Falcons high on Lowe
It didn’t take Cameron Lowe long to make his presence felt with his new team.
The 18-year-old Niagara Falls native joined the St. Catharines Falcons this week after starting the season with the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League and has already made an impact.
Lowe collected a goal and an assist Friday as the Falcons defeated the Pelham Panthers 4-1 in a Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Conference game at the Seymour-Hannah Sports Complex.
Lowe, who was held scoreless in his Falcons debut Thursday in Hamilton, was happy to contribute right away.
“The first game was tough. I haven’t played in a while, a couple of weeks, but getting that first one tonight was big,” said Lowe, who was a seventh-round selection of the Otters in 2020.
Lowe played 47 games with the Otters as a rookie last year but only saw action in three games this season.
“I had a few options, a lot of teams reached out to me, but I thought the Falcons were the best place for me to succeed and to get back to where I want to play,” he said. “They’re a good team and I thought they would help me get a jump back to the OHL.”
Lowe skated with the Falcons two years ago when the COVID pandemic wiped out the season and developed a good relationship with Falcons head coach Tyler Bielby and the entire St. Catharines coaching staff.
“The relationship I had with Tyler was a big thing for me coming here,” Lowe said. “He’s been great to me, the whole coaching staff has been great to me, and that was another big factor for me coming here.”
Bielby loves Lowe’s hockey IQ.
“He’s going to bring a well-rounded overall game,” Bielby said. “I had Cam at 16 and the reason he played a full year in the OHL last year is because he’s so good on the defensive side of the puck. He’s so responsible and he’s smart. He’s a real good piece for someone like Blake Yetman to form some chemistry.
“I’m a big fan of Cam’s. He’s a great guy.”
Bielby said Lowe immediately fit in with the team.
“At last night’s game he was the last guy off the ice making sure he was tapping everyone on the head. It takes a lot to do that for someone who just came into the dressing room,” Bielby said.
Lowe feels it’s important for him to not take anything for granted simply because he’s playing down a level.
“Nothing is easy,” he said.” Everyone thinks it’s easy but coming down you have to just play our game and work hard. That’s all you can do.”
Bielby feels Lowe will be even better as he gets into game shape.
“I’ll be honest. I think we’re seeing Cam at 25 per cent. He’s played four games all year. We’re building his confidence up and letting him play with the puck and get back to enjoying the game. You’re only going to see him get better and better.”
St. Catharines rookie netminder Steven Toltl, who was named GOJHL goaltender of the month for October with two shutouts and a 1.25 goals-against average, nearly had a third before the Panthers scored with 34 seconds remaining.
“He’s respected and everybody loves him in the room,” Bielby said. “He works hard in practice to make the guys better and he’s just an overall good, young man with good character. I couldn’t be happier for him.”
The Falcons improved to a league leading 15-3-1 with the victory.
“We really challenged them in particular to come out strong in the first period. I thought we looked good and did some good things,” Bielby said.
Things got chippy toward the end of the game. The teams combined for 60 minutes in penalties.
“It’s tough. At the end of the day you’re up 4-0 and coming off a big win but Pelham played hard and played to the final buzzer. They played with some pride tonight and from time to time that stuff’s going to happen,” Bielby said.
The Panthers, already ravaged with several injuries, saw goaltender Keegan Jackson go down with what appeared to be a leg injury early in the third.
Falcon facts: Mitch Dymtrow, Mitch Armstrong, Chris Reid and Nate Robertson did not dress for the Falcons . . . Damon Beattie, Jason Gee, Ody Stylianou, Dawson Abrahams, Nolan Shaw, Brydan Gibbs, Xavier Fazzari, Ali Yatin and Lucas Jasmins were scratched for the Panthers . . . Members of the Falcons will be at Metro on Lakeshore Road Saturday from 10 a.m. to Noon for a meet and greet . . . Falcons assistant coach Rick Girhiny celebrated his 50th birthday Friday . . . Pelham coach Bryan Kelly was ejected late in the first period . . . Thorold topped Welland 5-4 in a shootout while Niagara Falls defeated Caledonia 5-2 in other action Friday.
STATS PACK
Falcons 4 Panthers 1
St. Catharines forward Blake Yetman with a goal and an assist.
For the St. Catharines Falcons: Blake Yetman (9); Kyle Glenney (8); Cam Knight (6); Cameron Lowe (1).
For the Pelham Panthers: Luke Breadner (2).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By St. Catharines on Keegan Jackson/Andrew Welch (51), by Pelham on Steven Toltl (13); Power plays: St. Catharines 0/7, Pelham 0/6; Penalty minutes: St. Catharines 24, Pelham 36.
Attendance: 405.
On deck: The Falcons play host to Thorold Friday, Nov. 11. The Panthers host Fort Erie Sunday at 2:45 p.m.
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