Erie Otters alumnus Jason Baird (1997-2001) is scheduled to attend Friday’s game against Peterborough at Tullio Arena. Baird will address the crowd and drop the first puck in a pregame ceremony. The club also will present Baird with a check consisting of additional funds accumulated since the Jason Baird benefit on Aug. 19. That event raised $30,000 for Baird’s medical expenses.
Baird suffered serious burns over 60-65 percent of his body in a lawnmower explosion on July 17 in Austintown, Ohio. Three weeks ago, he returned home after spending nearly three months at Akron Burn Center in Akron, Ohio. The Otters won’t hold meet-and-greet and autograph sessions with Baird.
But along with the pregame ceremony, Baird will reunite with Peterborough coach Ken McRae, who coached him with the Central Hockey League’s Indianapolis Ice from 2002-04 and for a brief stint with the CHL’s Corpus Christi Rayz in the 2005-06 season.

The Erie Otters should have defenseman David Shields and right wing Shawn Szydlowski back in the lineup for tonight's game against Barrie at Tullio Arena, said Sherry Bassin, managing partner/general manager. Shields was banged up on Friday in Sault Ste. Marie by what Bassin called a hit from behind by former Otter Jordan Nolan. Szydlowski's back problem kept him out of last weekend's two-game trip to Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury.
Meanwhile, defenseman Paul Cianfrini will serve the final game of a two-game, OHL-imposedf suspension for the game misconduct he received on Friday for being the aggressor against Nolan. "Cianfrini jumped in to protect (Shields)," Bassin said.
In other news, defenseman Mitch Gaulton begins practicing with the team on Monday or Tuesday, Bassin said. Gaulton, who was expected to miss the entire season while rehabilitating his surgically repaired left elbow, could make his season debut following Christmas break.

– Victor Fernandes

* Shields, Szydlowski back: Defenseman David Shields and right wing Shawn Szydlowski (back) rejoined the lineup for Wednesday’s game against Barrie at Tullio Arena. Shields was banged up on Friday in Sault Ste. Marie by what Sherry Bassin, managing partner/general manager, called a hit from behind by former Otter Jordan Nolan. Szydlowski's missed last weekend's two-game trip.
Meanwhile, defenseman Paul Cianfrini served the final game of a two-game, OHL-imposed suspension for the game misconduct he received on Friday for being the aggressor against Nolan. “Cianfrini jumped in to protect (Shields),” Bassin said.

* Around the rink: The Otters scratched Cianfrini, defenseman Robyn Sertic (concussion) and forwards Mike Liambas (hip flexor) and Mike Cazzola. Liambas remains out indefinitely, Bassin said. … Barrie scratched goaltender Dalton McGrath, centers Behn Robertson and Colin Behenna and right wing Matt Smyth. … The Otters’ inaugural Hockey for the Hungry Night raised more than 5,000 pounds of food for the Second Harvest Food Bank, as of game time on Wednesday.

– Victor Fernandes

Shawn Szydlowski recorded his first OHL hat trick and goaltender Jaroslav Janus posted his second career shutout to lead the Erie Otters to a win at Tullio Arena on Wednesday night.
Last weekend, an ailing Szydlowski remained in Erie while the Otters (8-9-1-0) headed north for games in Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury. But against the Colts (7-9-1-0), he recaptured his offensive rhythm with linemate Ryan O’Reilly. They combined on power-play goals midway through the second and third periods – the club’s only chances with the man advantage – and an empty-net goal with 11 seconds left.
Szydlowski improved his total to a team-leading eight, one shy of equaling of his career high. Meanwhile, Janus made 31 saves in outplaying Colts goaltender Peter Di Salvo (28 saves).
Janus, Szydlowski and O’Reilly headlined a penalty kill that stymied the Colts on all seven chances, including a brief 6-on-4 in the closing seconds. Coupled with a 2-for-2 effort from an often struggling power play, the Otters enjoyed a perfect night on special teams. The Otters are second in the league on the penalty kill (90.3 percent). Barrie has lost six of its last seven and eight of 11. They have scored three goals or fewer in eight straight games.

– Victor Fernandes

The Erie Otters have acquired second-year center Andrew Yogan, 16, from Windsor in exchange for goaltending prospect Andrew Maxwell, the club announced today. The Otters also received a second-round pick in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection.
Yogan (6 feet 3 inches, 202 pounds) has five goals, eight points and 24 penalty minutes in 16 games this season with the Spitfires, the team he will face in his Otters' debut on Saturday night at Tullio Arena. Yogan, a 2007 fifth-round choice, was scheduled to arrive in Erie during tonight's game against Peterborough.
Yogan has 10 goals, 15 points and 56 penalty minutes in 66 career OHL games. Meanwhile, Maxwell, 17, was the Otters' second-round pick (No. 27 overall) in the 2007 OHL draft. But he has chosen to play with the United States National Development Program instead of reporting to the Otters.
In other trade news, the Petes traded goaltender Trevor Cann, 19, to London for defenseman Barron Smith, 17, forward Sergei Korostin, 19, and a 2010 second-round pick, the OHL announced Thursday night.

