RECAP: KOTAI BACKSTOPS HAMMERS TO ROAD WIN
Oct 24, 2026
Game Summary
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The Hamilton Hammers (2-6-0-1) picked up a big road win Saturday, handing the Laval Rocket (7-2-0-0) just their second loss of the season with a 2-1 decision at Place Bell.
Hamilton came up big at both ends of the ice, shutting down Laval’s dangerous power play with Josh Kotai turning aside 33 shots to help the Hammers snap their losing streak and close out their three-game road trip with a win.
Here’s the details:
THE SUMMARY
The Hammers wasted no time getting on the board. Just 30 seconds into the contest, Ethan Bear (2), playing in his 200th career AHL game, fired a point shot past Laval goaltender Kaapo Kähkönen to give Hamilton an early lead, with Liam Foudy and Matthew Highmore picking up the assists. Hamilton carried that momentum throughout the period, generating several quality chances, including Daniil Prokhorov ringing a shot off the post in the final minutes of the frame.
The Hammers outshot Laval 13-8 and carried a first-period lead into the intermission for the first time since their season-opening win in Belleville on October 2. Hamilton also kept the Rocket off the scoreboard through 20 minutes for the second straight game.
Highmore (2) doubled Hamilton’s lead just four minutes into the second period, scoring the first shorthanded goal in Hammers history. The goal also marked Highmore’s first multi-point game of the season, while Foudy picked up his second assist of the afternoon to record his second multi-point outing of the campaign.
At the other end, Kotai continued to make key stops to keep Laval at bay, but the Rocket got on the board when Dillan Bentley (1) scored his first professional goal on a shot that just trickled past the Hamilton netminder. Despite the late response, the Hammers carried a 2-1 lead into the dressing room with 20 minutes remaining.
Hamilton carried its momentum into the third period, with Kotai continuing to shut the door on Laval’s comeback bid by stopping all 11 of the Rocket’s shots in the final frame. Despite a late push from Laval in the dying seconds, Kotai stood tall to secure the victory for the Hammers and snap Hamilton’s losing streak.
KOTAI EARNS FIRST CAREER WIN
Kotai turned aside 33 of 34 shots to earn his first career AHL win, helping contain a high-powered Laval offence that entered the afternoon with 34 goals through its first eight games, the second-highest total in the league. The Abbotsford, B.C., native made his first professional start October 3 in Toronto and has continued to build confidence in his first full season with the Hammers.
Before turning pro, Kotai posted a 2.17 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage across 79 games during a three-year collegiate career at Augustana University.
BEAR REACHES 200-GAME MILESTONE
Bear marked his 200th career AHL game on Saturday in fitting fashion, opening the scoring for Hamilton. The veteran defenceman has enjoyed a well-travelled professional career, carrying 275 games of NHL experience with Edmonton, Carolina, Vancouver and Washington.
Now in his fifth AHL season, the 29-year-old blueliner has recorded 127 points, including 99 assists, across stops with Bakersfield, Hershey, Bridgeport, and Hamilton.
HAMMERS SILENCE LAVAL’S POWER PLAY
Hamilton got the job done on the penalty kill Saturday afternoon, shutting down a Laval power play that had been one of the league’s most effective to start the season.
The Rocket went 0-for-3 with the man advantage against a Hammers team that had surrendered at least one power-play goal in every game this season. Laval entered the matchup ranked second in the AHL at 32.5 per cent, having converted 13 of its first 40 opportunities.
HEADING HOME
Hamilton returns to TD Coliseum on Thursday to host the Hartford Wolf Pack for the Hammers’ Halloween Game, marking the first of two meetings between the teams this season. Catch the action live on CABLE14 and AHLTV on FloHockey. Tickets are available at HamiltonHammers.com.