The Brantford Bulldogs extended their strong 2025–26 campaign on Friday night with a convincing 5–1 victory over the Erie Otters at the TD Civic Centre.
The win, in front of 3,207 fans, further reinforced Brantford’s position near the top of the Eastern Conference standings in the Ontario Hockey League.
Erie opened the scoring early, striking at 2:50 of the first period through Evan Headrick, assisted by Tristen Trevino and Nick Frasca.
The visitors briefly seized momentum, but Brantford responded with disciplined defensive play and steady goaltending to limit further damage in the opening frame.
The Bulldogs took control in the second period, beginning just 24 seconds in when Marek Vanacker converted on a play set up by Jett Luchanko and captain Jake O’Brien.
The goal energized the home side and shifted the balance of play firmly in Brantford’s favour.
Special teams proved decisive midway through the period. Caleb Malhotra and Vanacker both capitalized on power-play opportunities, exploiting Erie penalties for tripping and delay of game.
Brantford finished the night two-for-two with the man advantage, while Erie went scoreless on three power-play chances.
With a 3–1 lead heading into the third, the Bulldogs maintained their structure and tempo.
Nikolas Rossetto added to the margin at 8:27, converting a feed from Jeremy Freeman, before Gabriel Frasca sealed the result late in the period with his goal at 14:11.
Goaltender David Egorov delivered another composed performance for Brantford, stopping 19 of 20 shots to earn the win.
At the other end, Noah Erliden faced sustained pressure, turning aside 35 shots despite the loss. Vanacker, Malhotra, and Frasca were named the game’s three stars.
The contest also featured a physical edge, with both teams combining for 23 penalty minutes and several scrums in the third period.
Despite the intensity, Brantford remained disciplined at key moments, using their depth and puck management to close out the game efficiently.
With the victory, the Bulldogs improved their record to 36 wins in 52 games and continued their push for first place in the conference.
Brantford will look to build on this momentum when they host the Guelph Storm on Saturday afternoon, February 14, with puck drop scheduled for 4 p.m. at the TD Civic Centre.
