The Brantford Bulldogs secured a hard-fought victory over the Sudbury Wolves in Ontario Hockey League (OHL) action Wednesday night at the Brantford Civic Centre, with Chicago Blackhawks prospect Nick Lardis leading the way.
Lardis scored his 49th goal of the season early in the second period, bringing him within one goal of the coveted 50-goal milestone.
If he reaches the mark, he will become just the second player in franchise history—after Arthur Kaliyev—to score 50 goals in a single season.
Ottawa Senators prospect Tomas Hamara opened the scoring for Brantford in the first period, netting his seventh goal of the season at 15:01.
Sudbury responded in the second period when Ondrej Molnar found the back of the net at 6:02, cutting the deficit to one.
Brantford goaltender Ryerson Leenders played a key role in the Bulldogs’ win, turning aside 36 shots to secure the victory.
At the other end, Sudbury’s Nate Krawchuk made a highlight-reel save in the second period, stretching out to rob Brantford on a second-chance opportunity, keeping his team within striking distance.
Despite Sudbury’s push, Brantford held on to secure two points, continuing its strong campaign as the season progresses.
The Brantford Bulldogs lead the OHL’s East Division.
The team’s record stands at 30 wins, 16 losses, and four overtime losses, totaling 64 points. They have scored 197 goals while conceding 170.
