Brantford Bulldogs rookie Nikolas Rossetto recorded his first career OHL points, but it wasn’t enough, as the team lost 5-3 to the Owen Sound Attack on Friday, October 4, 2024.
The first period was a defensive standstill between the two teams. Bulldogs G David Egorov and Attack G Carter George, kept the game scoreless through the first twenty minutes.
Brantford’s best opportunity in the opening frame came near the halfway mark when Calvin Crombie caused a turnover in the neutral zone and skated towards the Owen Sound goal, but George made the pad save. Owen Sound opened the scoring fifty seconds into the second period, courtesy of a two-on-one breakaway goal by Rafik Varosyan.
The Bulldogs looked for the equalizer as the period progressed, but Carter George kept the door shut. The Attack extended their lead with less than a minute to play. Tristan Delisle took advantage of a miscommunication from the Bulldogs and managed to sneak the puck past David Egorov for a 2-0 lead.
But the Bulldogs managed to draw closer before the end of the period. Joshua Avery received the pass from Nikolas Rossetto and sniped the puck past Carter George’s right shoulder. Rossetto recorded his first career point in the Ontario Hockey League with an assist. In the third period, the Bulldogs tied the game. Rossetto received the pass from Crombie up close and made no mistake for his first career OHL goal.
Owen Sound retook the lead for good at 8:09 as Max McCue scored on a feed from Elliot Arnett. Less than a minute later, the visitors doubled their lead on a sniper from Harry Nansi. Zakary Lavoie’s first marker of 2024 with 8:17 remaining gave the Bulldogs and the home crowd hope, setting the tone for a thrilling finish.
The Bulldogs pulled Egorov to the bench for the extra attacker late in the period but couldn’t find the equalizer. With twenty seconds left, Owen Sound iced the game on an empty net goal from Bruce McDonald.