– Victor Fernandes

Sherry Bassin always appreciated what little he saw of center Andrew Yogan.
Even with a handful of shifts, “you noticed him,” Bassin, Erie Otters managing partner/general manager, said during tonight's game against Peterborough at Tullio Arena. But after seeing his two-point effort against Oshawa last Sunday, Bassin was convinced.
Bassin acquired Yogan, 16, a native of Boca Raton, Fla., from Windsor for goaltending prospect Brandon Maxwell. The Otters also received a second-round pick in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection.
“We were very, very high on him,” Bassin said of Yogan (6 feet 3 inches, 202 pounds), who has five goals (including four game-winners), eight points and 24 penalty minutes in 16 games this season.
He has 10 goals, 15 points and 56 penalty minutes in 66 OHL games. He arrived at Tullio Arena during Friday’s game against Peterborough. He will make his Otters’ debut tonight at home against the Spitfires.
“It’s going to be fun,” Yogan said of playing his former team. But his goal is to immediately add to the Otters’ steadily growing winning attitude. “I’ve been on a winning team the last two years,” Yogan said of the Spitfires, who followed a 41-win season last year with an 18-1 start and No. 1 CHL ranking.
“Wherever they put me, I’m going to work my hardest,” he said. “I like making an impact.”
Bassin envisions Yogan on the top two lines in the future. Meanwhile, Bassin doubted Maxwell, 17, would report to the Otters after completing his two-year commitment to the United States National Team Development Program after this season. Although Maxwell reportedly has committed to Boston College, Bassin expects him to join the Spitfires.
Warren Rychel, Windsor’s vice president/GM, said on the club’s Web site, “We will work diligently to get him in a Spitfires’ uniform.”
“His preference was another team,” Bassin said of Maxwell. Initially, Bassin wasn’t interested in Windsor’s second-round pick, since it likely would be at the end of the round. He changed his mind after learning Barrie originally held that pick, since it could fall early or in the middle of the round.
But he needed Yogan in the deal to trade Maxwell, a second-round pick (No. 27 overall) in the 2007 OHL draft. “If I wasn’t getting the right situation,” Bassin said, “(Maxwell) wasn’t going anywhere.”

– Victor Fernandes

Justin Hodgman had a goal and two assists, while Brandon Biggers and Ryan O’Reilly added two points apiece, to lead the Otters to a key win at Tullio Arena on Friday night.
The Otters (9-9-1-0), winners of two straight and seven of their last 10 games, could sweep a three-game weekend series and post a winning overall record with a victory over Windsor (19-1-0-0) tonight at home.
The Otters last swept a three-game weekend series on Oct. 29, 2005 – more than three years ago. They last posted a winning record on Sept. 22, 2006 – more than two years ago. Their last three-game winning streak was Dec. 1-8, 2007 – nearly a year ago.
Against the Petes (8-11-0-1), The Otters’ power play added to their 2-for-2 effort against Barrie on Wednesday. The unit scored on its first two opportunities again and finished 2-for-3, giving the Otters four goals in their last five chances.
Sean Jones’ goal built a 1-0 lead midway through the first period. Then Biggers’ goal with less than a second left in the second period built a 3-1 lead. Hodgman followed with an even-strength goal 10 minutes, 3 seconds into the third to cap his three-point effort.
O’Reilly’s empty-net goal with 52 seconds left sealed the win. Jaroslav Janus (27 saves) has won eight of his last 10 starts. His record stands at 9-7-1-0, the first time he has been two games above .500 in his career. Tyler Hostetter scored his first goal of the season and second of his Otters’ career. David Quesnele scored the Petes’ other goal, while goaltender Jason Missiaen stopped 35-of-39 shots in his first start since the club traded Trevor Cann to London.

* Special ceremony: The club honored former Otters forward Jason Baird (1997-2001) in a pregame ceremony. Captain Zack Torquato handed Baird with his old No. 33 sweater. Shawn Waskiewicz, assistant general manager – administration, presented him with a check for $10,748 to offset mounting medical expenses. That brought the total raised from the club’s benefit in August to more than $40,000.
But the highlight of the ceremony occurred moments after the presentation, as every player from both the Otters and Peterborough and the three game officials shook Baird’s hand. “He’s such a fighter,” Sherry Bassin, Otters managing partner/general manager, told the crowd. “He’s beat all the odds.”

* Petes trade Cann: Peterborough arrived in Erie on Friday without goaltender Trevor Cann. The Petes traded Cann, 19, to London for defenseman Barron Smith, 17, forward Sergei Korostin, 19, and a second-round pick in the 2010 OHL Priority Selection. Jason Missiaen, who split time with Cann this season, should be the full-time No. 1 goaltender.

* Around the rink: The Otters scratched defenseman Robyn Sertic (concussion) and wingers Michael Liambas (hip flexor) and Matthew Paton. … Peterborough scratched defensemen Jeff Braithwaite, Chris Buonomo and Derek Holden and forwards Zach Tatrn, Brad Gehl and Liam Heelis. … The Otters collected 5,443 pounds of food for the Second Harvest Food Bank during its inaugural Hockey for the Hungry Campaign, which concluded Wednesday.

– Victor Fernandes

* Liambas gone wild: Injured winger Michael Liambas could face a suspension – from the league, the team or both – following a bizarre shouting match with Windsor’s Richard Greenop in the second period of Saturday night’s game at Tullio Arena. Liambas, who hasn’t played a game this season because of a hip flexor injury, raced down the stairs between sections 8 and 9 and confronted Greenop, who was in the penalty box. Moments later, security guards escorted Liambas away.

