Falcons light up Junior Canadians
The St. Catharines Falcons may have found the top line they have been searching for all season.
Cail Cirillo, Max Lightfoot and captain Curtis Egert were put together a couple of weeks ago by head coach Tyler Bielby and connected immediately.
The veteran trio combined for 11 scoring points Friday as the Falcons blanked the Welland Junior Canadians 10-0 in a Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Conference game at Jack Gatecliff Arena.
“Lightfoot is one of craftiest players I’ve seen at this level, just his poise and his playmaking ability, and then the two shooters in Egert and Cirillo, we’ve really been able to find some chemistry there,” Bielby said.
Lightfoot, a 21-year-old Mississauga native, enjoys playing with Cirillo and Egert.
“I love it. It’s awesome,” he said. “We’re all 20-year-olds with lots of junior hockey experience. We’re all calm and poised with the puck and make smart plays.
“It’s nice. We’re scoring and playing good defence too.”
Lightfoot, who joined the Falcons from the Niagara Falls Canucks with Thomas Lenart for Carson Edwardson and Andrew Somerville, has four goals and 10 points in his 12 games in red and white.
He quickly fit in with his new line mates, making the transition to his new team even smoother.
“Since Cirillo (acquired from Fort Erie) and I were both new guys, I don’t feel like we were intruding on anything, like a line that was clicking all year,” Lightfoot said. “We’re all buddies and we’re good at what we’re good at, and if one of us messes up, we’re not afraid to tell each other.”
Bielby admitted it’s been a constant work in progress to find the right blend on his forward units.
“I struggled to do that the first four months,” Bielby said. “My lines were looking different with guys in and out of the lineup. It was tough but in this last month we’ve tried to find some chemistry and get some guys used to playing with each other.”
Bielby also feels it is important to make sure everyone is on the same page with their roles as the playoffs loom on the horizon.
“It’s everything,” Bielby said. “If you go into the playoffs and are expecting to play top-six minutes and maybe that’s not your role, then bad body language happens and team chemistry is at risk.
“It’s important to be open and communicate with the boys, but also not put them in a box and give them the opportunity to do different things as long as they’re earning it.”
The Falcons raced out to a 4-0 lead in the first period, then added three more in the second. The Junior Canadians failed to record a shot on goal in the second until close to the 16-minute mark. St. Catharines held a 17-1 edge in shots in the period.
Just over five minutes into the second, Welland goalie Nicholas Kidd took exception to Noah Blakely paying him a visit in his crease and lost his cool, charging out of his net at the St. Catharines forward. The end result was a game misconduct for Kidd and a goaltender interference minor penalty for Blakey.
Midget call up Ian Boon finished up in goal and permitted the final five goals on 21 shots.
Ethan Cook made 15 saves to earn his fifth shutout of the season.
“I can take a lot out of this,” Bielby said. “We haven’t scored 10 goals all year. I asked them to do the little things right as they get ready for playoffs and you could see they were trying to do the little things right.”
Falcon facts: Nick Volpatti, Carter Geoffroy, Matt Barazin and Blair Coffin did not dress for the Falcons . . . Midgets Sam Williamson and Ben Bonisteel were added to fill in the roster . . . The Junior Canadians had eight scratches and dressed only 15 skaters . . . A moment of silence was held for former Falcons captain Jim Solly, who passed away recently . . . In Niagara Falls Friday, the Canucks topped the visiting Buffalo Blades 6-1. Andrew Bruno (2), Carson Edwardson (2), Danial Singer and Dylan Biggar scored for the Canucks. Hunter Litman replied for the Blades.
Falcons 10 Junior Canadians 0
Front Row Sports Star of the Game: Falcons forward Max Lightfoot with four points.
St. Catharines Falcons: Lightfoot 2 (9, 10); Cail Cirillo (19); Thomas Lenart (20); Adam Cherepacha (13); Noah Solinger (7); Trent Glenney (7); Luca Mazzo (2).
Welland Junior Canadians: No scoring.
Game stats: Shots on goal: By St. Catharines on Nicholas Kidd/Ian Boon (42) by Welland on Ethan Cook (15); Power plays: St. Catharines 4-for-6, Welland 0-for-5; Penalty minutes: St. Catharines 22, Welland 17.
Attendance: 430
Up next: The Falcons visit Pelham Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
SUPPORT US
On the right side of our web site, as well as on the top of the stories, 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.
