Falcons take out Regals
Noah Solinger doesn’t have to score to be an effective member of the St. Catharines Falcons.
The 19-year-old forward is an exceptional defensive player who excels on the penalty kill and shutting down the opposition.
Still, hockey players get the most satisfaction from putting the puck in the net, something Solinger has struggled with at times this season.
Solinger picked up a goal Tuesday, his second in three games, as the Falcons defeated the Lockport Regals 8-1 in a Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Conference game played at Jack Gatecliff Arena.
“It feels good to help out a bit on offence, but it’s not really what I’m here for,” Solinger said. “I’m here to play in our end and play hard and maybe set guys up here and there.”
Solinger admits his role can often be thankless.
“It’s hard work. Not many accolades come with it,” he said. “The coaches value it and so do people at higher levels and the boys appreciate it.
“It comes down to hard work and keeping it simple.”
Solinger’s role will take on even more importance come playoff time.
“Obviously, it’s crucial to keep the puck out of our net,” he said. “It’s invaluable. The less they score, the less we have to score.”
Solinger now has eight goals and 28 points in 44 games.
“Generally he’s on a line with (Dakota) Miskolczi and (Mike) Masotti and those guys need to score goals,” Falcons coach/general manager Frank Girhiny said. “We need Noah to be offensive. When he’s chipping in, it’s a real bonus for us.
“The last little while he’s been getting himself into good offensive chances.”
St. Catharines, 39-6-0-2, moved ahead of the idle Niagara Falls Canucks by one point into first place. The Canucks have three games remaining versus Lockport, Pelham and Welland. The Falcons close out their schedule against Hamilton and Pelham and need some help to have a chance for first.
Girhiny wants the club to be playing properly heading into the post season.
“We talked about wanting to make these our best games of the year,” he said. “We just want to keep playing the right way. I thought we did pretty good, we took some stupid penalties in the second and that was addressed in between periods, and we responded well in the third.”
The Regals played as the home team since the game was a make up from an earlier game this season in Lockport. The Falcons were designated the visitors on the game clock and wore their road white jerseys.
Falcon facts: Kyle West, Noah Blakely, Ethan Sims, Dawson McKinney and Tanner Brown were scratched for the Falcons . . . The Falcons added defenceman Josh Urbshott and forward Jake Orr from the Niagara Riverhawks junior C team . . . Falcons forward Jacob Kelly was thwarted on a penalty shot in the second period . . . Falcons goalie Jack McGovern picked up an assist in the third period.
Falcons 8 Regals 1
BPSN Star of the Game: Falcons forward Xavier Drummond with three goals and two assists.
St. Catharines Falcons: Drummond 3 (16, 17, 18); Christian Girhiny 3 (33, 34, 35); Carson Edwardson (30); Noah Solinger (8).
Lockport Regals: Nolan Slachetka (13).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By Lockport on Jack McGovern (29), by St. Catharines on Anthony Santarosa (54); Power plays: Lockport 1-for-5, St. Catharines 0-for-2; Penalty minutes: Lockport 4, St. Catharines 10.
Attendance: 170
Up next: The Falcons host Hamilton Friday and visit Pelham Sunday to conclude the regular season.
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