Bulldogs grind the overtime, opening season with a tie and a win

The Kincardine Nicol Insurance Bulldogs were grinding the overtime in their season opening games on the weekend, tying Walkerton, 5-5, Friday night, and edging Mitchell, 5-4, at the Davidson Centre, Kincardine, Saturday night.

In Walkerton Friday night, the Hawks opened the scoring early in the first period, but the Bulldogs tied it up midway in the second on a powerplay effort by Dalton Hnatko from Matthew Mah. Walkerton snagged two more to take a 3-1 lead at the end the period.

Shawn Moore added one midway in the third from Gerrit Satosek, but the Hawks hammered in two more to make it a 5-2 game. The 'Dogs then stole the show, firing in three quick goals late in the period to tie things up at 5-5. Eric Langridge scored on the powerplay from Hnatko; and, with the extra attacker, Logan Freiburger notched a goal from Hnatko and Mah, and then Hnatko had the tying goal from Mah.

Two overtime periods failed to produce any further scoring and the game ended 5-5.

On home ice against the Mitchell Hawks, Saturday night, the 'Dogs drew first blood midway in the first when Brett Burrows scored from Patrick Wiejak. Mitchell tied it up minutes later to end the period.

Wiejak scored early in the second, from Jordan Bell and Hunter Robins-Gibbons, before Mitchell tied it again. But then Burrows hammered in his second of the night, from Wiejak and Bell, to take a 3-2 lead.

Shawn Moore had a powerplay marker from Gerrit Satosek and Logan Freiburger early in the third but Mitchell managed to fire in two more goals to tie the game at 4-4.

The first overtime period produced nothing, but a minute-and-a-half into the second overtime, Matthew Mah scored from Langridge, to give the 'Dogs the 5-4 win.

The Bulldogs are on the road next weekend, playing in Hanover Friday night, Sept. 18; and in Mount Forest Saturday night, Sept. 19.

The following weekend, the 'Dogs are in Wingham Friday night, Sept. 25; and their next home game is Saturday, Sept. 26, when they take on the Mitchell Hawks once more - game time is 7 p.m. at the Davidson Centre.