Blackhawks on the move
Monday is now hockey night in Thorold.
After decades of playing their home games Thursday night — with a brief switch to Wednesday for a couple of seasons — the Thorold Blackhawks have moved their home nights to Monday for the upcoming season.
“We wanted to change it up mostly to make it more accessible for college coaches and scouts to come watch us and it seemed like Monday or Tuesday was their time where they weren’t away at their games and it is away from the weekend,” Blackhawks owner/coach Scott Barnes said. “We wanted to get a good day to be seen by scouts from colleges. That’s what we’re trying to do, to send as many guys that way as we can.”
The move also removes the conflict of going head-to-head against the Niagara IceDogs, who play 10 Thursday home games this season.
“We were the only junior B team playing on Thursday and now we will be the only junior B team playing on Monday in Niagara,” Barnes said. “I think it’s going to be a better night for us. I don’t think we will draw any less fans. People can come and still get home and watch Monday Night Football.”
The Blackhawks open the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League season Friday, Sept. 24 in Niagara Falls followed by their home opener, Monday, Sept. 27, versus the St. Catharines Falcons.
The Blackhawks still have a full month before opening their season and Barnes plans to put that ice time to good use.
“I know last year not playing as much we were practising a lot, we had a full month before we played any games and we were able to start implementing our systems and we had a lot more time to work with the guys,” he said. “We need that time. We have a lot of new guys, a lot of young guys, and it takes time jell and learn how to play our systems against junior guys. For the next five weeks it’s really gearing up for how we’re going to play.”
The Blackhawks roster is still in flux, Barnes said.
“We got down to a reasonable number. We still have a few extra bodies in camp and guys coming in here and there wanting a look but for the most part I think we know what we’re going to look like with a few guys added here and there,” he said. “I think we’re pretty close.”
Among the key returning players are forwards Liam Loftus and Harris Goan, along with goaltender Noah Fortuna.
As well, forward Nicholas Rubino has returned to the organization after a season with the Miramachi Timberwolves of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League. The 20-year-old Welland native netted 23 goals and 52 points for Thorold in 2019/20.
The Blackhawks tied the Fort Erie Meteors 3-3 and also dropped a pair of 2-1 decisions last weekend at the Doug Burr Memorial Tournament in Pelham.
“It was excellent,” Barnes said. “It’s been 16 months since real hockey. Our games last year were non-contact and everybody kind of knew where things were going but to be back with full contact and real hockey was nice.”
The Hawks are back in action this weekend at the Eighth Annual Canucks Classic in Niagara Falls. Their first game is Friday at 5 p.m. versus the Caledonia Corvairs.
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