You can't replace Travis Dermott. Just ask Erie Otters coach Kris Knoblauch.
The Erie Otters played their first game of the season without defensemen Travis Dermott on Friday night. It wasn't easy.
Dermott, the Toronto Maple Leafs' 34th overall selection in June’s NHL Draft, was taking part in his second day of Team Canada’s World Junior Championship (WJC) selection camp.
Through 29 games this season, Dermott anchored an Erie team to a 25-3-1 record with 27 points (second among OHL defensemen) in 29 games.
And despite an early goal from Otters forward Nick Betz from a bad angle to give Erie a 1-0 lead, the 67’s got the best of the visitors in their first period without their star defensemen.