The Brantford Bulldogs secured a decisive 9-3 victory over the Sudbury Wolves in Ontario Hockey League (OHL) action on Sunday afternoon, February 2, 2025, at Sudbury Community Arena, powered by a four-goal performance from Chicago Blackhawks prospect Nick Lardis.
Brantford took control early, with Marek Vanacker opening the scoring just 2:38 into the first period. Less than a minute later, Clarke Brown extended the lead on the power play, assisted by Tomas Hamara and Patrick Thomas.
Sudbury responded at 7:21 with a goal from Kieron Walton, but the Bulldogs answered back when Nic Rossetto restored the two-goal lead.
The Wolves cut the deficit again at 17:11 through a goal from Kocha Delic, but Lardis struck with 16 seconds left in the period to give Brantford a 4-2 advantage heading into intermission.
Lardis took over in the second period, scoring three times. He found the net at 4:36, then struck again at 8:48 with assists from Thomas and Oliver Protz.
He completed his four-goal night at 14:03 on the power play, assisted by Hamara and Jake O’Brien. Vanacker added his second of the night at 16:02 to make it 8-2.
Sudbury got one back in the third period with a shorthanded goal from Nathan Villeneuve at 13:11, but Brantford capped off the dominant win at 18:55 when O’Brien scored on the power play, assisted by Lardis and Hamara.
Patrick Thomas led all skaters with four assists, while O’Brien finished with a goal and three assists. Goaltender Matteo Drobac made 32 saves to secure the win.
Brantford improved to 29-16-4-0, winning 11 of their last 12 games to move within three points of the Barrie Colts for first place in the OHL Eastern Conference.
