On a night when the Barrie Colts looked to extend their impressive streak, everything unravelled under the bright lights in Sudbury. Their 12-game point run came to a screeching halt with a 6-3 defeat against a hungry Wolves squad, proving that even the best teams get burned when discipline slips.
The Colts have been skating circles around the OHL Central Division, piling up points and confidence since late October. With momentum on their side and star defenceman Kashawn Aitcheson racking up points, fans had every reason to expect another notch in the win column. But hockey’s a game of inches, and Barrie discovered just how quickly it can turn.
Sudbury came ready to scrap, scoring twice on seven power-play attempts. The Wolves’ Daniel Berehowsky and Jan Chovan made the most of Barrie’s time in the penalty box, capitalizing at the worst possible moments for the Colts. Head coach Dylan Smoskowitz didn’t mince words after the loss, stating, “You’re definitely going to pay. It’s just penalties that are not winning penalties.”
Barrie’s parade to the penalty box wasn’t just a minor hiccup—it was the turning point. Soft calls or not, the OHL’s most penalized team showed why undisciplined play is a recipe for disaster. “These retaliation penalties…these penalties 200-feet from our net. Unnecessary penalties that have nothing to do with having a positive impact on the game. Those are hard to kill off. They deflate a team,” said Smoskowitz.
The damage was done before the Colts could regroup. Sudbury’s timely goals, including a stinger just before the second period buzzer, kept momentum firmly on the Wolves’ side. Barrie’s attempts to claw back—highlighted by Aitcheson’s power play heroics—weren’t enough to overcome costly mistakes and a locked-in Sudbury goaltender.
With the point streak snapped, Barrie’s lead atop the Central shrinks, and the pressure mounts. The Colts now face a critical stretch, with key veterans set for national duty and injuries thinning the roster. If this team wants to stay on top, old habits need fixing—fast. The message is clear: clean up the discipline, or get used to chasing games instead of controlling them.
References:
Colts’ 12-game point streak ends with 6-3 loss in Sudbury
Sudbury Wolves vs. Barrie Colts: OHL live blog tonight
