The Jason Baird Run/Walk, an event benefitting Erie Otters' alumnus Jason Baird, will be held on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in Mississauga, Ontario. Baird played for the Mississauga Reps minor midget AAA team before heading to the OHL. The event takes place at the Running Room/Walking Room at 2969 Argentia Road at Winston Churchill in Mississauga.
The $10 entry fee will benefit the Jason Baird Family Trust Fund. Registration can be done by visiting www.events.runningroom.com and clicking on the Jason Baird Run/Walk link.
Donations can be made by clicking on the "Donate to a Charity" link. Donations also can be made following the event. More information can be found on Baird's event page on the event site or at www.JasonBaird.ca. The Otter raised more than $40,000 for the Baird family's mounting medical expenses.
In other Otters' news, defenseman Kevin Clare, 16, a fourth-round pick in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection, has verbally committed to the University of Michigan, according to the Jersey Hitmen minor hockey club's Web site. Clare played for the Hitmen last season. Clare joins left wing Michael Mersch, 16, a 2008 eighth-round pick, in committing to a NCAA Division I school. Mersch has committed to play for Wisconsin.
Meanwhile, Hockey Canada will announce on Wednesday the players that will participate in the National Junior Team Selection camp - the next step towards the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa, Ontario. USA Hockey reportedly will announce its tournament roster on Wednesday.

Erie Otters winger Michael Liambas will undergo hip surgery on Friday morning at Erie Shriners Hospital - the second procedure he has experienced since the end of last season.
Liambas, 19, hasn't played so far this season, although he dressed for the first two games of the season in September. Liambas will have a hip arthroscopy, said Sherry Bassin, Otters managing partner/general manager. The procedure will begin between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., said Bob Howden, Shriners Hospital's public relations director. According to www.webmd.com, the surgical procedure allows doctors to look at the inside of a joint with an arthroscope, a thin viewing instrument. The arthroscope is inserted into the joint through a small incision. The procedure is usually less painful and costly and usually allows for a quicker recovery time, depending on what's done. But his return to the ice remains unclear.

– Victor Fernandes

J.W. Thomas Byrd, M.D., team physician for the NFL's Tennesee Titans, will perform the hip arthroscopy on Erie Otters winger Michael Liambas on Friday. Boyd, founder of the Nashville Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center in Nashville, Tenn., is considered an international expert in the field of hip arthroscopy, said Bob Howden, Erie Shriners Hospital's director of public relations. Dr. David Babins, the Otters' orthopedic physician, and Dr. William Schrantz, an orthopedic surgeon at Shriners Hospital, will assist Boyd in the procedure.

– Victor Fernandes

OHL goaltenders Thomas McCollum (Guelph) and Josh Unice (Kitchener) will represent the United States in the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship, set for Dec. 26, 2008, to Jan. 5, 2009, in Ottawa, Ontario. They will join Belleville forward Eric Tangradi on the 22-player roster, which USA Hockey announced today on its Web site.
Meanwhile, 10 OHL players will participate in Canada's National Junior Team Selection Camp on Dec. 11-15 in Ottawa. The hopefuls on the 38-player list include defensemen Tyler Cuma (Ottawa), Ryan Ellis (Windsor), Alex Pietrangelo (Niagara) and P.K. Subban (Belleville) and forwards Jamie Arniel (Sarnia), Stefan Della Rovere (Barrie), Matt Duchene (Brampton), Taylor Hall (Windsor), Nazem Kadri (London) and John Tavares (Oshawa). Twenty-two players will represent Canada at World Juniors.

Erie Otters defenseman Mitch Gaulton should learn in the next couple weeks whether he can rejoin the lineup immediately after Christmas break. Gaulton, who has been rehabilitating from offseason reconstructive elbow surgery, will be evaluated by New York Rangers' team doctors at that time, said Sherry Bassin, Otters managing partner/general manager. The Rangers selected Gaulton in the sixth round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Meanwhile, defenseman Robyn Sertic (concussion) meets with a specialist on Dec. 12 to determine his condition, Bassin said.