* Bittersweet moment: Before the game, newly acquired center Andrew Yogan was excited to make his Otters’ debut. But it was strange facing the Spitfires his former team. “We’ll be friends for a long time,” he said. “I never wanted to leave.”
However, Yogan had no trouble leaving the Spitfires, the CHL’s No. 1 team and the favorite to capture the OHL championship, to join the Otters. While playing minor hockey in his native Florida, Yogan’s teams often faced top clubs from the northern United States and Canada.
Now Yogan wants to prove he can be a key contributor for the Otters in every situation. “I’ve got to show off what I can do,” said Yogan, who played with several different linemates in the game. Although Yogan entered the league as a center, he plans to stay on left wing, where he played with the Spitfires.
“I’m a more natural winger,” he said.

* On the mend: Defenseman Robyn Sertic (concussion) expects to begin working out this week. He also could resume skating during the week, his first time on the ice since being injured on Oct. 18 in Owen Sound. But he was unclear when he would rejoin the Otters’ lineup.
“I’m fine,” he said before Saturday’s game against Windsor. “I’d rather be out there playing.”
Sertic has sustained more than one concussion in his two-year OHL career. “It concerns me,” he said, referring to his health and career in the future. But only one possible solution enters his mind.
“I have to try to not take big hits,” he said.

* Game scratches: The Otters scratched Sertic, wingers Michael Liambas (hip flexor) and Matthew Paton and center Edgar Rybakov. … Liambas, who has been rehabilitating at home in Toronto, Ontario, rejoined the club on Friday. … Windsor scratched defensemen Harry Young (broken bone in foot) and Patrick Moran and centers Adam Henrique (upper-body injury) and Joshua Bailey, who remains with the New York Islanders. Bailey, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, reportedly has been rehabilitating a lower-body injury.

* Around the rink: The Otters have joined the 59 other CHL teams in wearing a crest on their sweaters promoting the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship. The tournament begins Dec. 26 in Ottawa, Ontario. The crest features a hockey player holding a stick, lines indicating speed, a maple leaf and gold skates, which reflect Team Canada’s colors and gold-medal hopes.

– Victor Fernandes

Sean Jones’ tiebreaking goal and Zack Torquato’s empty netter late in the third period sealed arguably the Otters’ biggest win in four seasons on Saturday night Tullio Arena.
The Otters (10-9-1-0) have a winning record for the first time since Sept. 22, 2006, when they beat the Spitfires on opening night of the 2006-07 season. The Otters swept a three-game weekend series for the first time since Oct. 29, 2005. They also have their first three-game winning streak since December.
They reached those milestones by beating the Spitfires (19-2-0-0), the CHL’s No. 1 team, and snapping their 13-game winning streak.
The Otters trailed by a goal twice, the final time following Ryan Ellis’ short-handed goal with 57 seconds left in the first. But the Otters relied on a simple game and Jaroslav Janus’ stellar play in goal, which kept the level of frustration low as quality scoring chances and power-play opportunities slipped away.
Luke Gazdic’s power-play goal tied the score at 2 with 6:33 left in the second. After Jones’ go-ahead goal with 6:31 left, Torquato added the clinching goal. Taylor Hall, the OHL’s leading scorer, added a goal for Windsor. The Otters have allowed three goals or fewer in nine of the last 11 games.
The Otters’ power play (2-for-9 against Windsor) finished the three-game weekend 6-for-14. The Otters’ league-best penalty kill was 6-for-6, improving their streak to 15 straight. Janus made 32 saves to post his eighth win in his past 10 starts.

The Erie Otters have reassigned right wing Matthew Paton, 17, to an undetermined Tier II club. He had no points in three games this season and has one point and nine penalty minutes in 16 career games. He missed the first six weeks of the season after undergoing an appendectomy in early September.

– Victor Fernandes

The OHL will review Erie Otters winger Michael Liambas' incident during Saturday's game against Windsor at Tullio Arena, Sherry Bassin, managing partner/general manager, said today.
Liambas needs to submit a letter to league officials explaining his actions against the Spitfires' Richard Greenop in the second period of the Otters' 4-2 win.
Liambas, 19, who continues to rehabilitate a surgically repaired hip flexor, raced down the stairs between sections 8 and 9 and verbally confronted Greenop, who was in the penalty box. Greenop was penalized for a check to the head of newly acquired forward Andrew Yogan, his former teammate. Moments later, security guards escorted Liambas away.
"He was very upset that a 19-year-old would hit a 16-year-old like that," Bassin said of Liambas. "It tells you how he feels about the team. It doesn't make it right. ... He overreacted."
In a brief post-game conversation, Liambas admitted he overreacted, Bassin said.
Bassin awaits word on a ruling from the league office. Commissioner David Branch and Bassin were at CHL meetings in Toronto, Ontario, on Monday and today, but they didn't discuss the incident. Whether the league punishes Liambas or not, Bassin said, he likely will serve extra community service to make amends for his actions.
In other news, right wing Matthew Paton, 17, who the club reassigned on Monday, will play for the St. Catharines Jr. B club. Bassin wants Paton to play consistently now that he has recovered from an appendectomy and, most recently, a finger injury. Paton still factors into the club's future, Bassin said. "We really believe he can play for us," Bassin said.

– Victor Fernandes

The Erie Otters have recalled center Josh Sidwell, 17, from the London Nationals, a Jr. B club in the Ontario Hockey Association's Western Ontario Conference. He had two goals, six points and two penalty minutes in eight games with the Nationals after being assigned by the Otters three weeks ago. Before being assigned, he had one goal, two points and two penalty minutes in five games with the Otters this season. He has four goals, five points and four penalty minutes in 19 career OHL games.

