Falcons edge Kilty B’s to finish third
The St. Catharines Falcons rose to the occasion.
With third place on the line to the winner, the Falcons edged the Hamilton Kilty B’s 3-2 in a Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Conference game Friday night at Jack Gatecliff Arena.
The win wraps up the regular season for the Falcons who finished with a 33-15-2 record. St. Catharines will now square off versus the sixth-place Pelham Panthers in a best-of-seven quarter-final playoff series tentatively slated to begin Friday, Feb. 28 at St. Catharines.
The Kilty B’s will play the Thorold Blackhawks while the other two first round matchups are also set: Caledonia (1) vs. Buffalo (8) and Niagara Falls (2) vs. Fort Erie (7).
Falcons captain Curtis Egert turned in another solid effort, scoring a goal and playing his usual physical, smart style.
“We were struggling there for a bit and it’s good to see a team win there for all the boys,” said Egert, who finished the season with 31 goals. “It’s a great feeling to have because we have such a hard-working team.
“There’s no words to describe how great it feels.”
The Falcons did a good job of turning the page following a 3-0 loss Monday in Niagara Falls which cost them a shot a second place.
“We tried to put it behind us. We learned a couple of things from it,” Egert said. “We were great this week in practice. Learn from our mistakes and just focus on the next game.”
The Kilty B’s netted the lone goal of the first period when Nick Giamou netted his ninth of the season.
The Falcons responded with one of their best periods of the season, scoring three times, including goals by Michael Santini and Egert just 17 seconds apart.
“We maintained pressure down low and cycled like crazy,” Egert said. “We need to (play that way). We’re a team that continues to go and if we play that way, teams can’t play with us down low. We contain them too well.”
The Kilty B’s made it 3-2 with just over seven minutes to play and pushed hard for the equalizer, but came up short.
Egert said the Falcons now must find another gear for the post-season.
“The playoffs are a whole different season, everyone knows it,” he said. “You can see it in the guys. They’re all ready to go. We can’t wait to see what’s next.”
General manager Frank Girhiny subbed for head coach Tyler Bielby behind the bench. Bielby was suspended for one game for an abuse of official penalty at the end of Monday’s game.
Girhiny quickly left the arena to attend Brock’s playoff game versus Guelph, where his son Christian is a member of the Badgers.
Falcon facts: Robert Moretto and Matt Barazin did not dress for the Falcons . . . St . Catharines defenceman Carter Geoffroy suffered an upper body injury in the first and did not return . . . In Niagara Falls Friday, the Canucks dropped a 4-1 decision to the Caledonia Corvairs . . . The Falcons and Kilty B’s split six games this season.
Falcons 4 Kilty B’s 1
Front Row Sports Player of the Game: St. Catharines captain Curtis Egert with a goal.
St. Catharines Falcons: Egert (31); Xavier Drummond (25); Michael Santini (7).
Hamilton Kilty B’s: Eli Rivers (22); Nick Giamou (9);
Game stats: Shots on goal: By St. Catharines on Justin Easter (35), by Hamilton on Blair Coffin (17); Power plays: St. Catharines 0-for-2, Hamilton 0-for-3; Penalty minutes: St. Catharines 4, Hamilton 16.
Attendance: 615.
Up next: The Falcons take on the Pelham Panthers in a best-of-seven quarter-final playoff series tentatively slated to begin Friday, Feb. 28 at St. Catharines.
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