Falcons hold off Kilty B's | BP Sports Niagara

The St. Catharines Falcons have leaned on Owen Simpson much more than anticipated so far this season.

The 19-year-old Grimsby native was expected to provide depth and energy on the wing as he has done in his previous two seasons with the team but has been pressed into service as a defenceman as a result of an inordinate amount of injures on the back end.

Simpson turned in another solid effort on the blueline Tuesday as the Falcons held off the Hamilton Kilty B’s 3-2 in a Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Conference game at the Seymour-Hannah Sports Complex.

Simpson is a favourite of Falcons general manager/coach Tyler Bielby, so much so he named him an assistant captain this week.

“It’s everything,” Bielby said when asked about Simpson’s contributions. “He’s a winner, he’s the type of kid you want your kids to be friends with, he’s the type of kid if you have a daughter you want dating.

“He does everything right and will do whatever you ask him, whether it’s play defence, or play forward and if you asked him to go in net, he would do that too.”

Simpson, who is in his first year studying police foundations at Niagara College, was part of the Falcons’ Sutherland Cup championship team two years ago.

“He’s very well respected in that dressing room because he is so selfless,” Bielby said. “Owen has won and he knows what it takes and that it’s not always going to be an ideal situation.”

Simpson was quick to give credit to Bielby, the coaching staff and even trainer Carlo Cardelli, for their support.

“It helps that you have the coaching staff looking out for you, they’re there to give you pointers and make sure you are doing things right,” he said. “If you take it into perspective properly it helps with your output on the ice.”

Simpson was thrilled with the A.

“It’s a pleasure being seen to be able to lead these guys to hopefully another championship,” he said. “I love every guy in that room and the coaching staff and Carlo working on everyone. We have a lot of leaders in that room and anyone could have been chosen.”

The Falcons built a 3-0 early in the second period, then hung on as the Kilty B’s peppered Hayden Jeffery with 45 shots, including 23 in the second alone.

“We’re just built like that,” Simpson said when asked about the team’s resolve. “Every year the coaching staff and the board puts together a team that can win those games and aren’t afraid to block shots and get in front of that net and box people out. We know our roles and when the time comes.”

The Falcons were without five defencemen — Cal Reesor, Luke Gualtieri, Mitch Dmytrow, Trent Vaillancourt and Henry Attard — before losing Colin Ewing for a check from behind in the second period.

That left Simpson, converted forward Dallys Hibbert, rookie Jordan Marconi, William Moore and rookie call up Marcus Sulug to handle the defensive chores.

“I’m just proud of the resolve,” Bielby said. “Hamilton is a good team who is better than their record. I’m really happy for Marcus Sulug, the 15-year-old we brought up tonight. I thought he was a big part of our win. We had him on the ice in the last minute of the game to close it out.

“That’s what we’re working through on the back end. All the credit to those guys. They’re doing everything they can to help us win. At the end of the day we’re never going to critique two goals against. That means we’re playing hard in front of our goalie, and (I’m) extremely happy with Hayden.”

The Falcons improved to 20-7-1-1.

Falcons facts: Cal Reesor, Luke Gualtieri, Mitch Dmytrow, Trent Vaillancourt, Henry Attard and Zach Mambella did not dress for St. Catharines . . . Former Falcon and current Brantford Bulldogs forward Luca Testa was in attendance.

Meteors 4 Sailors 1

The Fort Erie Meteors jumped out to a 3-0 lead en route to a 4-1 win at home over the Port Colborne Sailors Tuesday morning at the Leisureplex.

Hunter Coley, Cameron Golovin, Owen Penny and Kyle Adamo scored for the Meteors.

Liam Wicks netted the lone goal for Port.

John Lloyd made 25 saves for the win.

The Sailors were assessed 114 minutes in penalties, the Meteors 85 in the fight-filled affair.

STATS PACK

St. Catharines defenceman Owen Simpson

Falcons 3 Kilty B’s 2

St. Catharines Falcons: Caleb Thompson (20); Brenden Anderson (9); Noah Read (7);

Hamilton Kilty B’s: Luca Campolo (9); Gavyn Bush (1).

Game stats: Shots on goal: By St. Catharines on Vlad Visan (25), by Hamilton on Hayden Jeffery (45); Power plays: St. Catharines 0/1, Hamilton 0/3; Penalty minutes: St. Catharines 20, Hamilton 4.

Attendance: 379.

Up next: The Falcons are in Welland Wednesday and home to Pelham Friday in their final game before the Christmas break.

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