THREE STARS: GOOD THINGS COME IN THREE’S FOR THE STARS

Erie, Pennsylvania – With the passing of the penultimate week of the season for the Erie Otters, focus turns to closing things out for the 2022-23 season. Three games awaited Erie in its second-to-last week of play, with three games remaining.

Erie started the week at home Wednesday night against the Niagara IceDogs, falling short to Niagara 3-2. The team loaded up the bus for a Friday trip to Mississauga – their final Eastern Conference game of the season – where another close game would result in an Erie overtime loss, 4-3. The final game of the week was home against the Guelph Storm who would defeat Erie 5-2.  

Stars continued to shine bright for Erie in the three-game set; here’s who impressed the most.

THIRD STAR – BRUCE McDONALD

Bruuuuuuucccceeee!

The forward from Ottawa Bruce McDonald has made his rookie season a productive and memorable one. In the first game of the week, McDonald would find his seventh career goal to open scoring against Niagara, before setting up a Kaleb Smith goal. With two points, McDonald would secure his third multi-point game of the season.

McDonald is just shy of a 20-point rookie season with 17 points (7G+10A) currently on the year. With three games to go, a point-per-game would put the former U18 pick just over the plateau.

SECOND STAR – MALCOLM SPENCE

The hometown kid Malcolm Spence had a night in Mississauga on Friday. Playing in a more-than-familiar city, a three–point night for Spence would be found by the rookie.

Spence’s great game would begin with a breakaway shorthanded goal – giving Spence his 15th goal in his rookie season, and first-career “shorty”. It would be déjà vu on Malcolm’s next point as he would race into the offensive end and force a turnover, but this time find an open Carey Terrance to score Erie’s second goal of the night. The Terrance/Spence duo would not be finished, as Malcolm would assist #10 again on the power play for the rookie’s third point on the night.

You would be hard to find any complaints about the first season of the OHL for Malcolm Spence, and a return to Mississauga certainly showcased the fun ahead for Spence.

FIRST STAR – CAREY TERRANCE

History was made for Carey Terrance on Friday night.

In a final Eastern Conference battle, Terrance would score two goals on the night. The first goal would come by way of a selfless play by linemate Malcolm Spence, who would force a turnover in the offensive end for Terrance – his initial shot would be stopped, but his second effort would sneak under for goal #29. The bread-and-butter of the season for #10 has been the power play, and on Friday night, Terrance would score his 13th power play goal of the year and his 30th goal.

With the notch, Terrance became the first 30-goal scorer for the Erie Otters since Chad Yetman (19-20); continuing to boost his draft-stock as the now top-scorer on the Erie Otters.

Parting is such sweet sorrow; the 2022-23 season comes to an end this week for the Erie Otters, playing in three games in four days. Action resumes on Wednesday night at home for the second-annual Women’s Empowerment Night Game against the Kitchener Rangers. On Friday, Erie will load the bus one final time this season as they head up to Guelph to take on the Storm. The finale of the season brings Erie home on Saturday night for Fan Appreciation Night against the Sarnia Sting.