Friday March 13, 2015

For the first time in franchise history, the Barrie Colts have three 100-point scorers in a season.

Andrew Mangiapane’s assist on Joseph Blandisi’s league-leading 10th shorthanded goal of the season in Thursday’s win over Owen Sound gave the 18 year-old sophomore his 100th point of the campaign as he joins Blandisi and San Jose Sharks prospect Kevin Labanc in triple digits on the year.

The Colts are the first OHL team since the 2007 London Knights (Patrick Kane, Sergei Kostitsyn, Sam Gagner) to feature three 100-point scorers in their lineup.

With Mitchell Marner (123 pts.), Christian Dvorak (107 pts.), Max Domi (98 pts.) and the Knights entering the weekend on the verge of also seeing three players in their lineup reach 100 points, the 2014-15 season would mark the first time since 1992-93 that the OHL has seen two teams with at least three players in triple digits.

The 1992-93 Detroit Jr. Red Wings featured four 100-point scorers in Bob Wren, Pat Peake, Kevin Brown and Todd Harvey while the Peterborough Petes saw Mike Harding, Jason Dawe and Dave Roche all hit the century mark.

Blandisi (49-57–106), Labanc (29-75–104) and Mangiapane (40-60–100) have propelled the Colts to a 39-23-1-1 record through 64 games this season. They’re currently in the hunt for the sixth Central Division title in franchise history.

The Colts captain this season, Joseph Blandisi’s outstanding play garnered attention from the New Jersey Devils, who signed the overage free agent to an three-year NHL entry level contract on January 14.

The Markham, ON, native is one goal away from becoming the third player in Colts history to score 50 goals in a season, joining Bryan Cameron who scored 53 in 2009-10 and Sheldon Keefe who tallied 53 goals between the Colts and Toronto St. Michael’s Majors during the 1998-99 campaign.

San Jose Sharks prospect Kevin Labanc set a new Colts single-season franchise record last Saturday night, collecting his 74th assist of the year against the Erie Otters. Labanc surpassed Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds coach Sheldon Keefe’s season total of 73 with the Colts in 1999-2000.

Labanc is currently third in the OHL with 75 assists this season. He strung together a lengthy 25-game point streak earlier this season that stretched from November 1 to January 10 and saw him collect 15 goals, 37 assists and 52 points.

Andrew Mangiapane hit the 40-goal mark last Saturday night in just his second OHL season. The 18 year-old is a former undrafted free agent acquisition by the Colts who has turned heads with 51 points (24-27–51) in 68 games as a rookie last year and an additional 40 goals, 60 assists and 100 points in 64 games as a sophomore.

The Colts see weekend action with a visit to Mississauga on Friday before returning home to battle the Peterborough Petes on Saturday.

For more information, visit barriecolts.com.