The Barrie Colts left the Bayshore on Saturday with more than a preseason win — they left with a potential building block between the pipes. Seventeen-year-old Hagen Bach turned aside 35 shots and stopped all three attempts in the shootout as Barrie edged the Owen Sound Attack 3-2.
Rookie netminder shines
Bach, a 17-year-old from Niskayuna, New York, was the story for the Colts. After making noise last season with the Collingwood Colts of the OJHL — where he posted a 7-3-0 playoff record with two shutouts and a .935 save percentage — he carried that form into this outing, repeatedly frustrating an Attack attack that controlled large portions of the game.
Owen Sound consistently peppered Bach, dominating play for stretches but unable to solve the rookie without a slice of fortune. The contest remained scoreless until a fortuitous sequence in the third period when an on-ice official inadvertently kicked the puck onto the tape of newcomer Alex Lisi. Lisi converted the breakaway to open the scoring and give the Attack their lead.
Rising Colts prospects answer
Barrie’s response showcased why the club believes its recent draft choices can form the franchise core. First-round pick Lucas Matheson — the 17th overall selection — rifled a wrist shot into the top corner during a power play to tie the game. Minutes later, seventh-overall pick Declan McNally struck for his first preseason goal to put the Colts ahead, giving Barrie its first lead of the afternoon.
- Final (shootout): Barrie Colts 3, Owen Sound Attack 2
- Key performer: Hagen Bach — 35 saves, 3 shootout stops
- Attack opener: Alex Lisi — breakaway goal in third period
- Colts comeback: Lucas Matheson and Declan McNally goals
What the result means
On the surface, a preseason victory is one more tally in the win column. Under the hood, though, the game offered a clearer picture of Barrie’s rebuild. The Colts have been assembling a young spine, and Matheson and McNally — both early picks — supplied the kinds of moments a team in transition needs: high-skill scoring at key times.
For Owen Sound, the match will sting because of the manner of the opening goal. The Attack controlled large swathes of play but were unable to convert until the official’s mishap produced a clean chance for Alex Lisi. That sort of misfortune underlines how fine the margins remain in preseason tuneups, where chemistry is still forming and officials’ splits-second moments can swing momentum.
Goaltending and roster implications
Bach’s performance will turn heads across the OHL scouting and development community. A .935 playoff save rate in the OJHL last season already put him on the map; following a 35-save showing and perfect shootout night in Barrie, coaches and general managers will likely watch his progress closely as the regular season approaches.
Meanwhile, Owen Sound gained a look at Lisi as a potential depth or impact piece after he signed with the Attack and promptly delivered in the third period. The Attack will hope to convert more of their sustained pressure into clean goals in forthcoming preseason matchups.
Both clubs will take different lessons from Saturday’s matinée. Barrie left with encouraging signs that its draft strategy can produce immediate contributors, while the Attack departed with plenty of positives from their possession game — tempered by the reminder that goaltending and small moments can decide tight affairs.
| Team | Goals | Notable |
|---|---|---|
| Barrie Colts | 3 | Bach 35 saves; Matheson, McNally goals; shootout win |
| Owen Sound Attack | 2 | Lisi signed recently; openinig goal via breakaway |
The preseason calendar is far from over, but this game provided a snapshot of two clubs at contrasting moments: one leaning into a youth movement and the other sharpening the attack that dominated play but left without the desired result.
