Falcons load up
Max Lightfoot, left, Matt Bazarin, centre, and Thomas Lenart, right, are the newest members of the St. Catharines Falcons. Photo by: BILL POTRECZ
The St. Catharines Falcons got an early jump on Friday’s Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League trade deadline.
The Falcons added forwards Max Lightfoot and Thomas Lenart from the Niagara Falls Canucks last week in a four-player deal, then picked up big forward Matt Bazarin from Burlington of the Ontario Junior Hockey League.
The Falcons, who are still actively trying to add another forward, have time to develop some team chemistry with all the newcomers before the playoffs.
“That’s the challenge at any league or any level,” Falcons coach Tyler Bielby said. “A big part of me is creating a culture where the boys wanted come to the rink, so anytime you’re messing with your core or disrupting that, you have to be very mindful of what will happen when you bring the new personalities into the dressing room.”
Lenart and Lightfoot, who arrived from the Canucks in exchange for forward Carson Edwardson and defenceman Andrew Somerville, have three games under their belts in St. Catharines that resulted in three wins.
“I’d like to refer both of them as hockey players,” Bielby said. “They do everything well and play well in all areas of the game and, most importantly, within one game here, the smiles and the way they were hanging out with the boys was like they were here all year. It was so smooth in transition. It was like they were here all year.
“They want to win. Their dedication is to winning and that’s all you can want as a coach.”
Lenart, who turns 18 in March, had 33 points in 33 games for the Canucks at the time of the trade.
“Lenart, he just wants to go,” Bielby said. “As a young guy, you can tell he is learning and working hard in the D zone. There is an awful lot of offensive upside in his future. He’s a goal scorer.”
Lenart was caught off guard by the deal.
“Honestly, it did kind of blindside me a little,” he said. “I didn’t see it coming, but it happens.”
Lenart has two goals in his first three games in St. Catharines.
“I think it will work out for sure,” he said. “I love it here. The coaches are great, the team is great. The room is awesome.”
Lightfoot, a 21-year-old forward, had 30 points in 32 games for the Canucks.
“Lights is very crafty in a small space using puck support to make those four-foot passes which is something I would like to see more of our guys be able to do,” Bielby said. “He reads the ice well and uses his time and space very efficiently.”
Lightfoot, too, didn’t see the deal coming.
“It’s weird being on this side,” he said as he emerged from the Falcons dressing room at practice earlier this week. “It did surprise me. I heard rumours that some guys from the Falcons wanted to come over to the Falls, but I didn’t think I would be going over.
“I was doing pretty well this year, but I didn’t think my points were that high that I would be coming over for Edwardson. He had a high stat line this year.”
Lightfoot has a pair of assists in his three games in red and white.
“I love all the boys and the coaches are great. I love the room, it’s nice and homey, and I love this rink,” he said.
Lightfoot would love to be counted upon in key moments as he wraps up his junior career.
“I’d like to be on the penalty kill and the power play, and play at all important times of the game,” he said. “I’m more of a playmaker and like to set up and also be a responsible defensive player.”
Bazarin, who is listed at 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, had 31 goals and 56 points last season with the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League where he was a teammate of Falcons defenceman Brady Caruso.
“His presence alone speaks for itself,” Bielby said. “Not only that, I’ve seen a lot of big hockey players in my day, I haven’t seen many at this level with his size and those hands. He’s got a great set of hands and uses his reach to his advantage.
“For him it’s going to be about playing hard and playing whistle to whistle and for a big man, earning respect around the league.”
Bazarin is prepared to fill any role asked of him.
“I’ll be anything they want me to be,” he said. “Every team I’ve been on, I just try to be the best I can and try and get as much going for the game as I can.”
Bazarin said he doesn’t mind throwing his weight around.
“I get in the corners and I like to use my body as much as I can. It’s a big part of my game.”
The Falcons are home to Fort Erie Friday and in Welland Sunday.
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