There’s something pretty special about growing up watching your hometown hockey team - and then eventually getting the chance to score for them.
That’s exactly what Niagara IceDogs forward Noah Read is doing this season. The St. Catharines native opened the OHL season by scoring Niagara’s first goal of the year in their visit to the Brantford Bulldogs, then followed that up with a three-point performance in the IceDogs’ home opener against the Brampton Steelheads.
Read says the team’s strong start, along with the work they’ve put in during training camp and practices, has helped things click early.
For Read, scoring that first goal was about more than just getting on the scoresheet. He grew up attending IceDogs games and remembers watching the team make its memorable playoff run in 2016.
Now, a decade later, he's wearing the IceDogs jersey himself - and hopes to help create some of those memories for a new generation of fans.
Read spent time with the London Knights before joining Niagara last season, so getting a full training camp with his hometown team has made this season feel different. He says being around familiar faces has helped him settle in, while another year of OHL experience has given him more confidence on the ice.
And while having friends and family in the stands is certainly special, Read says he approaches the games the same way whether he's playing at home or on the road.
For a player who grew up watching the IceDogs, though, Read says there's no denying that this is a pretty memorable chapter.
(Written by: Matt Latour)