently sit in second place in their division, just two points out of first, and have the fifth best winning record (23-11-2) and percentage (.667) in the 20-team OHL.
“Expectations are a funny thing, you want things to go this way, you dream about them going this way, what’s wrong them going this way,” said Niagara head coach Ben Boudreau, recently on the Niagara Sports Report on Newstalk 610 CKTB, when asked about exceeding expectations thus far.
“This city has been starved for playoff hockey, and that was the goal season.”
Boudreau points to one player for the team’s success this season.
“Owen Flores has been our (one) consistent. Show me a good coach, and I’ll show you a good goalie,” Boudreau said with a chuckle. “Thank god we have Owen Flores.
Solid goaltending, reliable goaltending, and consistent goaltending is where I would start when it comes to the team’s success.”
Upfront the IceDogs feature three players with over 40 points on the season.
Ryan Roobroeck (not NHL draft eligible until 2026) with 52 points, Kevin He (NHL Winnipeg Jets 2024 4th round selection) with 48 points, and Andrei Loshko (NHL Seattle Kraken 2023 4th round pick) with 43 points.
Ethan Czata, draft eligible this year, has impressed almost every game and currently has 16 goals and 37 points on the campaign.
On the backend Jack Brauti, acquired in a trade with the Barrie Colts in the off-season, leads all defensemen with 24 points, but Boudreau feels it’s another summer acquisition in Noah Van Vliet that leads the Niagara core of blueliners.
“One thing that’s constant is Noah Van Vliet,” explained Boudreau. “As a 20-year old he’s playing like a 20-year old should.
He’s big, he’s mean, he’s extremely difficult to play against and I don’t think he gets enough credit.”
It’s also on defense where Boudreau hopes general manager Wes Consorti can possibly pull the trigger on a trade.
The OHL trade deadline is Friday January 10.
“The one big thing is that offense has been winning us a lot of games, but defense will win you championships, Boudreau said.
“And that’s an area we have to pay special attention to.
That being said, we’re a perfect jell of guys and it would be hard to break anything up with the way we’re going.”
Exactly half of the IceDogs 32 games left in the regular season will be played at home, at Meridian Centre, in downtown St. Catharines.
For more information visit niagaraicedogs.net
Rod Mawhood is a lifelong Niagara native who has had the pleasure of working in all three mediums – Radio, Print and TV – for over 20 years. His first announcing gig was with the then St. Catharines Stompers. Since then he’s worked in radio and TV in Toronto, and currently is the announcer for the Niagara IceDogs and Niagara River Lions.
Rod also covers the Buffalo Bills for FOX Sports and the Buffalo Sabres for NBC Sports.
