Everything Rosey for IceDogs in road opener against Firebirds

‘‘ We believe in ourselves. We’re a team that wants to be top of the rankings at the end of the year, not the beginning of the year.

The Flint Firebirds took the ice against the Niagara IceDogs for their home opener Saturday night seventh in the Canadian Hockey League 2022-23 pre-season rankings.

They left it as the second-best team on the ice after the IceDogs rebounded from a two-goal deficit for the second time in as many games.

Unlike Thursday in their season opener versus the visiting Mississauga Steelheads, the IceDogs came back all the way this time. Rookie Kevin He, his first point in the Ontario Hockey League; Aidan Castle, on the power play; and

DAN FITZGERALD NIAGARA ICEDOGS HEAD COACH

Brenden Sirizzotti each scored a goal in a 3-2 victory.

Thanks to goalie Josh Rosenzweig, who stopped 40 of 42 shots, Niagara gave Dan Fitzgerald his first win as a head coach at the major junior level despite being outshot 42-40.

“We thought we actually won the first period in terms of our play, but, obviously, we were down and gave up an early one in the second,” Fitzgerald said.

But, as was the case in their overtime loss to Mississauga two nights earlier, the IceDogs didn’t quit.

“It was great to see Kevin He get his first goal in the OHL to spark us to three unanswered goals in the second period, and then we were able to lock down one of the top offences in the Ontario Hockey League,” Fitzgerald said.

While the pundits might describe the game as an “upset” on paper, no one on the IceDogs felt that way.

“We believe in ourselves. We’re a team that wants to be top of the rankings at the end of the year, not the beginning of the year,” Fitzgerald said.

“Good for them for putting together a great roster, but paper can’t play.

“We’re really happy with our effort today.”

Twin brothers Andrew and Jacob LeBlanc from Port Colborne made their debut in the Niagara lineup after being acquired from the Kitchener Rangers for four draft picks. Andrew, a centre, collected an assist on He’s goal and won eight of 17 faceoffs.

“I thought they fit in great. They played in key roles and did a great job adapting to our systems quickly,” Fitzgerald said.

“I think there’s a real home for them here in Niagara.”

The IceDogs can improve to 2-0-1 and complete a sweep on their first road swing through Michigan since September 2019 with a win Sunday night against the Saginaw Spirit.

’Dog biscuits On Friday, Niagara completed a trade that sent second-year forward Brice Cooke to Mississauga for three draft picks: 2023, fourth round, Mississauga; 2025, fifth, Saginaw; 2026, second, Mississauga. The 18-year-old from Orangeville had 18 goals and 10 assists in 64 games in his rookie season … Firebirds head coach Ted Dent spent the 2017-18 OHL season as IceDogs associate coach … Niagara centre Pano Fimis was serving the first of a two-game suspension for a slew-foot call in Thursday night’s season opener.