BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
Nursing an eye injury, goalie Patrick Ehelechner was electrifying in net making 33 saves, including nine from in close, as the Sudbury Wolves held on to defeat the visiting Mississauga IceDogs 4-3 and end a seven-game losing streak Friday night.
Newcomer, Luke Dubbin set up two goals and Bobby Chaumont lead the way with a hat trick.
The coach was thrilled with his team's effort against the their tough division rival.
"It was a good effort," said Foligno. "I think it was time we turned it around."
Foligno was impressed with Dubbin.
"You can sense he has good play making skills," said Foligno. "He's looking for guys around him like Chaumont and Martynowski and they benefited."
Foligno applauded the play of his goalie.
"Patrick played another outstanding game for us," said Foligno.
"He needed to make those big saves for us and tonight he was there."
The game was all Sudbury.
Chanse Fitzpatrick and Chris Bain started the game off with a classic heavyweight tilt.
It was a rematch from when Bain was with the London Knights and Fitzpatrick knocked the Sudbury native out cold earlier this season.
Both men grappled and threw some heavy punches before being broken up with no clear winner.
The IceDogs opened the scoring when Patrick O'Sullivan ripped a bullet past Ehelechner on the power play to make it 1-0 at 15:46.
The Wolves battled right back when Chaumont took a nice pass in the slot from Martynowski, hesitated and zipped the puck past IceDogs' goalie Doug Groenestege to make it 1-1 at 17:36. The goal was a short handed effort.
The Wolves then continued their assault when Matt Maccarone found a pinching Dene Poulin, who fired the puck through traffic and Groenestege to make it 2-1 at 19:53.
Ehelechner was awesome during the first period, making several key saves during a five-on-three disadvantage to keep the IceDogs at bay.
The Wolves stormed ahead in the second period when Chaumont pounced on a loose puck in the slot and fired it past a prone Groenestege to make it 3-1 at 15:47.
The IceDogs refused to go quietly though, and O'Sullivan brought them to within one when he picked up a loose puck and slipped it past Ehelechner to make it 3-2 at 16:27.
Early in the third period, the Wolves lost defenceman Eric Larochelle, when he fell awkwardly into the boards behind the IceDogs net. It was found later he broke his ankle and will be out for the next 10-12 weeks.
Chaumont completed his hat trick in the third, when he fired the puck through Groenestege's five-hole to make it 4-2 at 9:32.
The IceDogs got a late goal from Brad Ethimiou, but it was too little, too late, as the Wolves skated off with a much needed 4-3 victory.
Chaumont was ecstatic about his performance and the big win.
"It's a great feeling to score three, but more important, it's an even greater feeling to get that victory," said Chaumont.
"It's been a long time coming and everybody worked hard for it."
Dubbin gained confidence with every second he played.
"It was good for me," said Dubbin. "I got a little more comfortable out there with every period and every shift."
IceDogs head coach Greg Gilbert knew his team had some chances to win the game, but ran into a determined Sudbury Wolves hockey club and marvellous Ehelechner.
"It was a hard fought game to the end," said Gilbert. "We had some chances to win it, but Ehelechner came up with some big saves for them."
Snap shots
-Dubbin finished with two assists in his debut
-Martynowski also finished with two assists
-The Wolves play again on Friday night against the Brampton Battalion. Game time is 7:30 pm.