– Victor Fernandes

The Slovakian Ice Hockey Federation has placed Erie Otters goaltender Jaroslav Janus, 19, on its preliminary roster for the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship, according to gdrinnan.blogspot.com. The tournament begins Dec. 26 in Ottawa, Ontario.
In other Otters' news, the club will hold a Teddy Bear Toss during Saturday's game against Sarnia. Fans are encouraged to bring a new or gently used teddy bear or stuffed animal to toss onto the ice after the Otters' first goal. All will be donated to Erie-area children's charities.
In exchange, those fans will receive a free ticket to a game on the following dates - Dec. 19, Dec. 20, Jan. 2, Jan. 3 or Jan. 7.
Meanwhile, season-ticket holders are invited to an exclusive merchandise sale at Tullio on Saturday from 5:30 to 6 p.m. Those fans need to have their ID card to qualify for discounts.
Deals include the club's third jersey for $75 (regularly priced at $96) and T-shirts for $10 (regularly priced at $15).

Erie Otters winger Michael Liambas underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his hip today, head trainer David Stickney said before tonight's game against Windsor at Tullio Arena.
Dr. J.W. Thomas Byrd, team physician for the NFL's Tennessee Titans and world-renowned hip specialist, removed a "little bit of bone spur" during the procedure, which took 2 to 2 1/2 hours to complete, Stickney said. The prognosis is four to six months, likely ending Liambas' season.
Liambas, 19, who had been rehabilitating his hip since undergoing surgery this past summer, could be released from Shriners Hospital and return home to Woodbridge, Ontario, as early as tonight. He will remain on crutches for six weeks. He won't skate for at least four months.
"He is very lucky to have had Dr. Byrd operate on him," Liambas' mother, Maggie, said by e-mail today. With help from Dr. David Babins, the Otters' orthopedic physician, Byrd agreed to perform the procedure at Erie Shriners Hospital, since he conducted a lecture on hip arthroscopy at the hospital this morning.

– Victor Fernandes

Erie Otters goaltender Jaroslav Janus, 19, will participate in his native Slovakia's World Junior Championship camp in Kitchener, Ontario, he said tonight. He leaves Erie on Dec. 16 for the camp, which should last several days. Janus received an invitation from Slovakian Ice Hockey Federation officials a week ago. But he's unsure if attending camp means he has made the team that will compete in the IIHF tournament, which begins Dec. 25 in Ottawa, Ontario.
"It's a great feeling," Janus, a native of Presov, Slovakia, said of possibly representing his country. "The World Juniors is really huge here. I hope I make the team."
Janus attended Slovakia's WJC camp last winter, even playing in an exhibition game against Russia. But he missed the opening game against Canada because his equipment didn't arrive in time. "(Slovakian officials) were very mad," said Janus, who didn't make the team.

– Victor Fernandes

* International pride: Goaltender Jaroslav Janus, 19, will participate in his native Slovakia's IIHF World Junior Championship camp in Kitchener, Ontario, he said before Friday night’s game against Windsor at Tullio Arena. He leaves Erie on Dec. 16 for the camp, which he said should last several days. He could miss the Otters’ final two games before Christmas break – at home against Guelph and Sudbury on Dec. 19 and 20.
Janus received an invitation from Slovakian Ice Hockey Federation officials a week ago. But he's unsure if attending camp means he has made the team that will compete in the tournament, which is set for Dec. 25 to Jan. 5 in Ottawa, Ontario. “It's a great feeling,” Janus, a native of Presov, Slovakia, said of possibly representing his country. “The World Juniors is really huge here. I hope I make the team.”
Janus attended Slovakia's World Juniors camp last winter, even playing in an exhibition game against Russia. But he missed the opening exhibition game against Canada because his equipment didn't arrive in time. “(Slovakian officials) were very mad,” said Janus, who didn't make the team.

