Girhiny lighting the lamp
Christian Girhiny has been everything the St. Catharines Falcons could have hoped for — and much more.
The 20-year-old winger has been collecting points at a phenomenal pace since joining the Falcons from the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League.
In 16 games with St. Catharines, Girhiny has picked up 16 goals and 27 assists for 47 points, good for second on the team in scoring and tied for eighth overall in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.
Girhiny has had an eight-point game, a seven-point game and two four-goal games. He has also been remarkably consistent, going scoreless only twice.
Falcons head coach Frank Girhiny has been blown away how well his son has played.
“There’s no doubt about it. To say I’m pleasantly surprised is an understatement,” he said. “It’s surprising the numbers he is getting.”
Christian, too, isn’t quite sure why the numbers are so staggering.
“I honestly couldn’t tell you how I’ve been scoring so much but I don’t think I’ve scored more since I was at Ridley,” he said. “It’s definitely always nice to get a few points. When I came down, I expected to do well but the numbers I have been putting up I’m really happy with.
“I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot so far but we still have some work to do.”
Frank Girhiny feels much of the success can be traced to Christian’s willingness and ability to play the game the right way.
“One of things that made Christian successful and enabled him to play regularly in the OHL is he has a very high hockey IQ and I think that’s an advantage he has here is that he is able to use that to his ability. It’s given him an advantage maybe more than some other guys.”
Frank Girhiny pointed to a pair of goals Christian scored recently as examples. In both instances, the Falcons were easily winning the game but Christian’s ability to block shots led directly to breakaway goals.
“He’s playing the game the right way and he’s brought that to the team,” Frank Girhiny said. “There’s no doubt the guys are seeing that. He’s well liked in the room and the guys have accepted him.
“He’s been around junior B long enough to know what it’s all about. He knows the quality is good.”
Christian, who has been playing on a line with Jacob Roach and Xavier Drummond, is pleased his arrival has not upset the chemistry on a team that was just hitting their stride when he arrived.
“When I decided to come home I knew the Falcons were already doing well. I knew they were a team that was going to be good and when I got there we’ve just been getting better.”
Christian Girhiny left the Otters early this year to come home and concentrate on his next move off the ice.
“Sometimes I kind of miss it but I feel like I made the right decision to come home and focus on what’s next in my life, whether that’s playing hockey or going to school and starting my career.
“Sometimes I miss those bus trips but I don’t mind getting home from a 30-second drive from the Thorold rink. I guess it has its pros and cons.”
One of the biggest pros is the ability to live at home and see his family and friends much more often.
“I honestly think my grandparents are more excited to have me home more than anybody else,” he said. “They are a little bit older so they didn’t get a chance to travel to Erie that much so having me home. They are taking full advantage of it.”
Christian Girhiny finished his OHL career with 28 goals and 68 points in 185 games.
He admits to wondering if he could have been more of an offensive force had he been given the chance.
“When I went to Erie, they told me what my role was going to be and I accepted it because I knew I wasn’t going to be that second line guys playing with (Dylan) Strome or (Alex) DeBrincat,” he said. “Sometimes I feel if I could have had an opportunity every night to play on a top line with the best players what might have happened, but I accepted my role and it worked out. Winning the OHL championship and going to the Memorial Cup is a once in lifetime opportunity.”
The Falcons are in Thorold Thursday and home to the Blackhawks Friday to finish off their schedule before the Christmas break.
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