– Victor Fernandes

Erie Otters rookie winger Greg McKegg, 16, will represent Ontario in the 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, set for Dec. 29-Jan. 4 in Port Alberni, British Columbia. McKegg, the No. 1 pick in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection, becomes the fourth Otter (Brett Cook, Mitch Gaulton and Ryan O'Reilly) to participate in the international tournament. McKegg will join 21 other OHL players on the team. The roster includes:
Goaltenders - Mark Visentin (Niagara), J.P. Anderson (Mississauga St. Michael's)
Defensemen - Erik Gudbranson (Kingston), Ryan O'Connor (Barrie), Brock Beukeboom (Sault Ste. Marie), Nathan Chiarlitti (Sarnia), Keevin Cutting (Owen Sound), Stephen Silas (Belleville), Jeff Braithwaite (Peterborough)
Forwards - Ryan Spooner (Peterborough), Cody McNaughton (Guelph), Christian Thomas (London), Gregg Sutch (Sarnia), Steven Shipley (Owen Sound), Freddie Hamilton (Niagara), Tyler Toffoli (Ottawa), Devante Smith-Pelly (Mississauga), John McFarland (Sudbury), Jeff Skinner (Kitchener), Tyler Seguin (Plymouth), McKegg, Sam Carrick (Brampton)
Niagara's Mario Cicchillo will serve as coach. Belleville's Jake Grimes and Kitchener's Troy Smith are assistant coaches. The six-team international event also features teams from the United States, Finland, Germany, Russia and Slovakia.

– Victor Fernandes

Erie Otters center Ryan O'Reilly, 17, has been added to the OHL roster for the 2008 ADT Canada Russia Challenge, the league announced today. O'Reilly will play in the first game of the two-game series against the Russian Selects Junior team on Thursday at Sleeman Centre in Guelph, Ontario. He will join defenseman Nick Crawford (Saginaw) and forward Josh Brittain (Kingston) as the latest additions for that game. Plymouth forward Chris Terry was removed from the team because of an injury.
Meanwhile, Niagara defenseman, who was reassigned by the NHL's St. Louis Blues this week, and Barrie forward Stefan Della Rovere have been added to the roster for the Nov. 24 game at Gatorade Garden City Complex in St. Catharines, Ontario.

– Victor Fernandes

The Erie Otters waited more than two years to post a winning record.
In 10 minutes, it was gone.
“We lost that game in the first 10 minutes,” left wing Sean Jones said after a 3-1 loss to Owen Sound in front of 3,054 at Tullio Arena on Friday night. The Attack attacked from the outset. The Otters didn’t.
“We were kind of sleepy,” said goaltender Jaroslav Janus, who allowed all three goals on seven shots in the opening 7 minutes, 20 seconds before settling down to stop the Attack’s final 28 shots.
But the Attack (8-9-3-1) had all the goals they needed, as rookie Steven Shipley, Andrew Wilkins and Mike Lomas scored to build a 3-0 lead and quickly erase any lingering momentum from the Otters’ three-game sweep last weekend. “We weren’t as ready as we had to be,” Otters coach Robbie Ftorek said.
The night began inauspiciously for the Otters (10-10-1-0). They played without defenseman Tyler Hostetter, recently acquired center Andrew Yogan and rookie forwards Greg McKegg and Mike Cazzola because of disciplinary reasons, Sherry Bassin, managing partner/general manager, said. Hostetter and McKegg dressed but didn’t play. Yogan and Cazzola were listed as healthy scratches.
Bassin declined to disclose their specific infractions. But all four are eligible to play in tonight’s home game against Owen Sound. “Our team was hurt (because of those disciplined players),” Bassin said.

– Victor Fernandes

* Maxwell denied: USA Hockey has denied former Otters’ goaltending prospect Brandon Maxwell’s request for a release, the Windsor Star reported Friday. The Spitfires acquired Maxwell, 17, a second-round pick in the 2007 OHL Priority Selection, from the Otters on Nov. 7 in the Andrew Yogan deal.
Maxwell, who chose not to play for the Otters, is in the second year of a two-year commitment to play for the U.S. National Team Development Program. “It just didn’t work out,” Maxwell told the Windsor Star. “I’ll be in a Spitfire uniform next year and I’m looking forward to helping them win a Memorial Cup.”

* Bowl with the Otters: A limited number of spots are available for “Bowling with the Otters” on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Rolling Meadow Lanes. Registration, which costs $20 (adults) and $15 (children 12 and under), includes bowling, an event T-shirt and prizes. Call the Otters’ office at (814) 455-7779 or visit the fan assistance center during tonight’s game against Owen Sound for reservations.

* Around the rink: The Otters scratched defenseman Robyn Sertic (concussion) and forwards Yogan (disciplinary reasons), Mike Cazzola (disciplinary reasons), Mike Liambas (hip flexor) and Matthew Paton (reassigned to St. Catharines Jr. B). … Owen Sound scratched defenseman Mark Ramkema and forwards Joshua Domingues, Marc Franchini, Garrett Wilson (OHL-imposed, 15-game suspension) and Joe Vanni. Wilson completes the suspension tonight. … Attack defenseman David Kolomatis rejoined the lineup after being scratched the previous four games.

