Falcons hold off Panthers
It’s hard not to notice Aiden Cupelli on the ice for the St. Catharines Falcons.
The 18-year-old centre is a speedy skater who generates offence with an unrelenting forecheck and always seems to be at the centre of the storm.
The Bowmanville native scored for the second game in a row to give him four on the season as the Falcons held off the Pelham Panthers 4-3 in a Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Conference game Friday night at Jack Gatecliff Arena.
The victory was the fifth straight for the Falcons who improved to 10-2-0-1. They trail the Hamilton Kilty B’s by three points for first place.
The Falcons finally gave up a goal late in the first period, ending an incredible streak of 267 minutes and 12 seconds of shutout hockey dating back to a 4-2 loss October 9 in Hamilton.
Falcons general manager Frank Girhiny contacted Cupelli after he moved to the area this summer to attend Brock, where he is majoring in kinesiology.
He scored a goal in his Falcon debut but then a bit of a dry spell.
“It was a little bit of a struggle at the beginning but the guys, we pulled together,” he said. “Everyone’s pumped and have been up. We’ve been able to get down, get greedy, and get to those right spots to get those goals.”
Cupelli last played for the Clarington Toros U18 of the ETAHL (Eastern AAA Hockey League) in 2019/20 as well as a handful of games with Trinity College.
“This is a lot better,” he said. “It’s a lot more competitive. A lot of guys actually want to play and want to be here and it makes a really good environment as well.”
Falcons coach Tyler Bielby sees the offensive potential in Cupelli.
“We knew there was a real skill set,” Bielby said. “Right from the first time in training camp we could see that he was a headsy player with great feet. He is one of the quickest guys in the league and his first three strides are at a different level.”
Bielby feels Cupelli has shown improvement since the beginning of the season.
“He’s a young guy, he still has a couple of years in the league,” Bielby said. “It’s just about building up some confidence one shift at a time.
“We’ve felt the past few games in particular he’s getting better every shift.”
Bielby said the next step is for Cupelli to round out his game.
“We’re continuing to challenge him on the defensive side of the puck,” Bielby said. “We’re very aware of what he can do with the puck on the stick.”
Cupelli is aware he needs to focus on that aspect of his game as well.
“It’s just as important,” Cupelli said of the defensive aspect of the game. “I’m struggling to learn that because in previous years I was usually a run-and-gun guy.
“Tyler has been challenging me to be more defensive, and I’m looking for the challenge and trying to be better every day.”
St. Catharines led 4-1 after two. The Panthers twice narrowed the gap to one in the third and had goalie Brayden Kelso on the bench looking for the tying goal as time ran out.
Bielby said the Falcons didn’t have the greatest week of practice heading into the game, which was their first since last Friday.
“I think that translated a bit into the game, it was a little sloppy,” Bielby said. “When it’s all said and done, we were dealing with some illness and some guys just fighting the cold so it’s get two points and get ready to move on to Welland on Sunday.”
Falcons facts: Dylan DiTomaso, Mitch Armstrong and Nate Shirton were scratched for the Falcons . . . The Falcons called up 15-year-old Andrew Kennedy from the Southern Tier Admirals to round out the roster . . . Max Bredin, Ivan Osminin and Cameron Savoie did not dress for the Panthers . . . Hamilton topped Niagara Falls 4-0 in the other Golden Horseshoe game Friday to improve to 12-1.
Falcons 4 Panthers 3
St Catharines forward Aiden Cupelli with a goal.
For the St. Catharines Falcons: Cupelli (4); Jagger North (6); Chris Reid (4); Trent Glenney (2).
For the Pelham Panthers: Evan Gibbs 2 (1,2); Jack Merkosky (4);
Game stats: Shots on goal: By St. Catharines on Brayden Kelso (27), by Pelham on Andrew MacLean (22); Power plays: St. Catharines 0-for-3, Pelham 1-for-3; Penalty minutes: St. Catharines 6, Pelham 6.
Attendance: 307
Up next: The Falcons are in Welland Sunday at 7:05 p.m. and Hamilton Monday at 7 p.m. The Panthers host the Thorold Blackhawks Sunday at 2:45 p.m.
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