Falcons hold off Regals
St. Catharines Falcons winger Mike Masotti. Photo by: BILL POTRECZ
Mike Masotti doesn’t mind being a small fish in a big pond.
The 20-year-old Wainfleet resident joined the Falcons in a deal with the Fort Erie Meteors earlier this year and has fit in nicely as a depth player on the wing.
Masotti picked up an assist Friday as the Falcons held off the Lockport Regals 6-4 in a Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Conference game at Jack Gatecliff Arena.
The win improves the Falcons record to 25-3-0-2 and extends their streak to 26 games in a row with at least one point.
The Regals, who haven’t won since a 5-4 double overtime victory over Welland Nov. 14, dropped to 3-28-0-1 and have lost 14 straight.
Masotti, who works part time for the Niagara Parks police department, was Fort Erie’s captain at the time of the deal, but simply needs to be a piece of the puzzle with St. Catharines.
“It’s a little different,” Masotti said. “I miss Fort Erie but since I’ve been here the guys have been good to me and I’m enjoying it.
“I just look at the bigger picture and at the end of the day I just want to win.”
Masotti admits it’s a much different feeling with the Falcons going to the rink expecting to win.
“It’s definitely nice, especially when you actually get to win,” he said. “Just knowing you have a chance to win is nice. It’s not as much pressure.”
Masotti has done a solid job since joining the Falcons with three goals and seven points in eight games.
“They just want me to play hard,” he said. “They use me on the penalty kill, which is nice and I just do my thing.”
Falcons coach/general manager Frank Girhiny jumped at the chance to pick up Masotti, who is listed at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds and doesn’t mind going into the corners or dirty areas on the ice.
“He’s a high integrity young man and comes with super character,” Girhiny said. “He plays super-hard and plays within himself. He is big body who plays a heavy game and has a pretty good stick.
“He’s starting to get more chances and as he does, I think he’s going to start scoring more.”
Masotti has been skating on an effective unit with good friend and former Meteor Dakota Miskolczi and Noah Solinger.
“That line is going to be a very difficult line to play against come playoff time,” Girhiny said. “I wanted to get deep up front and he allows us to do that.”
The Falcons had a two-week layoff since last their last game before Christmas and it showed.
“Give them credit, they had a good game plan and their goalie made some good saves,” Girhiny said. “Right before the game we talked it was going to be a tough game.
“A lot of guys have only been on the ice once, but it was a good game for us (coming off the break). We know what we have to do to be successful and when we did that, we created some chances and scored.”
The Regals grabbed a 2-1 lead after one period. Christian Girhiny tied the game at 2-2 late in the second for the Falcons on highlight reel goal that saw him scoop the puck up with the blade of his stick and tuck it behind Lockport goaltender Anthony Santarosa from behind the net much like a lacrosse player would.
The Falcons then outscored the Regals 4-2 in the final 20 minutes.
Falcon facts: Nicholas Boehmer, Andrew Somerville and Ethan Sims (Niagara Ice Dogs) did not dress for the Falcons . . . The Regals had six players scratched and dressed 15 skaters and only one goalie . . . Midget call up Carter Geoffroy took a regular turn on the blueline for St. Catharines and did not look out of place.
Falcons 6 Regals 4
BPSN Star of the Game: St. Catharines forward Noah Blakely with three points.
St. Catharines Falcons: Blakely (9); Kyle West 2 (13,14); Christian Girhiny (22); Jack Venneri (5); Adam Pys (3).
Lockport Regals: Noah Slachetka 2 (10,11); A.J. Marinelli (9); Anthony Trigilio (6).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By St. Catharines on Anthony Santarosa (49), by Lockport on Dillon Lamarche (16); Power plays: St. Catharines 0-for-2, Lockport 1-for-3; Penalty minutes: St. Catharines 8, Lockport 16.
Attendance: 260
Up next: At Fort Erie Saturday at 7:15 p.m. Home to Lockport Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Canucks 3 Blackhawks 1
The Niagara Falls Canucks maintained a one point lead over St. Catharines for first place with a win over the visiting Thorold Blackhawks at the Gale Centre.
Brandon Bastasin, Luke McFarlane and Ben Evans scored for the Canucks, who improved to 25-4-0-1.
Austin Jensen replied for the Hawks, who fell to 13-17-1-2
SUPPORT US
On the right side of our web site, you will notice a yellow SUPPORT US button.
We are asking anyone who finds value in our work and is able to financially help us to click on the button and contribute whatever amount you feel is appropriate and can afford. There is no set amount. Any amount is appreciated.
The funds collected will be used to enhance and offset the expenses of running the web site.