– Victor Fernandes

* Valuable lesson: As expected, defenseman Tyler Hostetter and forwards Mike Cazzola, Greg McKegg and Andrew Yogan rejoined the Otters’ lineup on Saturday after being benched for disciplinary reasons on Friday. They learned a much-needed lesson while watching that 3-1 loss to Owen Sound.
“I agree with what (coach Robbie Ftorek) did,” Hostetter said. “I was not happy with what he did. But I’m glad he did it because it taught me a lesson. … It kind of killed me not to be able to help the team.”
Yogan planned to rebound from his impromptu night off. “I’m not going to let it affect me all,” he said. “I have to learn the lesson somehow. … (Ftorek) wants you to learn (to act) the right way.”

* Fighting spirit: Rookie winger Anthony Luciani, who stands 5 feet 8 inches tall and 203 pounds, has four fighting majors in 21 games this season. In a way, he has filled the void left while left wing Michael Liambas recovers from offseason hip flexor surgery. “I’m feisty. I get my nose dirty,” Luciani said.
But he prefers to capitalize on the offensive end. He had an assist on Saturday against the Attack, giving him four goals and 10 points this season.

* Around the rink: The Otters scratched centers Josh Sidwell and Edgar Rybakov and defensemen Robyn Sertic (concussion) and Liambas. … Second-year center Joey Hishon, the Attack’s leading scorer with 13 goals and 27 points, sat out because he was ill. … The Attack also scratched left wing Garrett Wilson and center Marc Franchini. Wilson completed a 15-game suspension on Saturday.

– Victor Fernandes

Captain Zack Torquato had a goal and two assists, while Brandon Biggers, Paul Cianfrini and Andrew Yogan had two points apiece, to lead the Otters past the Attack at Tullio Arena Saturday night.
The Otters (11-10-1-0) managed a split of the two-game weekend series with the Attack (8-10-3-1).
The Otters completed a season-high, five-game home stand with a 4-1 record by starting strong against the Attack. A night after quickly falling behind 3-0, the Otters built an early 2-0 lead.
Yogan snapped a scoreless tie 5 minutes, 58 seconds into the opening period. He finished with a goal and an assist – his first goal and points as an Otter in only his second game. Less than two minutes later, Luke Gazdic redirected Torquato’s shot past Attack goaltender Tyler Beskorowany for a 2-0 Otters lead.
However, that lead disappeared.
Myles Doan scored on a scramble in front of goaltender Jaroslav Janus to slice Erie’s lead to 2-1 with 5:05 left in the first. Lane MacDermid followed with the tying goal 7:35 into the second.
The Attack appeared ready to take their first lead of the game later in the period. Penalties against Erie’s Nick Palmieri and Shawn Szydlowski handed the Attack a 5-on-3 power play for 1 minute, 45 seconds.
But Torquato’s pressure on the penalty kill led to an interference penalty against the Attack, abruptly ending the two-man advantage. Then Cianfrini’s pinpoint stretch pass led to Torquato’s breakaway as Owen Sound’s power play expired and a 3-2 Otters’ lead with 3:38 left.
Cianfrini’s goal 45 seconds into the third – his sixth goal in 139 OHL games – extended the Otters’ lead to 4-2. MacDermid’s second goal of the night, a short-handed goal, rallied the Attack within 4-3 with 9:32 left in regulation. But the Otters rebounded on the same power play, as left wing Shawn Szydlowski equaled his career high with his ninth goal of the season. He had nine in 66 games as a rookie last season.
Janus silenced the Attack the rest of the way, finishing with 18 of his 35 saves in the third.

Erie Otters captain Zack Torquato believes he suffered a mild shoulder stinger in the final seconds of Saturday's win against Owen Sound. "It wasn't anything really," he said before today's workout at Tullio Arena. "I'm going to practice today." He also will practice the rest of the week and play Friday in Kitchener. At the time, he said, "it just felt like something that was worse. I never had a feeling like that before. It's fine now. It's nothing to worry about."

– Victor Fernandes

Erie Otters center Ryan O'Reilly, 17, ranks eighth among OHL skaters on NHL Central Scouting's preliminary rankings for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, which were released today. Centers John Tavares (Oshawa), Matt Duchene (Brampton) and Nazem Kadri (London) held the top three spots, respectively.
The rest of the top 10 are center Peter Holland (Guelph), defenseman Calvin de Haan (Oshawa), right wing Zack Kassian (Peterborough), defenseman Ryan Ellis (Windsor), O'Reilly, left wing Taylor Beck (Guelph), center Micheal Fine (Sault Ste. Marie) and center Michael Latta (Ottawa).
Saginaw's Edward Pasquale tops the list of OHL goaltenders. Scott Stajcer (Owen Sound), Chris Perugini (Ottawa), Alain Valiquette (Sudbury), Peter Di Salvo (Barrie), Michael Zador (London) and Brandon Foote (Brampton) round out the list.
The QMJHL's top prospects are defenseman Simon Despres (Saint John) and goaltender Olivier Roy (Cape Breton). In the WHL, defenseman Jared Cowen (Spokane) and goaltender Nathan Lieuwen (Kootenay) top the list.
In other Otters' news, Michael Mersch, 16, a forward prospect taken in the eighth round of the 2008 OHL Priority Selection, has verbally committed to the University of Wisconsin, according to the Team Illinois AAA hockey program's Web site. Mersch, a Team Illinois alumnus, currently plays for the United States National Team Development Program's Under-17 team.

