The Brantford Bulldogs earned a hard-fought 4–3 shootout win over the Ottawa 67’s on Sunday afternoon at the TD Civic Centre, holding off a late comeback to secure two key points in the Ontario Hockey League’s Eastern Conference race.
Brantford built a 3–0 lead early in the third period, only to see Ottawa storm back with three quick goals to force overtime.
In the shootout, Cooper Dennis and captain Jake O’Brien both scored to lift the Bulldogs to victory in front of 3,207 home fans.
The Bulldogs opened the scoring midway through the first period on a power play when Marek Vanacker buried his 17th of the season, assisted by Caleb Malhotra and Adam Jiricek.
After a quiet second period, Brantford came out firing in the third. Dennis made it 2–0 just 51 seconds in, and Sam McCue extended the lead at 6:18.
But the 67’s answered back with determination.
Nic Whitehead, Spencer Bowes, and Jasper Kuhta all found the back of the net in an eight-minute stretch that tied the game 3–3, shifting momentum toward Ottawa and forcing overtime.
Goaltender Ryerson Leenders held firm under pressure, stopping 23 of 26 shots in regulation and overtime before turning aside two of three attempts in the shootout.
Ottawa’s Jaeden Nelson was equally sharp, making 27 saves on 30 shots.
Leenders’ poise in goal, combined with Dennis and O’Brien’s scoring touch in the shootout, secured Brantford’s 15th victory of the season and extended their unbeaten run in regulation time.
The Bulldogs continue to set the pace in the Ontario Hockey League’s Eastern Conference, sitting in first place with 34 points and a commanding 15-0-3-1 record through 19 games.
Brantford remains the only team in the conference without a regulation loss, leading the league with 100 goals scored while allowing just 50.
The team also boasts the OHL’s top-ranked power play at 41.0% and a penalty kill rate of 82.8%, according to official OHL statistics.
Their offensive consistency and defensive structure under head coach Jay McKee have been defining factors in their strong start, complemented by standout performances from Vanacker, Leenders, and O’Brien.
The Bulldogs return to the ice, November 14, hosting the Flint Firebirds at 7:00 p.m. at the TD Civic Centre.
With momentum on their side and a perfect home record still intact, Brantford looks to extend its dominance as the OHL’s top team in the Eastern Conference.
