Falcons blank Panthers for sixth straight win
Tanner Brown is finally showing his true colours for the St. Catharines Falcons.
The 19-year-old Fenwick resident joined the Falcons last season in a multi-player deal with the Niagara Falls Canucks at the trade deadline but was injured almost immediately and never seemed to get untracked.
Brown is healthy this season and is showing why coach/general manager Frank Girhiny wanted him included in the deal.
Brown fired his first goal of the season as the Falcons defeated the Pelham Panthers 7-0 in a Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Conference game Friday at Jack Gatecliff Arena.
It was the sixth straight with for the Falcons, who improved to 7-3.
The Panthers are now 9-4 after winning their first five games of the season.
“It’s just confidence,” Brown said, when asked to contrast this season versus last year. “I’m used to playing with these guys. I was new last year and I was kind of getting in synch with them.
“Now, we’re boys and I can kid with them.”
Brown, who had eight goals and 18 points in 48 games as a rookie in Niagara Falls three years ago, now has a goal and seven points in 10 games this season.
“I’m a defensive player, but I can play offence,” Brown said. “I can get points, but also take care of my own end and play the pk (penalty kill) or power play.”
Girhiny has noticed a big difference in Brown from last season.
“He’s played great this year,” Girhiny said. “He’s a mature player and Chris (defensive coach Chris McLean) is doing a wonderful job on the back end with him.
“He’s older and he’s understanding our system as well. We’re pretty happy with him.”
Girhiny is satisfied if Brown takes care of his own end first.
“If I don’t notice him during the game, then I’m real happy,” Girhiny said. “(I want) good puck moving and good body and he does a great job on the power play with the second unit and has a very active stick.”
St. Catharines dominated the opening period outshooting Pelham 16-4 and scoring both goals.
“We’ve been practising very good during the week and we knew this team with their coach (former Falcons bench boss Mark Barrick) would come after us real hard and we were ready for it,” Girhiny said. “We’re really starting to play Falcons-style hockey. Quick transition and playing really well down below the hash marks.”
The Falcons added two more in the second when midget call up John Ubershot scored, followed by a blast from the point by Brown.
The Falcons put the game away with three more in the third. With 25 seconds remaining an obviously frustrated Nicholas Kidd stormed out of his net after Falcons forward Noah Perlic and was ejected. Perlic and Kidd had become entangled seconds earlier near the net.
St. Catharines goaltender Jack McGovern celebrated his 18th birthday turning back 16 shots for the victory.
Falcon facts: Carson Edwardson, Jake Orr, Kristopher Blak and Brannon Butler did not dress for the Falcons . . . Dylan Biggar and Jared Hill were scratched for the Panthers . . . Falcons defenceman Adam Pys was hit with a pair of 10-minute misconducts in the first period.
Kilty B’s 4 Canucks 1
Thirteen proved to be unlucky for the Niagara Falls Canucks.
The Canucks had their 12-game winning streak come to an end with a 4-1 loss at home to Hamilton.
Noah Bollert, Mason Reeves, Lucas Thompson and Marino Moro scored.
Ryan Donovan replied for the Canucks.
Stats pack
BPSN Star of the Game: St. Catharines defenceman Tanner Brown with his first goal of the season.
For the St. Catharines Falcons: Brown (1); Dakota Miskolczi 2 (3,4); Gage Stephney (4); Nah Solinger (3); Tanner Main (2); John Ubershot (1).
For the Pelham Panthers: No scoring.
Game stats: Shots on goal: By Pelham on Jack McGovern (16), by St. Catharines on Nicholas Kidd/Brandon McCorriston (38); Power plays: St. Catharines 0-for-3, Pelham 0-for-6; Penalty minutes: St. Catharines 72, Pelham 31.
Attendance: 467.
Up next: The Falcons visit Pelham Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
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