Colts dominate over the Wolves on home ice

Sudbury Wolves co-captain Brody Silk didn’t mince his words and was blunt after the team was slammed on home ice 9-2 by the Barrie Colts Friday night.

“We were terrible,” Silk said. “We have no excuses. We were dominated in every aspect of the game. We didn’t come out and work hard at all. It was definitely embarrassing.”

The Colts scored early and often before blowing the game wide-open in the third period. The Colts out-worked the Wolves along the boards, in the corners and almost everywhere else in the three zones. The Wolves barely mustered a response to the Colts relentless attack. It left Sudbury head coach Paul Fixter ticked off.

“I’m at a loss for words,” Fixter said. “I expected more of everything tonight and that includes physical play. We played poorly … in all areas and all facets. It was a dismal performance.”

The Colts came into the game limping due to the fact the top two goalies - MacKenzie Blackwood and Daniel Gibl - were both scratched and a rookie, Ruan Badenhorst, was in net. The Wolves rarely tested the rookie puckstopper, firing just three shots in the first period and 25 overall. It spoke volumes about the play by the Wolves.

“We didn’t test him enough,” Fixter said. “We came out not hungry enough to play. I give Barrie credit. Barrie played hard and we didn’t. They had possession of the puck 90 percent of the game.”

At the other end of the rink, it was a long night for Sudbury goalie Sam Tanguay, who endured all nine goals in the defeat.

“I’m not blaming Sam for the loss, but I thought it wasn’t one of his better performances, as well as his teammates,” Fixter said.

Barrie held a 2-0 lead after the first period thanks to goals by Matthew Kreis and Andrew Mangiapane. The Colts bulged the lead to 5-1 after two periods courtesy of goals by Justin Scott, Mangiapane and Brendan Lemieux. Sudbury’s goal came off the stick of Matt Schmalz.

Sudbury started the third period in good shape as they got three power play chances and cut the lead down to 5-2 when Jacob Harris stepped into a shot and went upstairs. Barrie’s response was swift and furious as they reeled off four more goals by Mangiapane, Scott and Ben Hawerchuk, with two goals, to complete the rout.

“The coaches get systems ready for us all week and prepare us and then we go out and show a performance like that. It isn’t good enough,” Silk said. “Everyone should feel bad about this loss.”

Fixter and the coaching staff will show up Saturday and try to get the Wolves back on the right track against Belleville at Sudbury Community Arena. Game time is 7 p.m.

“I don’t have a choice but to come to work and prepare and keep working hard and that’s what all of us have to do,” Fixter said. “Is it easy? No, it isn’t easy.”

Silk expects the Wolves to step up their game against Belleville.

“We better all be going hard against Belleville,” Silk said. “No doubt about it. We have to find a way to win. The losing has to stop.”

Game notes
The three stars of the game were: Andrew Mangiapane (first), Justin Scott (second) and Joseph Blandisi (third).

Sudbury scratched Danny Desrochers and Michael Pezzetta.

Barrie scratched MacKenzie Blackwood, Daniel Gibl, Kody Gagnon, CJ Garcia, Givani Smith and Lucas Chiodo.

Sudbury’s record is 2-15.