SEDORE CLOSES SCORING IN FINAL OHL GAME, OTTERS WIN 5-2 IN SEASON FINALE
Erie, Pennsylvania – Game 68/68; the last chance for fans to see Erie Otters hockey until the Fall would come on Saturday night for the annual Fan Appreciation Night. With a close-to-sold out crowd anticipated for the season finale, the Erie Otters would look to close the year out by snapping the skid and returning to the win column – taking on a familiar foe in the Sarnia Sting.
An even-keel opening period would see the two teams held without a shot in the opening minutes. Once the two teams were settled in, it would be relatively end-to-end action, with 17 total shots fired off – favoring Erie 9-8. Sarnia would get the first two power play opportunities in the game, striking on the second one off a redirected shot from Marko Sikic (13) to give Sarnia the lone goal of the opening frame. Erie would be rewarded a power play late in the frame that would carry over into period two for :34. A 1-0 lead for Sarnia would remain after one.
Erie would come out as the team most ready to play in the second period, coming into the frame down a goal and leaving the period up by a goal. After an unsuccessful power play for the Otters, Kaleb Smith (10) would put the Otters on the board thanks to a pass from the seat of the pants of Malcolm Spence to make it a 1-1 game. Erie would then kill off a penalty kill to go 2/3 down a man. Erie would start to control offensive pace of play as the period would move along. With just under two minutes left, a wayward pass would find Taeo Artichuk (7) as the sophomore would put it away for the leading goal for the Otters to put them up for the first time, 2-1. The score would remain as the period closed, with Erie leading in shots 22-17.
Looking to snap the 17-game point streak of the Sarnia Sting, the Erie Otters would hope to build upon their one-goal lead in the third. It would take 9:36 and a stick slashed out of the hands of Sam Alfano, a pass to Carey Terrance, and a feed to Malcolm Spence (16), but Erie would go on top by two. 2:01 later, Ty Voit (24) would add to his incredible third-season scoring with his 104th point of the season to make it a 3-2 game. Erie would respond just over two minutes later from Pano Fimis (16) off of a faceoff win and a deke in front to give Erie back a two-goal. With a late power play to close out the season, Noah Sedore (16) would score the final goal of the final game of his final season in the OHL to give Erie a 5-2 emotional victory in the season finale. Erie would outshoot Sarnia 33-28 in the victory.
Thus closes the 2022-23 season for the Erie Otters, as they look ahead to the new season and new opportunities to return to the playoffs. Due up next for the organization, they look ahead to the OHL Draft Lottery on Wednesday, March 29 at 6:00 P.M., followed by the OHL Priority Selection Draft starting Friday, April 21. Erie’s 2023 Draft coverage will be presented by Voodoo Brewing Company, with fun activations to follow as part of the excitement. Please stay tuned to the Otters social media this Spring and Summer to be in the know with all that waits ahead.