Kitchener and London could face the Erie Otters this weekend without their leading scorers.
Rangers winger Brandon Mashinter (14 goals, 26 points) left Saturday's game against Guelph with a nagging knee injury, according to the The Kitchener Record. He originally injured the knee on Nov. 1 against Plymouth, The Record reported. The Otters and Rangers meet Friday night in Kitchener. Mashinter has one point in two games against the Otters this season.
Meanwhile, London center Nazem Kadri (12 goals, 28 points), who suffered a cracked jaw last Friday against Barrie, could miss as much as a month, according to The London Free Press. The Otters and Midwest Division-leading Knights meet Saturday at Tullio Arena. Kadri has one point, a goal, in two games against the Otters this season.
In other Otters' news, center Ryan O'Reilly will play in the 2008 ADT Canada Russia Challenge on Thursday night at Sleeman Centre in Guelph, Ontario. But he will rejoin the team for Friday's game in Kitchener.

The Erie Otters have traded right wing Nick Palmieri, 19, to Belleville for third-round and seventh-round picks in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection, the Otters announced today.
Palmieri, the 30th overall pick in the 2005 OHL Priority Selection, had seven goals and 12 points in 18 games this season. He has 72 goals and 126 points in 192 career games. His 72 goals are tied for sixth most in franchise history. Palmieri will face his former team on Thanksgiving Night at Tullio Arena.

– Victor Fernandes

The Erie Otters have traded right wing Nick Palmieri, 19, to Belleville today for third-round and seventh-round picks in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection. Coupled with three picks acquired in the Jordan Skellett, Kelly Geoffrey and Brandon Maxwell deals earlier this season, an unnamed league source speaking on condition of anonymity said, the Otters have 11 picks in the top 60 spots in the next two drafts - seven in 2009.
According to the source, Sherry Bassin, Otters managing partner/general manager, could package some picks in a bigger trade before the Jan. 9 trade deadline or the 2009 draft in May. "Don't be surprised if other things happen," the source said. "(These deals) could lead to something else anywhere."
According to the source, a few clubs with a significant shortage of draft choices have indicated interest to Bassin. Bassin said talks involving Belleville players occurred before he chose to focus on picks. "We weren't interested in just players," Bassin said. "Even though we've got a lot of (picks), you can never have too many. There's always people wanting them. If we've got a lot, some teams don't have them."
Meanwhile, Palmieri's departure allows coach Robbie Ftorek to provide some young Otters, such as rookies Greg McKegg and Mike Cazzola, with more ice time.
"We felt that our current roster has some other guys, some young players, that can step in and play more than they're playing," Bassin said. "Robbie feels like we've got a lot of capable players."

– Victor Fernandes

Nick Palmieri has gotten his wish.
With today's trade to Belleville, the veteran winger will play for a OHL championship contender less than three hours from his Clinton, N.Y., home. Although Palmieri told Sherry Bassin, Erie Otters managing partner/general manager, a couple of days ago he was happy in Erie, Palmieri looks forward to playing for the Bulls.
"It's definitely a good situation. I'm happy with it," Palmieri said today. He makes his Bulls' debut tonight in Kingston against former Otters teammate Kelly Geoffrey - six months after requesting a trade to a contender in hopes of making the playoffs for the first time in what should be his final OHL season. Palmieri, who signed with the New Jersey Devils last season, should begin his first full professional season next year.
"I thought (the Otters) were really starting to come around and become a more competitive team," Palmieri said. "In the end, it's all up to what management thinks is best. In the end, the best for me and the team was a trade. ... I wanted to get to a team that was a legitimate contender." Belleville (16-6-1-2) leads the East Division and Eastern Conference with 35 points.
However, Palmieri was surprised by the trade. Around noon on Thursday, Bassin told Palmieri that talks with Bulls coach/GM George Burnett intensified "is getting closer than I thought ... and we're pretty close to something," Bassin said today.
So instead of practicing with the team on Thursday, Palmieri worked out alone. "Up until then, I hadn't really heard anything about a trade," Palmieri said. "It kind of caught me off guard."
But when asked if he would have preferred to stay in Erie, Palmieri said. "I'll have to plead the fifth on that one. I don't want to ruffle any feathers."

– Victor Fernandes

KITCHENER, Ontario – Kitchener Memorial Auditorium is a house of horrors for the Erie Otters.
Erie’s losing streak in that rink reached 10 straight games on Friday night, as the Rangers’ late-game offensive explosion handed the Otters a 6-2 loss in front of 6,298 fans.
Kitchener (10-10-1-1), the defending OHL champion, scored five unanswered goals in an 8½-minute stretch of the second and third periods to break open a tight game. Chris MacKinnon, Steve Lock and Scott Timmins sparked the outburst, as they combined for all five goals and seven points. They totaled five goals and eight points in the game, with Timmins scoring his team-leading 14th and 15th goals.
The Rangers played without leading scorer Brandon Mashinter (14 goals, 26 points), who reportedly is out indefinitely with a knee injury. Sean Jones snapped the Rangers’ scoring streak 4:16 into the third.
But Timmins’ goal with 1:42 left sealed the win. The Otters (11-11-1-0) last won in Kitchener on Feb. 2, 2006. Kitchener scored all five goals on 34 shots against goaltender Jaroslav Janus. Kitchener’s Josh Unice, stopped 41-for-43 shots to record only his second win in 10 games this season.
The Otters led 1-0 on Zack Torquato’s team-leading 10th goal of the season 13:03 into the second. But MacKinnon’s goal 2:01 later tied the score at 1. Less than two minutes after MacKinnon’s goal, Lock scored to hand the Rangers a 2-1 lead. Then MacKinnon, Lock and Timmins scored in the opening 3:23 of the third for a 5-1 lead. MacKinnon finished with two goals and two assists, while Timmins had two goals and an assist. Lock scored two goals.
The Rangers beat the Otters for the first time in three tries this season.
In other news, former Otter Nick Palmieri, traded to Belleville today, had an assist, a plus-1 rating and two penalty minutes in his Bulls' debut - a 5-4 overtime loss in Kingston. Former Kelly Geoffrey had a goal and an assist for the Frontenacs.