* Like father, like son: Tullio Arena was home to many hockey memories in Shawn Szydlowski’s family, even before the second-year winger was born. His father, Steve, played the last of two seasons (1985-86) in the now-defunct Atlantic Coast Hockey League with the Erie Golden Blades. The defenseman had one goal, 11 points and two penalty minutes in 33 regular-season games and one point and five penalty minutes in 10 playoff games.
“It’s a great feeling,” the younger Szydlowski said. “He still walks around the stands and find people who were fans when he played.” Shawn, 18, who was born on Aug. 5, 1990, has heard all the stories from his father’s playing days in Erie. I’ve heard about all the in-stands fights and big brawls,” he said.
Steve Szydlowski even met his wife, Denise, at Tullio Arena – during a Pat Benatar concert.

* How appropriate: Left wing Sean Jones wore an Anthony Peluso No. 14 T-shirt before Friday’s game. The Otters acquired Jones from Sault Ste. Marie in exchange for Peluso on Nov. 21, 2007.
When asked about the T-shirt, Jones said, “It’s just an Otters’ T-shirt. It fits nice.”

* Game scratches: The Otters scratched defenseman Robyn Sertic (concussion), left wing Michael Liambas (arthroscopic hip surgery) and center Edgar Rybakov. … Windsor scratched center Andrei Loktionov (knee), left wing James Woodcroft and defensemen Harry Young (three-game OHL suspension) and Patrick Moran.

* Around the rink: The Otters will hold a Teddy Bear Toss during tonight’s game against Sarnia. Fans are encouraged to bring a new or gently used teddy bear or stuffed animal to toss onto the ice after the Otters’ first goal. All contributions will be donated to Erie-area children's charities. In exchange, those fans will receive a free ticket to a game on the following dates – Dec. 19, Dec. 20, Jan. 2, Jan. 3 or Jan. 7.
Meanwhile, season-ticket holders are invited to an exclusive merchandise sale at Tullio tonight from 5:30 to 6 p.m. Those fans need to have their ID card to qualify for discounts. Deals include the club's third jersey for $75 (regularly priced at $96) and T-shirts for $10 (regularly priced at $15.

– Victor Fernandes

Casey Ftorek, son of Erie Otters coach Robbie Ftorek, has spent the past week experiencing his father's practices at Tullio Arena. The level of play is different from his played days at NCAA Division III Middlebury (Vt.) College, where he graduated in May. He currently attends graduate school at Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, N.H., where he's studying education.
"The maturity level is a little more in college," said Ftorek, 24, who also won a national title in soccer at Middlebury. "This (Otters') team is much better than any team I've ever played on."
He has struggled regaining his legs and touch, since Ftorek hasn't skated since March. During a four-on-four scrimmage on Monday, he said, "I couldn't score. I was having serious difficulties with the hands in front of the net."
During that scrimmage, Dad turned into coach. "He was all over me. Nothing's changed on that front," said the younger Ftorek, who played Junior B in Stratford, Ontario, five years ago.

– Victor Fernandes

Buyers
* Brampton – Belleville made the first move, acquiring former Otters RW Nick Palmieri last month. The Battalion have enough talent to win the Eastern Conference. Now it’s their move.
* Erie – Right now, the Otters aren’t a major threat to win the league title. But after three nightmarish seasons, another key player or two could provide the chance to make the playoff run they deserve.
* London – The Midwest Division-leading Knights need a solid defenseman or two to not waste a surprising 22-6-0-1 start. That’s been the club’s biggest challenge the past couple of seasons.
* Mississauga – The Majors have some skilled young performers. So even though they’re ninth in the East, a key acquisition or two could lead to a second-half surge up the standings.
* Windsor – It’s hard to believe the Spitfires need offense. But Josh Bailey’s departure (N.Y. Islanders) creates a need for a playmaking center that makes the league’s best attack even better.

