Memorable night four Girhiny
The addition of Christian Girhiny has paid immediate dividends for the St. Catharines Falcons.
Girhiny joined the Falcons from the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League this week and quickly made his presence felt.
Girhiny netted a goal and an assist in his Falcons debut Thursday in Thorold, then followed that up with a four-goal performance Friday as the Falcons topped the Welland Junior Canadians 7-1 in a Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Conference game at Jack Gatecliff Arena.
The Falcons, 10-3, have won nine straight after sputtering out of the gate with a 1-3 start.
Girhiny couldn’t remember the last time he scored four goals in a game.
“Maybe in house league when I was five,” he smiled. “I don’t even think I had a hat trick for a while so it’s nice not only to get a few goals, but I like the win more than the goals.”
Girhiny was a solid two-way player at the OHL level, but will be counted on more for his offence at the junior B level.
“I’ve been working on some more offensive skills with (Chris) Risi,” Girhiny said. “I tried my best to do my job back in Erie but it’s nice to be that offensive guy that they look for.”
Girhiny was relieved to get off to a strong start with his new club.
“It’s always nice to come into a different team and contribute,” he said. “These first couple of games I’m still getting used to my linemates and the team structure. It’s a little bit different what they run here than I’m used to but I like what our team is going to bring.”
Falcons head coach/general manager Frank Girhiny was pleased to see the newest Falcon — who also happens to be his son — fit in so seamlessly.
“If you know Christian’s demeanour, he thinks he’s a junior B player now with an OHL pedigree,” Frank Girhiny said. “That’s the key to being successful at this level for the guys who come down from the OHL, they have to remember they are playing junior B hockey.
“I think he feels really comfortable with the guys and his new team.”
St. Catharines started off quickly, firing in a pair of goals by Christian Girhiny and Tanner Brown to take a 2-0 lead before the six-minute mark of the period.
The Falcons outshot the Falcons 15-2 in the middle frame but Welland netted the lone goal when Phillipe Angerville scored on a two-on-one.
Frank Girhiny admitted he challenged his players in between periods to be better. The result was a dominating third period that saw St. Catharines score five goals.
“I asked them to respond for the third period and you saw the results,” he said.
The only thing Frank Girhiny did not enjoy in the third period was a fracas near the end that will cost the club both Ethan Sims and Noah Perlic for their game Tuesday versus Niagara Falls. The club also lost Adam Pys for Tuesday following a fighting major earlier in the period.
“It’s frustrating because it was a 6-1 game and they’re running us all over the ice,” Frank Girhiny said. “It’s unfortunate. Our guys have to be a little more disciplined but you can only take so much. They were running us right from the get-go.”
The Junior Canadians fell to 3-10.
Falcon facts: Carson Eden, Carson Edwardson, Gage Stephney, Kristopher Black and Brannon Butler did not dress for the Falcons . . . Brenden Morin and Chase Johnson were scratched for the Junior Canadians . . . The Falcons home game Friday, Nov. 9 versus Lockport has been postponed due to a tournament being booked into Jack Gatecliff Arena and will be played at a date to be determined . . . Edwardson is expected to play Tuesday.
Canucks 7 Meteors 1
Justin Kyle had two goals and Mitch Mendonca added four assists as the Niagara Falls Canucks took care of the visiting Fort Erie Meteors.
Patrick McCabe, Ben Evans, David D’Agostino, Justin Randhawa and Matthew Riva added singles.
Cail Cirillo repled for Fort Erie.
Kilty B’s 4 Panthers 2
Nick Cordeiro, Noah Bollert, TJ Hughes and Marino Moro scored for Hamilton at Pelham.
Brodie Thoms and Michael Marchesan replied for the Panthers.
Stats Pack
Falcons 7 Junior Canadians 1
BPSN Star of the Game: Falcons forward Christian Girhiny with four goals.
For the St. Catharines Falcons: Girhiny 4 (2,3,4,5); Tanner Brown (2); Adam Pys (2); Andrew Somerville (2).
For the Welland Junior Canadians: Phillipe Angerville (2).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By St. Catharines on Joey Fratantonio (34), by Welland on; Dillon Lamarche (16); Power plays: St. Catharines 1-for-4, Welland 0-for-5; Penalty minutes: St. Catharines 31, Welland 29.
Attendance: 440.
Up next: The Falcons host Niagara Falls Tuesday and Thorold next Friday.
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