Falcons dominate Panthers
St. Catharines is the latest and final stop on Joshua’s Singh’s long and winding junior hockey career.
The 21-year-old Edmonton native played last season with Cobourg of the Ontario Junior Hockey League and has also had stops in various leagues in Alberta and British Columbia.
Singh joined the Falcons at the trade deadline and has provided experience and depth on the blueline as the Falcons attempt to repeat as Sutherland Cup champions.
Singh, who collected four assists in 11 regular season games, scored his first goal for the Falcons Friday as St. Catharines defeated the Pelham Panthers 9-1 in Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League playoff action at the Seymour-Hannah Sports Centre.
The Falcons lead the best-of-seven quarter-final playoff series 2-0 and can take a 3-0 stranglehold with a win in Pelham Sunday afternoon at 2:45 p.m.
Singh was thrilled to get his first goal as well as retrieve the souvenir puck.
“It was really good,” Singh said. “It was a good pass from Shirty (Nate Shirton). He’s been making those type of passes all year. The guys are really looking for each other. It’s really on him. I was just at the right spot at the right time.”
Singh landed with the Falcons thanks to the recommendation of Erie Otters assistant coach Wes Wolfe, who coached Singh in Cobourg last season.
“I view him (Wolfe) really highly and the fact he said he would send his own kid here was exactly what I needed to make that decision,” Singh said.
Singh said he has been welcomed with open arms by his new teammates.
“I think it’s the most fun I’ve had all of junior,” he said. “As soon as I walked in it was such a cohesive group. Although a lot of guys won it last year there were a lot of open arms and whatever I’ve needed, all the questions have been answered top to bottom.”
Singh would love go to out on top with a championship.
“That’s why I came here, their track record of winning. It’s all about winning and that’s something I want to be part of.”
Falcons coach Tyler Bielby holds Singh in high regard, on and off the ice.
“Great kid,” Bielby said. “He dealt with a little adversity when he got to Ontario. He was a little banged up but he’s starting to get his confidence back. I’m happy with his first couple games of the series.”
Bielby said Singh has fit in like a glove in the lockeroom.
“He integrated himself,” Bielby said. “When he first got here he addressed the dressing room the first day he was here and the boys knew he was on their side.”
The Falcons raced out to a quick 5-0 lead in a dominating first period.
“I’m happy with the boys,” Bielby said. “We showed discipline and found ways to get to the net and score early on which we struggled to do versus Pelham this year. We got five in the first because we were playing the game the right way.”
The frustrated Panthers got chippy as the game dragged on and were assessed 92 minutes in penalties, including 24 minutes to Tyler Curnew alone.
“In games like that you have to hope our guys are protected out there on the ice and the refs did a good job of that tonight,” Bielby said. “They called the penalties they saw. That’s how you get through these games. You have to be disciplined. That’s important and it’s all part of the process.”
Falcon facts: The Caledonia Corvairs topped the Thorold Blackhawks 4-2 to take 2-0 lead in their series while the Niagara Falls Canucks blanked the Fort Erie Meteors 3-0 to even their series at 1-1.
Falcons forward Parker Folin with four points.
Falcons 9 Panthers 1
St. Catharines Falcons: Parker Forlin 2 (2, 3); Chris Reid 2 (1, 2); Cameron Knight (2); Joshua Singh (1); Lucas Tuin (1); Carter Geoffroy (1); Colton Chipman (1).
Pelham Panthers: Damon Beattie (1).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By St. Catharines on Logan Slou/Andrew Welch (43), by Pelham on Aiden Berry (19); Power plays: St. Catharines 2/11, Pelham 0/5; Penalty minutes: St. Catharines 24, Pelham 92.
Attendance: 287.
Up next: The Falcons visit Pelham Sunday at 2:45 pm for Game 3.
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