Sellers
* Kingston – The Frontenacs face a major rebuilding effort. They made a significant move last week, acquiring talented youngsters Colt Kennedy, Brian Lashoff and Mitch Lebar.
* Niagara – The IceDogs are second in the weak Central Division. But with a bunch of older players, including elite D Alex Pietrangelo, they need to become younger.
* Oshawa – The retooling Generals have the ultimate trade bait – center John Tavares. The potential No. 1 pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft could produce several prospects and draft picks.
* Ottawa – The 67’s have spent the past few seasons hovering around the .500 mark. So maybe it’s time to move a top-quality performer like C Logan Couture.
* Plymouth – The Whalers acquired veteran C Matt Caria on Tuesday. But this team needs young talent to rebuild. If they continue to struggle, could G Jeremy Smith be the first to leave?
* Sault Ste. Marie – The Greyhounds made the first move on Tuesday (Caria). Expect more players to follow before next month’s deadline.

– Victor Fernandes

Oshawa's John Tavares headlines a list of six OHL players that will represent Canada in the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship, which will be held from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Ottawa, Ontario. He joins Stefan Della Rovere (Barrie) and Cody Hodgson (Brampton) and defensemen P.K. Subban (Belleville), Alex Pietrangelo (Niagara) and Ryan Ellis (Windsor). Tavares and Subban won gold medals at the 2008 tournament.

The Erie Otters have recalled rookie goaltender Adam Scully, 16, from the Vaughan Kings midget AAA club. He replaces veteran Jaroslav Janus, who left the team today to participate in his native Slovakia's IIHF World Junior Championship camp in Kitchener, Ontario.
Scully, a Toronto native, will remain with the club until Janus returns. Janus could miss as many as six games, beginning with this weekend's home games against Guelph and Sudbury.
"I'm very excited. The nerves are starting to kick in right now for the first practice," he said before today's workout at Tullio Arena. "I'm just excited to be here with guys of this caliber in a league of this caliber. I'm looking forward to a good week before Christmas."
Sherry Bassin, managing partner/general manager, informed Scully of the move on Dec. 9. "It's been a thrill of a lifetime since Mr. Bassin called me," Scully said. "I didn't get much sleep that night. I'm not going to lie to you."
Scully, a fifth-round pick (No. 83 overall) in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection, missed most of his three days at training camp in August because of a hamstring injury. He has a 5-2-2-0 record, 2.87 goals-against average and one shutout with the Kings this season.
Meanwhile, backup Shane Owen will start in Janus' place this weekend.
"My chance is here," he said today. "I've just got to prove that I can get the job done when Jaro's not able to play. I've just got to play my game. Hopefully I'll play good and the boys will play good and we'll get the job done."
In other news, a team of specialists in Pittsburgh evaluated defenseman Robyn Sertic (concussion) on Friday. But official word on Sertic's condition and timetable for his return won't be known until those specialists examine Sertic again on Jan. 2, Bassin said.
"After they've done that evaluation, we're going to have a real good idea," Bassin said. "We're going to know exactly where we're at then."

– Victor Fernandes

Erie Otters center Ryan O'Reilly, 17, will play in the 2009 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, the Canadian Hockey League announced today. He will join 39 other top CHL prospects eligible for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft at General Motors Centre in Oshawa, Ontario, for the Jan. 14 game. The players will compete in a skills competition on Jan. 13.
O'Reilly was rated No. 8 among OHL skaters in NHL Central Scouting's recent preliminary NHL draft ranking. He's the 13th player in the Otters' 12-year history to play in the game. The others were Jason Ward (1997), Michael Rupp (1998), Tim Connolly (1999), Brad Boyes and Nikita Alexeev (2000), Carlo Colaiacovo and Adam Munro (2001), Brian Lee (2002), Michael Blunden and Ryan O'Marra (2005), Nick Palmieri and Zack Torquato (2007).
O'Reilly will play on Team No. 1 along with seven other OHL players - goaltender Scott Stajcer (Owen Sound), defensemen Ryan Ellis (Windsor) and Calvin de Haan (Oshawa) and forwards John Tavares (Oshawa) and Guelph's Peter Holland, Michael Latta and Taylor Beck.
OHL players on Team No. 2 include goaltender Edward Pasquale (Saginaw), defensemen Taylor Doherty (Kingston) and forwards Matt Duchene (Brampton), Alex Hutchings (Barrie), Zack Kassian (Peterborough), Ethan Werek (Kingston) and Nazem Kadri (London).