The Erie Otters’ collapse began much sooner Saturday night.
A night after a late-game letdown in a loss to Kitchener, the Otters fell behind early in a 5-2 loss to London in front of 3,713 at Tullio Arena. With the loss, the Otters (11-12-1-0) dropped consecutive games for the first time since a season-high, five-game losing streak in early October.
Meanwhile, the Midwest Division-leading Knights (19-5-0-1) have an eight-game winning streak.
The Otters wasted no time in allowing the Knights to take control. London scored twice in the opening five minutes to build a 2-0 lead, and the Knights’ top offensive weapons didn’t score either of them.
Rookie Colin Martin opened the scoring 3:16 into the first period with his first OHL goal in his Knights’ debut. Less than two minutes later, defenseman Kevin Montgomery, who was recently returned to the Knights from Lake Erie (AHL), scored his second goal of the season for a 2-0 lead.
Left wing Sean Jones momentarily sparked the Otters at the 7:07 mark of the period, as he tied captain Zack Torquato for the team lead with 10 goals. Forward Andrew Yogan’s power-play goal with 7:27 left in the second period provided the same temporary momentum boost.
But each time, the Knights responded emphatically.
Center Justin Taylor’s 13th goal of the season offset Jones’ first-period goal and regained London’s two-goal lead. Then in the second, center Kale Kerbashian scored 22 seconds after Yogan’s goal for a 4-2 Knights’ lead. The Otters trailed 5-2 following defenseman Vladimir Roth’s slap shot with 5:27 left in the second. London scored all five goals on 22 shots against goaltenders Jaroslav Janus and Shane Owen.
Janus surrendered three goals on nine shots a night after allowing five goals in a decisive 8½-minute stretch against the Rangers. Owen, who replaced Janus with 5:45 left in the opening period, stopped 17-of-19 shots. London goaltender Trevor Cann, acquired from Peterborough on Nov. 6, made 26 saves.
In other news, former Otter Nick Palmieri scored his first goal with Belleville in a 3-2 win against Sarnia on Saturday. He also added an assist, giving Palmieri a goal and two assists in two games since being acquired from the Otters on Friday.

* Golden opportunity: Right wing Nick Palmieri’s trade to Belleville on Friday has created more ice time for young Otters such as rookies Greg McKegg, Mike Cazzola and Josh Sidwell.
“It’s a great thing,” Sidwell said before Saturday night’s game against London at Tullio Arena. “You hate to see a guy go. But it gives us an opportunity to show what we’ve got.”
The young players also face more pressure, Sidwell said. “With a veteran guy being moved,” Sidwell said, “we’ve got to step up and fill the void.” But veteran winger Luke Gazdic said the entire team needs to increase their production. “(The responsibility) falls on everyone,” he said.

* Injury update: Defensemen Robyn Sertic (concussion) and Michael Liambas (hip flexor) will be evaluated by specialists in the next week, Sherry Bassin, managing partner/general manager, said Friday. He said Liambas remains “weeks away from playing.” Bassin was uncertain when Sertic would return.
Meanwhile, forwards Nazem Kadri (cracked jaw) and Akim Aliu (upper-body injury) didn’t dress for the Knights. Kadri’s jaw will remain wired shut for another two weeks, a club official said. Aliu was injured in Friday’s home win against Peterborough.

* Around the rink: The Otters scratched Sertic and Liambas and rookie center Edgar Rybakov. … The Knights scratched Kadri, Aliu, left wing Garett Hunter and defenseman Scott Valentine.

– Victor Fernandes

The Toronto Maple Leafs traded Erie Otters alumnus Carlo Colaiacovo and center Alex Steen to St. Louis today for right wing Lee Stempniak, according to the Blues’ Web site. The deal reunites Colaiacovo, a defenseman, with former Otters teammate Brad Boyes, a Blues’ center.
Colaiacovo and Boyes played in Erie from 1999-2002. They led the Otters to the 2001-02 OHL title, the 12-year-old franchise’s only league championship. Colaiacovo, 25, has one point and six penalty minutes in 10 games this season and 12 goals, 33 points and 57 penalty minutes in 111 career games.

Erie Otters' fans aren't alone in following the twists and turns of Nick Palmieri's season.
New Jersey Devils' fans closely watched Palmieri's development since the NHL club selected him in the third round of the 2007 Entry Draft. Devils fans considered his trade request "un-Devil-like," said Julia Hiramoto, 23, of Belle Mead, N.J., a Devils' fan since 1991, referring to the franchise's team-first approach. "But it was also understandable," she said, "and his willingness to play for the club after he returned from Devils' training camp suggested a better mindset."
The majority of fans believe "a trade would be good for his development," Hiramoto said. "Any negative things that Devils' fans had heard or seen about him, such as poor defensive play and bad penalties, were mostly explained by his frustration at playing for a weaker team. Palmieri's trade also gives Devils' fans a chance to see how he produces on a contending club."

