Falcons finish off Kilty B’s
Xavier Drummond has been playing some of his best hockey at the most important time of the season.
The 19-year-old forward has been a consistent performer for the St. Catharines Falcons this season, and has now found another level heading into the playoffs.
Drummond fired his 20th goal of the season Friday as the Falcons edged the Hamilton Kilty B’s 3-1 in a Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Conference game at Jack Gatecliff Arena.
The win improves the Falcons record to 39-6-0-2 and keeps them one point up on the Niagara Falls Canucks for first place. The Canucks defeated Pelham Friday, and assuming Niagara Falls wins in Lockport Saturday and Welland Sunday, the Canucks will finish in first place. The Falcons wrap up Sunday afternoon in Pelham.
Drummond has been happy with his first season in the Golden Horseshoe after bouncing around several leagues the last couple of years.
“It was definitely a slower start but once I got a couple of skates under me — I had the summer off — I got more into the season and more into the rhythm and I felt a lot better.”
Drummond said the transition off the ice was even smoother.
“It’s really easy with the team we have. Everyone meshes well together and the boys love hanging out,” he said. “Having that sense of community and sense of brotherhood really helps out.”
Drummond’s goal came into an empty net and the Bradford native admitted he was happy to hit the milestone.
“I guess it was kind of on my mind,” he said. “I wanted to get it off my back. My dad texted me before the game and wished me the best of luck.”
Falcons coach/general manager Frank Girhiny appreciates Drummond’s contribution.
“He’s huge,” Girhiny said. “He’s highly skilled — he scored 36 goals in junior C — and he’s got speed. I would like to see him engage and be a little more tenacious but he’s got speed and he has a great shot.
“He’s been really good for us.”
St. Catharines turned in a solid opening period and led 1-0 at the intermission on a goal by defenceman-turned-forward Nicholas Boehmer.
St. Catharines upped their lead to 2-0 when Christian Girhiny scored with 0.5 seconds remaining in the second period.
Hamilton answered back early in the third to make it 2-1 before Drummond’s goal put the game out of reach.
“I thought we responded really well,” Girhiny said of the effort. “Those guys know who they’re playing (Fort Erie in the playoffs) and we wanted to win.
“All in all it was a game we needed to win, especially after losing twice to them. If things work out we’ll probably see them (in the playoffs). We know what they like to do, but having said that, we have to get ready for Pelham.”
Should Niagara Falls clinch first— which seems a given considering their schedule — the Falcons will open at home Tuesday versus Welland. Game 2 would be Friday in St. Catharines before the series shifts to Welland for Game 3 Sunday, March 3 and Game 4 Tuesday, March 5.
Falcon facts: Noah Blakely, Ethan Sims and Dawson McKinney were scratched for the Falcons . . . Nick Cordeiro, Lucas Thompson, Mason Reeves and Jordan Simpson did not dress for the Kilty B’s.
STATS PACK
Falcons 3 Kilty B’s 1
BPSN Star of the Game: Christian Girhiny of the Falcons with a goal.
St. Catharines Falcons: Girhiny (36); Xavier Drummond (20); Nicholas Boehmer (3).
Hamilton Kilty B’s: Eric Mondoux (4).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By St. Catharines on Marco Costantini/Cal Schell (32), by Hamilton on Noah Battaglia (28); Power plays: St. Catharines 0-for-3, Hamilton 0-for-4; Penalty minutes: St. Catharines 20, Hamilton 8.
Attendance: 607.
Up next: The Falcons wrap up the regular season Sunday in Pelham at 2:30 p.m.
Canucks 7 Panthers 2
Mitch Mendonca and Andrew Bruno each scored twice as the Canucks all but wrapped up first with a win over the visiting Pelham Panthers.
Ben Evans, Ryan Donovan and Dillon Hill added singles while Justin Kyle chipped in with five assists.
Nathan Gallen and Wyatt Thole scored for Pelham.
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