The Erie Otters have released Lithuanian-born rookie forward Edgar Rybakov, 17, the club announced today. He will join the Tri-City Storm, a United States Hockey League club in Kearney, Neb. Rybakov had 21 goals and 38 points in 38 games with CSKA-2 Moskva last season, prompting the Otters to select him fourth overall in the 2008 CHL Import Draft. But he struggled in his rookie season, totaling no goals and one point in 23 games. He was a healthy scratch for several games. He cleared OHL waivers without being claimed, allowing the move to the USHL.

– Victor Fernandes

The once struggling Erie Otters’ offense scored four goals on 11 first-period shots against Guelph’s No. 2-ranked defense on their way to the win in front of 2,939 at Tullio Arena on Friday night.
The Otters (15-17-2-0) snapped a four-game losing streak in which they scored only five goals on 149 shots. They entered the game in the bottom five of the OHL with 96 goals in 33 games (2.9 per game).
But the Otters needed only 46 seconds to score, as Shawn Szydlowski’s steal and unassisted goal built a 1-0 lead. The lead reached 2-0 on Justin Hodgman’s goal less than minutes later.
The Storm (18-13-2-2), which had three shutout wins in their previous five outings, rallied to tie the score at 2 on goals from Luke Pither and Denis Hollenstein midway through the period. But the Otters’ sudden offensive resurgence continued, as Luke Gazdic and Andrew Yogan scored 49 seconds apart in the opening period’s final two minutes. The teams combined for six goals on 23 shots in the first period.
The Otters scored all four goals against Jake Fischer, the Storm’s backup goaltender. Starter Thomas McCollum is in Lake Placid, N.Y., with Team USA preparing for the upcoming IIHF World Junior Championships. Shane Owen, who replaced WJC hopeful Jaroslav Janus (Slovakia) in net for the Otters, made 29 saves to earn his first win since Feb. 16 against Peterborough – a span of 14 appearances – and fifth victory in 32 career games.

Greg McKegg and John McFarland will be teammates in less than two weeks.
But before going for gold in the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Port Alberni, British Columbia, they will meet for the final time in the regular season tonight at Tullio Arena.
It’s 1 vs. 2 – as in the top two picks (McFarland No. 1 and McKegg No. 2) in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection. That connection should vault these rookies into the spotlight. But McKegg is unconcerned.
“It’s always fun going up against the best players. So it will be a nice test for me,” McKegg said before Thursday’s practice at Mercyhurst Ice Center. “But I don’t think there’s too much pressure on either of us. We’re both young guys, so we’ve got a lot of years in the league.”
McFarland produced all 10 of his goals and 24-of-25 points in the past 22 games after totaling one point in his first seven games. McKegg needed 27 games to score his first goal. He has two goals and four points in 34 games. But McKegg’s teammates are impressed with his overall play.
“Just little things,” left wing Luke Gazdic said, “working on the walls. He’s been real good at getting the pucks out, and he’s starting to play a lot more physical in these last couple of games.”
Left wing Brian Shaw, a fellow St. Thomas, Ontario, native, expects McKegg to break out offensively in the second half. “He’s just got to bear down and bury,” Shaw said. “He’s still young. He’ll battle back.”
Sherry Bassin, Otters managing partner/general manager, has no regrets choosing McKegg in May.
“I know when it was our turn, we felt real good about taking McKegg,” said Bassin, who considers McKegg an “extremely unselfish” yet “natural sniper” who understands the game well. “I didn’t have any concern picking him where we were picking him.”
In April 2007, three weeks before the 2007 OHL draft, Bassin said McFarland, then 15, was a candidate on his list of potential No. 1 picks until league officials denied McFarland’s request for exceptional status.
“He wasn’t 100 percent the guy, but he’s certainly a candidate,” Bassin said at the time. A few weeks earlier that year, Bassin said he would give McFarland “strong consideration.”
But this week, Bassin said center Ryan O’Reilly, now a 17-year-old assistant captain, quickly became his top choice for the No. 1 pick. “When I met with Ryan and his family, we knew that Ryan was the kind of player that could lead you to championship performances.”
Now Bassin expects McKegg to take the next step in his career.
“When I’m looking at the (point producers) for the second half,” Bassin said, “I expect him to be one of them. … McKegg is now starting to feel confident.”
Meanwhile, McKegg remains level-headed. “Hopefully I can have a better (second) half point-wise,” he said. “If I don’t, it’s not the end of the world.”

