Canucks win ugly
There is something about the St. Catharines Falcons that brings out the best in Andrew Bruno.
The veteran forward scored the winner late in the third period as the Niagara Falls Canucks edged Falcons 6-5 in a Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Conference game Tuesday night at Jack Gatecliff Arena.
“It felt very good,” Bruno said. “We were battling with them all game and we knew if we just stick together as a team we would win, and that’s what we did.”
Bruno earlier this season scored a pair of goals in St. Catharines as the Canucks prevailed 6-3 in the first meeting of the season between the long-time rivals.
“I like it (Jack Gatecliff Arena),” Bruno said. “It’s a smaller rink but it doesn’t really bother me.”
Bruno enjoys the battles between the Canucks and the Falcons.
“For sure, but all games are the same,” he said. “This is our rivalry and a game to look forward to.”
Canucks coach Frank Pietrangelo will take the two points, but is well aware it was far from his team’s best effort.
“I don’t think either team is going to be happy with that game,” he said. “It was way too many goals against, not the best goaltending on either side, not the best defensive play on either side.
“There were mistakes made and I don’t know how to explain it, but a win is a win. This league is very difficult and if you’re not ready to play, things can change in a second.”
Falcons coach Tyler Bielby laid it on the line when discussing his team’s effort.
“Guys in the room can make as many excuses as they want, they cost themselves the game,” he said. “They are going to have to realize if they want to win hockey games, emotional intelligence is just as important as anything else.
“You have to keep yourself in the game at all times and can’t let these things get the better of you and tonight we did.”
Bryce Robertson gave the Falcons a quick 1-0 lead in the first period and the Falcons were on the power play looking to add to their lead when an egregious giveaway led to a short-handed goal by Matthew Riva. St. Catharines quickly responded to take a 2-1 lead 10 seconds later before Niagara Falls tied the game again on a late goal by former Falcon Jake Adams.
Each team then scored once in the second period, setting the stage for a wild third period which saw the Falcons take a 4-3 lead on a goal by Noah Blakely. The Canucks grabbed the lead right back on a pair of quick power-play goals while Carson Edwardson was off on a double minor for spearing. Edwardson stepped out of the box after the second goal and was immediately ejected for abuse of an official.
The Falcons tied it back up at 5-5 on a goal by Anthony Volpatti before Bruno netted the winner.
The teams meet again Friday in Niagara Falls.
“We turn around and get right back at it,” Bielby said. “We’ll have a bit of a different looking lineup because of some suspensions (Edwardson, Drummond for abuse of officials) but we have to wear that and come together as a team.”
Falcons facts: Kyler Watson did not dress for the Falcons. Midget Kyle Glenney was called up to fill out the roster . . . Mike Butterfield was scratched for the Canucks . . . St. Catharines lost Curtis Egert for a check from behind on Anthony Issaris late in the second period . . . The loss ended a four-game winning streak for the Falcons.
Canucks 6 Falcons 5
BPSN Star of the Game: Falcons forward Noah Blakely with three points.
St. Catharines Falcons: Blakely (5); Nick Volpatti (5); Trent Glenney (4); Bryce Robertson (2); Josh Urbshott (1).
Niagara Falls Canucks: Andrew Bruno (13); Ryan Donovan (10); Matthew Riva (7); Anthony Issaris (5); Owen Homes (4); Jake Adams (2).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By St. Catharines on Anthony Tremonte (30), by Niagara Falls on Blair Coffin (23); Power plays: St. Catharines 1-for-4, Niagara Falls 3-for-6; Penalty minutes: St. Catharines 46, Niagara Falls 22.
Attendance: 397.
Up next: The teams meet again Friday in Niagara Falls at 7 p.m.
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