Area Feb. 8: Junior hockey roundup; Spartans name Colbourne GM
The Niagara Falls Canucks broke a 2-2 tie with two goals in the third period to defeat the Thorold Blackhawks 4-2 in Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Conference action Thursday at Thorold Arena.
David D’Agostino and Andrew Bruno, into an empty net, scored in the third for the Falls. Bruno and Nicholas Prestia scored earlier for the Canucks.
Devon Thibodeau and Evan Miller replied for the Hawks.
Zach Moore made 19 saves in goal for the win.
Chase Grsic kicked out 36 shots in a losing effort.
The Canucks improved to 34-6-0-1 and trail the St. Catharines Falcons by one point for first place. The Falcons own a game in hand. Niagara Falls host the struggling Welland Junior Canadians Friday at the Gale Centre. The Junior Canadians have dropped 13 straight.
The Blackhawks, 18-20-1-4, are home to the Falcons Thursday.
JUNIOR C
The Niagara Riverhawks traveled to Hamilton and clawed their way back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Hamilton Huskies Jr Blues 3-2 to take a 1-0 series lead in their Provincial Junior Hockey League best-of-seven, quarter-final series.
The first period saw both teams exchange some good scoring opportunities but both goaltenders shut the door, including a few big saves from Riverhawks’ netminder Matt Boere during a Hamilton power play to keep the game even at 0-0 after 20 minutes.
Matt Boere
Hamilton jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of quick goals by Brady Bannon and Jamie Buck. Nick Volpatti scored on the power play for the Riverhawks at 13:59 to narrow the gap to 2-1 after two periods of play.
Volpatti netted his second of the game at 6:37 of the third to tie the game at 2-2 followed by Carter Leroux, who scored the game winner on a power play with just under five minutes remaining in the game.
Hamilton outshot the Riverhawks 45-36 with Boere making 43 saves in the win.
Game 2 is Saturday night at the Gale Centre at 8 p.m. Game 3 goes back in Dundas at the Olympic Arena Sunday at 6:30 p.m. Game 4 will be back at the Gale Centre Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
JUNIOR B LACROSSE
The St.Catharines Spartans have hired Dave Colbourne as vice president and general manager for the Ontario Lacrosse Association junior B 2019 season.
“We are extremely pleased to welcome Dave and his family to the St. Catharines Spartans,” president Chris Spiers said. “It was important for us to find someone familiar with our team and who shares our values and who could build this team for both this year and many seasons to come.
“Dave has over 15 years experience as a lacrosse executive, in-depth knowledge of our community and we believe he will thrive in his new positions.”
Colbourne was president of the St. Catharines Saints senior team who won four OLA league titles from 2011-2015, which included four trips to the Presidents Cup National Championship winning two bronze, a silver and the gold in 2013.
Colbourne is looking forward to the challenge.
“I am extremely excited to be given the chance to lead this team as VP and general manager,” he said. “We’re looking forward to assembling a competitive team that will be proud to put the Spartans jersey on and represent our core values as a club on and off the playing surface.
“This team has a long history and I am determined to work with Chris and his family as we continue making the Spartans about community, character and winning.”
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