Meteors ready to defend title
The Fort Erie Meteors appear anything but complacent as they prepare to defend their Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Conference championship.
The Meteors, coming off their most memorable season in franchise history with a team record 36 wins in the regular season and a dramatic Game 7 win at Caledonia for their first Golden Horseshoe title, don’t plan on living in the past.
“We won our league but we didn’t win our last game,” Meteors general manager/coach Nik Passero said. “There is still more steak there to be chewed. That’s our thought going into the season. We do have some unfinished business and a lot of returning guys who felt that championship feeling but also felt the heartbreak of your season ending earlier than you wanted it.”
The Meteors, who were eliminated in the round-robin portion of the Sutherland Cup playoffs, convened Aug. 20 and have been hard at work preparing for their season opener Saturday versus Caledon. Last year’s championship banner will be raised before the game.
“I think the prep for the season has been exactly the same,” Passero said. “We’re taking all the steps we have in the last five years to make sure we’re ready to go and on time.
“I think we’re ready.”
The Meteors learned how to win when it counted last season, which Passero feels will be a huge bonus this time around.
“Last year we started the season with 16-17 new players. Our guys returning this year know what it’s all about and in my opinion came back ready to go,” he said. “I think they’re showing the young guys what it means to play here, the work they have put in to keep our standard up and to protect it.”
That being said, the Meteors are in uncharted territory never having defended a championship.
“I think there’s definitely been more pressure, more eyes on us. How you handle that, I guess we’ll see in a little while,” Passero said.
The Meteors feature a solid nucleus of players back from last year’s championship squad.
John Lloyd returns and will take over the starting job in goal with Charlie Burns having moved on to the Erie Otters. Niagara IceDogs draft pick Finn Moffett (10th round, 2023) spent last season with Ridley College and will act as backup.
“I have full confidence in them. The net is taken care of and it is something we don’t have to worry about,” Passero said.
The Meteors are well stocked on the defence with the return of captain Rylan Masterson, Cameron Thorpe, RJ Schmidt and Owen Cressman. Brock Hauser, who played last season in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, is expected to be a major contributor while rookies Tyson Zimmerman and IceDogs draft pick Ben Arnold are also on hand.
“With those returning guys that’s a great starting point not many junior teams have. I’m putting a lot on their shoulders for sure,” Passero said.
Three of Meteors top six forwards — Kyle Adamo, Hunter Coley and Sam Tonelli — are back from last season.
Former Falcon and Hamilton Kilty B Chris Reid has been added while Zack Mizzi and Caleb Bidgood provide grit and experience.
Newcomers up front are Erie draft pick Colton Radford, Ethan Pepperall, Aiden Zimmerman, Tate Donald, Danny Adamo and American Eric Cunningham.
Passero sees similarities between this team and last year’s championship squad.
“Our identity last year was really good defensive play and being fast and I think that’s something we focus on when we’re recruiting. I don’t think this group is much different. We defend hard and we’re fast. I expect to push the pace on teams and when they come in here Saturday night, they know it’s going to be a long one,” he said.
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