Kris Mallette’s postgame words of anger contrasted with his smile as he spoke them.
How the Erie Otters fared for their Sept. 26 Ontario Hockey League home opener was the cause of their coach’s confliction.
The Otters led Kitchener 3-0 midway through their new season’s first action at Erie Insurance Arena. Some sensational saves by goaltender David Egorov, acquired in an offseason trade with Brantford, factored into that advantage.
However, Egorov’s 35 overall stops weren’t enough to prevent the Rangers from a rally they capped 58 seconds into the five-minute overtime period.
Tanner Lam, on a rebound chance from between the circles, wristed the puck through three skaters and past Egorov for the goal that gave the league’s reigning champions a 4-3 comeback win.
“The guys are mad right now,” Mallette said, “and that’s awesome. They wanted to win and they did a lot of things early that gave us that opportunity.
“Yeah, they’re sitting in (the locker room) mad. But again, that’s good.”
Mallette also took solace that the loss occurred in the Otters’ third game of their new season and that they recorded five team points over that stretch.
Erie (2-0-1-0) sought to win its first home opener since 2022 and start 3-0 for the first time since its 2015-16 team won its first nine.
‘A sense of calmness’
Egorov, especially early on, demonstrated why the Otters sent four draft picks to Brampton for his full-time service. The 20-year old was the veteran backup to Ryerson Leenders, who’s back for his fifth season with the Bulldogs.
Egorov turned aside the Rangers’ first 19 shots before Weston Cameron converted a rebound chance. Included in those 19 was his denial of a penalty shot by Lam.
The four goals Egorov allowed to Kitchener matched the amount he permitted over Erie’s wins at Guelph and Kitchener.
Despite that, Mallette said the Ottawa native has been as advertised.
“`Ego’ works extremely hard,” he said, “and gives us a sense of calmness back there. He’s given us the ability to make mistakes and still get through our growing pains.”
Other Erie debuts
Egorov wasn’t the only newcomer who represented EIA’s hockey tenant for the first time.
Colin Kennedy, whom Erie chose with the second overall pick in this year’s OHL priority selection draft, also debuted at home before a crowd of more than 4,400. The rookie forward was held off the scoresheet for a second straight game after he scored twice during its 5-1 season-opening victory at Guelph.
Defenseman Ty Henry started but also didn’t record a point in his first action for the Otters since April 2025. The Chicago Blackhawks draft pick was injured for the duration of their ensuing 18-41-5-4 season.
Michael Dec and McLean Agrette, who experienced part or all of that season, each recorded a goal and an assist during Erie’s loss.
Paul Schuster, the Otters’ first Austrian-born player, accounted for the Otters’ third goal against Kitchener netminder Mason Hriczov.
Who’s next
The Otters’ home opener doubled as their lone EIA appearance during September. They’ll begin a four-game road trip at Peterborough on Oct. 1.
Erie won’t host again until an Oct. 10 clash against Ottawa.
Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Early goals not enough for Erie Otters in home-opening loss to Kitchener