– Victor Fernandes

Former Otter Nick Palmieri had a goal and an assist to lead the Bulls past his former team in his much-anticipated return to Tullio Arena on Thursday night.
Palmieri, traded to Belleville last week, helped the Eastern Conference-leading Bulls (18-6-2-2) to a 2-0 lead in the game’s opening 3 minutes, 13 seconds. He assisted on the club’s second goal, scored by Eric Tangradi. Bryan Cameron snapped the scoreless tie 1:15 into the opening period with his OHL-best 20th goal of the season.
The Otters (11-13-1-0), losers of three straight, responded quickly. Brandon Biggers scored 37 seconds after Tangradi’s goal. Luke Gazdic’s tying goal followed less than two minutes later. The teams combined for four goals in that 5:35 span, but two goals the rest of the way.
Meanwhile, the Otters’ offense was silent.
They had scoring chances. The Otters outshot Belleville 41-34, with 33 shots in the first two periods.
But Belleville’s Matthew Tipoff snapped a 2-2 tie with 1:42 left in the first. Palmieri then sealed the win late in regulation. Palmieri has two goals and five points in three games since the trade. Mike Murphy made 39 saves in goal for the Bulls.
While the Bulls continued a strong surge (8-1-1-1 in their past 11 games), the Otters continued to struggle through the latter half of a key 13-game stretch headlined by 10 home games. The Otters have lost three of four on home ice since a season-high, four-game winning streak to fall to 7-5-1-0 overall. Shane Owen stopped 30-of-34 shots for the Otters.

* His first Thanksgiving: Rookie forward Edgar Rybakov experienced his first Thanksgiving on Thursday. Until three days ago, he wasn’t aware the holiday existed. Thanksgiving isn’t celebrated in his native Lithuania. But after being told people are off from work and spend the day eating lots of food, he quickly appreciated it. “It’s good,” said Rybakov, who ate chicken instead of turkey earlier in the day to prevent falling asleep during Thursday’s game.

* Missing Thanksgiving: Forward Andrew Yogan missed the holiday at home in Boca Raton, Fla., for the second straight year. And after spending this past summer training in Windsor, Ontario, he especially missed watching parades and football on television and eating lots of food with his family.
But his family planned to watch the Internet Web cast of Thursday’s game, Yogan said. If he scored, Yogan said, “I’ll have to give them a shout out or something.”

* Around the rink: The Otters scratched defenseman Robyn Sertic (concussion) and forwards Shawn Szydlowski and Michael Liambas (hip flexor). … Belleville scratched center Cody Alcock and left wing Scott Howe.

– Victor Fernandes

Michael Pelech’s goal 43 seconds into overtime capped the comeback win for the Majors (10-13-0-1) and his four-point effort on Saturday night at Tullio Arena.
Teammate Jesse Messier’s goal with 4:22 left in regulation tied the score at 3 and forced overtime. The Majors rallied from a two-goal, first-period deficit and the 3-2 deficit in the third. As in Friday’s 4-3 win in Mississauga, the Otters began the game strong.
Rookie Edgar Rybakov capitalized on his recently increased ice time, as his physical play and timely pass from behind the Majors’ net led to his first OHL point. He assisted on Zack Torquato’s team-leading 11th goal of the season 3:05 into the opening period.
Greg McKegg’s rebound goal – the first goal of his career – less than three minutes later extended the Otters’ lead to 2-0 and set off a wild celebration with his teammates. The celebration continued on the bench, with coach Robbie Ftorek offering a much-needed congratulatory pat on the back.
The Majors sliced the Otters’ lead to 2-1 with 2:59 left in the period, as defenseman Cameron Gaunce’s rebound beat goaltender Jaroslav Janus and Erie’s top-ranked penalty kill.
Then the Majors capped their first comeback on rookie Devante Smith-Pelly’s goal with 5:14 left in the second period. Mississauga also received a power play to start the third, as Otters center Justin Hodgman (two assists) earned a roughing penalty at the end of the second.
The Otters’ power play silenced the Majors. Seven seconds after Hodgman’s penalty expired, he assisted on Torquato’s tiebreaking score, his second goal of the night. The Otters also held Mississauga to three shots on goal in the third. But one shot, Messier’s rebound, slid past Janus to tie the score and force the Otters’ second overtime game of the season. The Otters are 0-2 in overtime this season.

* Spitfires lose Bailey: Windsor will continue its quest for an OHL championship without one of its top offensive weapons. Center Josh Bailey, 19, will remain with the New York Islanders for the rest of the season, according to the NHL’s Web site. The Islanders selected Bailey ninth overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft in June and then signed him to a three-year, entry-level contract in early October.
Bailey has no goals and five points in nine games with the Islanders entering Saturday night’s game against Ottawa. Once he played on Saturday, Bailey became ineligible to return to the Spitfires.
He had 29 goals and 96 points in 67 games with the Spitfires last season. He had 58 goals and 183 points in 191 games with Windsor and Owen Sound from 2005-08. He scored five goals in a game against the Otters on Oct. 28, 2006 while playing for Owen Sound. That remains an Otters’ single-game record. Bailey leaves a Spitfires’ club that has a league-best 23-3-0-0 record this season.

* Around the rink: The Otters scratched rookie center Josh Sidwell, left wing Michael Liambas (hip flexor) and defenseman Robyn Sertic (concussion). … Mississauga scratched left wing William Wallen and center Rob Flick.

– Victor Fernandes