Falcons Black is back
The St. Catharines Falcons continue to add to their defensive depth.
Along with picking up veteran rearguard Nicholas Boehmer recently in a deal with Stratford, the Falcons have also welcomed back Kristopher Black into the lineup.
The 17-year-old missed the first 10 weeks of the season with a foot injury sustained while playing volleyball at Sir Winston Churchill.
When he was ready to return after about six weeks, the rookie rearguard had to bide his time and wait for a spot in the lineup to open up.
“It was really frustrating,” Black said Friday night, after picking up a pair of assists in a 12-2 win over the Lockport Regals in a Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Conference game at Jack Gatecliff Arena. “I played against Pelham and got some shifts in to back into it and now I’m really starting to get back into it.”
Black admitted finally getting back into the lineup halfway through the season is like starting all over again.
“It was good once I got back because I’m a rookie and it was getting to know the guys again and getting strong bonds in the room,” he said. “I’m learning all the systems again because we had different systems at the beginning. I had to learn the systems and now they are much more advanced so that took a little bit of time.”
Black, who is listed at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, played midget in Hamilton last season and made the Falcons out of training camp.
“It’s a big jump,” he said. “It’s a lot faster and you have to make plays much quicker.
“Playing with the guys on this team is such a pleasure. It’s a whole new level.”
Falcons coach Frank Girhiny says Black can be a solid contributor if he stays within himself.
“He just needs to keep it real simple. He’s a big body and he’s strong,” he said. “If he does that, he’ll be in the lineup regularly.
“He wants to learn and he’s a good player. It’s unfortunate he’s behind the eight ball after missing so much time.”
Black will share playing time with fellow rookie Joe Colasurdo for the time being.
“We needed to get Black into some games in a row,” Girhiny said.
The Falcons raced out to a 7-1 lead after one period, then took their foot off the gas and were still able to dominate before finishing with a flurry.
The win improves St. Catharines record to 21-3-0-2 and increases their streak to 22 straight games with at least one point. The Falcons last failed to earn a point in a game Sept. 24 in a loss at Hamilton.
The Regals dropped to 3-25-1 and have now permitted a whopping 402 goals in 29 games.
“We had 14 goals against them two weeks ago and 12 more tonight,” Girhiny lamented. “It’s not good for the team, it’s not good for the league, it’s not good for our fan base.
“It’s unfortunate we have to play them. It’s tough for our guys.”
Christian Girhiny, who last week collected seven points in a 14-0 win at Lockport, picked up a goal and five assists and now has 19 goals and 42 points in just 15 games since joining the Falcons from the Erie Otters.
Falcon facts: Joseph Colasurdo, Jack Venneri and Jake Orr were scratched for the Falcons . . . The Regals were missing seven regulars and dressed just 14 skaters . . . Girhiny (7-11-18) and Jacob Roach (7-6-13) were co-players of the month for St. Catharines for the month of November. Jack McGovern (4-0, 1.49 GAA) was goalie of the month and Andrew Somerville defenceman of the month.
Stats pack
Falcons 12 Regals 2
BPSN Star of the Game: St. Catharines forward Christian Girhiny with six points.
St. Catharines Falcons: Girhiny (19); Carson Edwardson 2 (20,21); Noah Blakely 2 (6,7); Dawson McKinney 2 (7,8); Jacob Roach (14); Kyle West (11); Dakota Miskolczi (10); Tanner Brown (4); Ethan Sims (2).
Lockport Regals: Brendan Murray (3); Russ Ruggio (1).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By St. Catharines on Dean Hahn/Anthony Santarosa (43), by Lockport on Jack McGovern (26); Power plays: St. Catharines 2-for-3, Lockport 0-for-6; Penalty minutes: St. Catharines 26, Lockport 20.
Attendance: 310.
Up next: The Falcons are at Welland Sunday and Thorold next Thursday. The Blackhawks visit next Friday.
Canucks 4 Meteors 2
Justin Kyle collected two goals and an assist as the Niagara Falls Canucks doubled the visiting Fort Erie Meteors at the Gale Centre.
Patrick McCabe and David D’Agostino also scored for the Canucks.
Brady Lee and Kyle Sullivan replied for the Meteors.
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