OHL warmup for Zeppa
It was a unique — and unexpected — Ontario Hockey League audition for Noah Zeppa on Saturday as the Sault Ste. Marie native dressed as the emergency backup goalie for the Hamilton Bulldogs.
Young Zeppa, who has a 2002 birth date and does not turn 16 until December, served as the backup to Hamilton rookie Zachary Roy for last night’s game against the Soo Greyhounds at GFL Memorial Gardens.
Zeppa did not see any action as the Bulldogs dropped a 4-3 decision to the Greyhounds but the 5-foot-10, 160-pound puck-stopper participated in the full pre-game warmup. And he certainly did not look out of place in his first time facing OHL shooters.
Zeppa, who plays for the Soo Major Thunderbirds of the Great North Midget Hockey League, suited up for Hamilton in place of veteran Nick Donofrio, who was injured in the first period of the Bulldogs road loss to the Sudbury Wolves on Friday.
Bypassed at the 2018 OHL draft after playing for the last-place Soo Minor Thunderbirds of the Great North loop last season, Zeppa was cleared by the OHL at Hamilton’s request to dress as the Bulldogs emergency backup for Saturday’s game against the Greyhounds.
Via his contacts in Sault Ste. Marie and northern Ontario, Bulldogs scout Beau Moyer has been keeping close tabs on Zeppa this season.
PHOTOS: Noah Zeppa, warming up for the Hamilton Bulldogs prior to Saturday’s OHL game against the Soo Greyhounds. (Photos by Jim Egan.)