The script was almost a perfect one for Mikkel Aagaard in his Sudbury Wolves debut.
A late goal in overtime however turned what could have been a hit into a re-run as the Wolves have now lost 11 straight, falling 3-2 to Hamilton.
Aagaard, who came over mid-week from Niagara with Zach Wilkie for Pavel Jenys scored twice for his new team as he found immediate chemistry with Dmitry Sokolov and Alan Lyszczarczyk.
“I was really happy about how we played today and the playing time. I think this was a really really good game for us and we’re just going to build from today and keep going.”
“I come from a team in Niagara with a lot of skill, always fun to come and play with skilled guys here too,” said Aagaard.
The newest Wolves may have had great first game results but Aagaard thinks it still will be some time before they are comfortable with their new teammates.
“It’s always hard getting new guys into the team. The coaches and every guy in the team have been really welcoming us and helping us into the system,” said Aagaard.
Wolves Head Coach David Matsos was happy with the effort despite the loss.
“I thought our team played well tonight, we went a little more of a aggressive forecheck getting our D involved and I thought we had some pretty good end zone time.”
“We continue with that sort of work ethic and commitment, we’re fine, I’m really fine with the way the guys played tonight, they played hard,” said Matsos.
The Wolves received some bad news before the game however as David Levin, the Wolves first overall selection is out indefinitely with a broken hand.
He was hit with a shot earlier today in practice.
The 16-year old was upset when I spoke with him after the game as his right hand was in a cast.
Matsos said the break was a clean one so there was no surgery needed at this time, but there is no timetable for his return and it’s one that may have been avoided if not for a bad forecast.
“The one day that we have a snow day, the whole team comes in for a skate when they should have been in school and he takes a shot.”
“I know he is only a 16-year old but he is an impact 16-year old so it’s a tough blow for us today,” said Matsos.
The first period was a slow period but one that the Wolves would take every game.
Mikkel Aagaard was in the right place as a deflected shot found his stick and he beat Connor Hicks, with assists coming to Reagan O’Grady and Alan Lyszczarczyk.
The goal by Aagaard was the only one of the period and the Wolves led 1-0.
Hamilton found their answer in the second period.
After Kyle Capobianco took a roughing penalty, Connor Walters fired a point shot that beat Zack Bowman.
No more than three minutes later, Aagaard responded with a beautiful goal as he won the battle for the puck crossing the blue line and beat Hicks glove side top corner.
Lyszczarczyk picked up his second point of the game and Trenton Bourque was credited with the other assist.
It was a one goal lead at the end of the second for Sudbury 2-1 even though Hamilton held the slight lead in shots 23-22.
The Bulldogs found the equalizer on the power play as a shot by Michael Cramarossa bounced over Bowman.
“It’s the old saying you got to get pucks to the net. I thought the goals they scored on the power play were bingo balling and a bit of a knuckler, but that’s what you do, you get pucks to the net and good things normally happen,” said Matsos.
It was the Bulldogs second power play goal of the game, both on Capobianco penalties and Hamilton went two for four on the man advantage for the game.
The Wolves put the pressure on in the final minutes of the third but to no avail and the game went to overtime.
There was no question the Wolves had their chances again in the extra frame, a few of them coming from Sokolov, who Matsos called “snake bitten” tonight as he could not buy a break.
Then with 18 seconds left in the overtime period Hamilton broke out with Cole Candella sliding a shot to the right post which trickled behind Bowman’s pads and the game was over.
“I can’t complain, I thought everybody played the part in getting the point tonight, it’s the unfortunate part of three on three, could have been a break the other way,” said Matsos.
The Wolves fall to 5-17-3-0, while Hamilton who are a position ahead of Sudbury in the Eastern Conference improve to 9-15-1-0.
It’s a quick turnaround for Sudbury who will host Flint tomorrow night.
“I want the same sort of effort level as we gave tonight and we’ll be fine. It’s a lot harder right now than I thought it was going to be to get one. These guys are going to go home and fuel their bodies, they’re going to hydrate themselves. That’s the best part about the game for me, we can bounce back tomorrow we don’t have sit and let this linger,” said Matsos.
Puck drop is 7 p.m.