– Victor Fernandes

Tale of the tape
Erie’s Greg McKegg vs. Sudbury’s John McFarland:
McKegg McFarland
GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
Nov. 1 at Sudbury 1 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 1 2
Season totals 34 2 2 4 16 28 10 15 25 10

What: Sudbury Wolves (16-15-1-2) at Erie Otters (15-17-2-0)
When: Today, 7 p.m.
Where: Tullio Arena
On the air: WFNN-AM/1330, www.ottershockey.com (live stream)
Players to watch: Erie – LW Brandon Biggers (11 goals, 19 assists, 30 points), C Justin Hodgman (12-17-29), C Zack Torquato (15-13-28), C Ryan O’Reilly (4-23-27), RW Shawn Szydlowski (13-9-22); Sudbury – C John McFarland (10-15-25), C Eric O’Dell (14-18-32, 8 power-play goals), LW Patrick Lusnak (20-11-31), RW Matt Dias (11-19-30), RW Jared Staal (8-17-25)
Fast facts: Erie – The Otters, which begin the Christmas break after tonight’s game, have reached the midway point of the season three wins of matching their 2007-08 total. … The Otters and Wolves have combined for 31 wins to date. These teams had 35 last season, when they finished in the bottom two spots of the OHL standings. …. The Otters lost the first meeting with the Wolves 5-1 on Nov. 1 in Sudbury. … The Otters have lost five of their last eight home games, but they beat Guelph 4-2 at Tullio on Friday. … Jones has no points in 10 straight games, the longest drought of his Otters’ career. … Szydlowski has four goals in his last six games after totaling one in his previous eight games. … Torquato has points in three straight games. … LW Luke Gazdic snapped a five-game scoreless streak with a goal vs. the Storm – his first goal since Thanksgiving Night. … The Otters’ power play has dropped to 19th in the 20-team league (13.4 percent). Sudbury – The Wolves can match last season’s win total with a victory tonight. … McFarland, the No. 1 pick in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection, ranks seventh among rookies in scoring. … Lusnak is tied for ninth in goals. … O’Dell is tied for seventh in power-play goals. … The Wolves have won five of their last eight, including a 4-3 win at Niagara on Friday. … They rank seventh in goals scored (122), but are 16th in goals against (134). … They are 4-9-1-1 on the road. … Staal has three brothers in the NHL – Eric (Carolina), Marc (N.Y. Rangers) and Jordan (Pittsburgh).
Up next: at Brampton (Dec. 28, 2 p.m.), at Niagara (Dec. 31, 7 p.m.)

