Hamilton Bulldogs goalie grabs OHL weekly honour

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Published March 7, 2022 at 6:15 pm

Marco Costantini has picked up some plaudits after being a prime-time performer in pads for the Hamilton Bulldogs last week.

The Bulldogs stalwart, who hails from Hamilton, has been recognized as the Ontario Hockey League goaltender of the week after posting an 0.96 goals-against average and .962 save percentage in two tight 2-1 wins last week. Last Friday, Costantini was the game’s No. 1 star during the Bulldogs’ nationally televised 2-1 shootout win against the Ottawa 67’s and his twin brother Anthony Costantini. In that contest, Marco Costantini stopped 24-of-25 Ottawa shots, then stopped 3-of-4 shootout attempts before overage defenceman Arber Xhekaj scored the decider.

One night earlier, on March 3, Costantini stopped 26-of-27 shots during a 2-1 win against the Mississauga Steelheads in a matchup between the two division leaders in the OHL’s Eastern Conference.

With those results, Hamilton is on a nine-win streak and holds a two-point lead in the race for first overall in the OHL, with several games in hand on their pursuers. The Bulldogs (72 points from 49 games, .735 point pct.) have five games in hand on Mississauga (70/54, .648) and four over the western Conference-leading Flint Firebirds (70/53, .660). Within the East Division, Hamilton is also nine points ahead of the Shane Wright-led Kingston Frontenacs, with one game in hand.

The 19-year-old Costantini has a 2.69 goals-against average, .906 save percentage and three shutouts in 34 games this season, and has been credited with a 20-9-2-2 record.

The Owen Sound Attack’s Nick Chenard (3-0, 1.67, .933, one shutout last week) and Peterborough Petes’ Michael Simpson (3-0, 2.33, .927) were also considered for the award.

The Bulldogs have two inter-division away games this week against the Barrie Colts and Mississauga on Thursday and Friday. They get a two-day respite before facing the Oshawa Generals in an outdoor game at Tim Hortons Field on March 14.

The team announced Monday two more sections of seating have been opened for the game.

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