Falcons blank Kilty B’s
Henry Attard has been a welcome and timely addition to the St. Catharines Falcons.
The 17-year-old defenceman joined the Falcons this season from the Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League and has quickly established himself as a key member of the blueline.
“We were excited he already had a year of junior under his belt as a 16-year-old,” Falcons general manager/coach Tyler Bielby said. “He has been just great since he walked in, particularly dealing with the adversity on our back end. Henry and the other guys have all really stepped up. He’s playing 25-30 minutes a night and doing a heck of a job.”
Attard, who has two goals and 12 points in 16 games, and has made the transition to the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League appear seamless.
“It’s been awesome,” Attard said. “Definitely a big jump from last year going in as a rookie in the Northern Ontario League. It was a different game but no complaints. Tyler has been putting his trust in me and I can’t thank him enough. I think I’ve been doing the job he wants me to do. There have been hiccups here and there but I’ve been happy with my play.”
Attard loves being a go-to player.
“It’s nice knowing I’m the guy they call on right now. It’s a big confidence booster having coaches be in my corner. They’re always helping me get better and putting my trust in them to make me better, just makes them trust me more,” he said.
Bielby appreciates Attard’s reliability.
“He shows up every day to compete,” Bielby said. “You always know you’re getting his best effort; there’s no days off for him. He’s a true competitor who is a great skater and we’ve found some offensive touch in him. He possess a real hard shot from the blueline and right where coaches like it, half a foot off the ice, and he’s a great teammate.”
Attard was selected in the eighth round (152 overall) of the 2022 Ontario Hockey League draft by the Hamilton Bulldogs. He was also chosen to attend the 2022 United States Hockey League combine.
He spurned offers to head to the Ontario Junior Hockey League to join the Falcons in an effort to aid his development.
“Seeing what Tyler has done with this program and the people he has put forward and the program he builds every year — he wants to win every year — and that’s the culture I want to be part of,” Attard said. “I feel like I can succeed more on a team where there’s competition.
“I want to play at the highest level possible wherever hockey takes me, whether it’s down south to the States or our west to the AJ (Alberta Junior League). Just weighing my options.”
Attard, who is finishing Grade 12 on line, is enjoying life as a Falcon.
“It’s been good. The organization has been great. They have been very helpful with the transition and billets.”
He also appreciates the lack of travel in the GOJHL.
“It beats eight-hour bus rides up north. I don’t have to be at the rink four hours early. It’s great,” he said.
The Falcons blanked the Hamilton Kilty B’s 3-0 Friday night at the Seymour-Hanna Sports Complex.
Rookie Hayden Jeffery kicked out 34 shots for the shutout.
“We tip our cap tonight to Hayden who put up his first junior shutout,” Bielby said. “He was very calming during an adverse time.”
Following a scoreless first period, the Falcons got on the board early in the second when Brenden Anderson scored. Anderson added his second of the night later in the period before newcomer Luke Gualtieri rounded out the scoring late in the third with a goal in his first game as a Falcon since being acquired from the Niagara Falls Canucks earlier this week.
“Great game by our newcomer Gualts. He was steady and will be a welcome addition to our club,” Bielby said.
“Always nice to get a win on home ice. With six regulars out of the lineup, we are proud of how the boys competed and kept the puck out of the net. As we continue to battle the injury bug, it’s important we show up to work every night. We enjoy the win tonight and put it behind us in the morning and start to get ready for Port.”
The Falcons are at Port Colborne Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
The Sailors dropped their fourth straight with a 6-3 loss at Pelham Friday.
P.J. Alexander had two goals and Aiden Cupelli one for the Sailors.
Caleb MacLeish, Jeremiah Rausch, Max Schäuble, Ty Boone, Riley Smith and Nick Tymochenko replied for Pelham.
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