The line of Brandon Biggers, Justin Hodgman and Zack Torquato recorded four goals and seven assists to send the Erie Otters into Christmas break with a 7-5 win against Sudbury in front of 3,605 at Tullio Arena on Saturday night.
Hodgman’s second goal of the game and 13th of the season tied the score at 4 at the 2:27 mark of the third. That set off a wild third period in which the Otters (16-17-2-0) scored four times.
Sudbury’s Eric O’Dell scored on the power play – the fifth goal on 20 shots against goaltender Shane Owen – to hand the Wolves a 5-4 lead with 12:57 left. But Otters center Ryan O’Reilly’s tip-in of linemate Shawn Szydlowski’s shot – his second goal of the night – produced the fifth tie at 5-5 with 11:16 left. O’Reilly, who had four goals in his first 34 games, had his first multi-goal effort since Dec. 7, 2007.
Biggers followed with the winning goal, scored on his third attempt at poking in a rebound – the Otters’ 52nd shot. They finished with a season-high 54. Biggers then scored into an empty with 54 seconds left.
Hodgman finished with his second OHL hat trick and an assist. Biggers had a goal and three assists, while Paul Cianfrini (goal, assist) and Szydlowski (two assists) added two points apiece. John Kurtz (two goals) and Patrik Lusnak had three assists for the Wolves (16-16-1-2).
Sudbury grabbed the early lead on Kurtz’ goal 1:14 into the opening period. But the Otters’ offense, which scored four first-period goals in Friday’s win against Guelph, began relentlessly attacking in the Wolves’ zone. Hodgman’s goal with 4:33 left in the period finally tied the score at 1.
Less than two minutes later, the Otters’ struggling power play capitalized on a 5-on-3 opportunity, with O’Reilly’s goal snapping the 1-1 tie. That goal seemed to spark an emotionally charged and fight-filled end to the period. Sudbury defenseman Jake Cardwell’s checking to the head penalty set off two fights.
Otters winger Sean Jones and Wolves defenseman Peter Hermengildo received game misconducts for having the second fight in the same stoppage. The teams combined for 50 penalty minutes and three game misconducts in the period.
The Otters regained a one-goal lead on Cianfrini’s goal 6:19 into the second – two minutes after Sudbury’s Brett Thompson tied the score at 2. But rookie John McFarland, the No. 1 pick in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection, and Kurtz scored 1:49 apart late in the second for a 4-3 Wolves’ lead.
The Otters trailed entering the third despite outshooting the Wolves 37-17 through two periods. Sudbury goaltender Andrew Loverock made 47 saves, including 20-of-21 in the second period. Owen finished with 23 saves.

* Moment of irony: Sudbury center John McFarland, the top pick in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection, visited Tullio Arena for the first time on Saturday night. But he was close to calling Erie home.
Sherry Bassin, Otters managing partner/general manager, considered McFarland a prospect on his list of potential No. 1 picks in the 2007 draft. But league officials denied then 15-year-old McFarland’s request for exceptional status, making him ineligible for the draft. Bassin chose center Ryan O’Reilly.
Last March, the Otters beat Guelph in the regular-season finale, handing Sudbury the No. 1 pick in the 2008 draft. The Wolves chose McFarland, now 16, while the Otters picked center Greg McKegg.
“Erie would have been a good place to go,” McFarland said. “But I love it in Sudbury.”
Here’s another McFarland-Erie link – McFarland and McKegg will be teammates during Christmas break in the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Port Alberni, British Columbia.

* Unforgettable night: Rookie goaltender Adam Scully always will remember his OHL debut on Friday night, even though he didn’t play. He was Shane Owen’s backup. From his first career 15-minute, pregame warm-up to hearing the United States and Canadian national anthems – “it was unbelievable,” he said.
As Scully watched Francis Dupuis, Guelph’s backup goaltender, nervously start the second period on Friday, Scully wondered how he would have felt. Scully likely would have felt nervous at the start of a period. But if he was inserted in the middle of the game, Scully said, “You have no time to think.”

* Around the rink: The Otters scratched goaltender Jaroslav Janus (Slovakia – IIHF World Junior Championship), defensemen Mitch Gaulton (left elbow) and Robyn Sertic (concussion) and left wing Michael Liambas (hip). … Sudbury scratched defensemen Sergei Sheleg (Belarus – WJC), Daniel Maggio and Luc Comtois and left wing Zack McGillis.

– Victor Fernandes

Erie Otters winger Sean Jones will serve an automatic two-game suspension for earning a game misconduct in Saturday's win against Sudbury at Tullio Arena. Jones and Wolves D Peter Hermengildo were suspended because they were involved in the second fight during the same stoppage. Jones will miss Sunday's game at Brampton and the New Year's Eve game at Niagara.

– Victor Fernandes

Erie might be Otters coach and Massachusetts resident Robbie Ftorek's second home, but Amarillo, Texas, has an all-Ftorek feel this week.

Former Otters forward Jason Baird continues to recover at home from burns suffered last summer. His wife, Bethany, keeps fans up to date on a Caring Bridge journal. Read the latest entry.