Glenney comes through for Falcons
Kyle Glenney stepped up to the plate for the St. Catharines Falcons Friday at a most opportune time.
With Cam Lowe out indefinitely and leading scorer Blake Yetman not 100 per cent, the 20-year-old winger potted a hat trick as the Falcons defeated the Thorold Blackhawks 5-4 in a Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League game at the Seymour-Hannah Sports Complex.
“It was really important (to step up),” Glenney said. “Obviously they’re most of our team points. They have a lot of goals and assists. They are huge players for us but our 20-year-olds stepped up. Me and Robbie (Nate Robertson) had good games so it was big.
“We needed someone to step up so I’m glad I could.”
Falcons coach Tyler Bielby tipped his cap to Glenney.
“When I reflect back, down the road and I think back to my coaching days in St. Catharines, Kyle will stand out,” Bielby said. “I’ve been with him for the better part of three years and at this time of year you have to live and die with your 20-year-olds and your leaders.”
Glenney, who netted 17 on last season’s Sutherland Cup championship squad, now has 20 with a couple of weeks remaining in the season.
“There’s no question, when he shoots the puck and it hits the net, it’s got a chance to go in every time,” Bielby said.
Glenney scored twice in the first period and was matched by former Falcon Jagger North with a pair in the opening 20 minutes.
Robertson gave St. Catharines a 3-2 lead early in the second before Glenney completed his hat trick at the 8:49 mark. The Hawks kept pressing and made it 4-3 before Colton Chipman netted his 12th to give the Falcons a two-goal margin. Michael Tapley then got the Hawks back to within one with three minutes to play to conclude the scoring.
“I thought our team, from the puck drop, our effort was there,” Bielby said. “There were some mistakes that led to giving them their chances and some bounces — their fourth goal hit about three things before it found its way to the outside corner — but we have to control that. It doesn’t matter if you only have 10 shots against after two periods, you have to find a way to not make those mistakes.”
The Falcons were without defencemen Colin Ewing, Carter Geoffroy and Joshua Singh which necessitated forward Owen Simpson moving back to the blueline while Mitch Dmytrow was called up.
“Simmer played defence in practice this week so he was getting ready,” Glenney said. “One guy another guy in. We’re that kind of team this year.”
The Falcons have another tough one Saturday in Fort Erie.
“We’re not where we want to be probably until the final buzzer of the final game,” Bielby said. “It’s a process we need to keep working toward. It’s an imperfect game played by teenagers so nothing will ever be perfect so we just have to stick with it.”
The Blackhawks were coming off a solid effort over the Caledonia Corvairs Monday.
“We’re the type of team we should be in these games,” Thorold coach Scott Barnes said. “I expect a close game. We got down but I didn’t think the game was one-sided. We were doing a lot of good things and keeping it tight and when we got an opportunity to make it a one-goal game we cashed in.”
The win improves St. Catharines record to 38-4-4. They lead the Hamilton Kilty B’s by three points for first place with one game in hand.
The Blackhawks, 22-20-2, lead Caledonia by one point for fourth and take on Niagara Falls at home Saturday in Port Colborne.
Falcon facts: Colin Ewing, Cameron Lowe, Carter Geoffroy and Joshua Singh were scratched for the Falcons . . . Braydon Hobson, Christian Williams, Wyatt Gibson and Johnathon Graves did not dress for the Blackhawks . . . Yetman was presented with his Player of the Month award for January before the game . . . Niagara Falls blanked Pelham 7-0 in the Golden Horseshoe’s other game Friday.
Falcons 5 Blackhawks 4
St. Catharines Falcons: Kyle Glenney 3 (18, 19, 20); Colton Chipman (12); Nate Robertson (11).
Thorold Blackhawks: Jagar North 2 (14, 15); Liam Wicks (11); Michael Tapley (2).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By St. Catharines on Tucker Adams (29), by Thorold on Aiden Berry (24); Power plays: St. Catharines 0/2, Thorold 0/4; Penalty minutes: St. Catharines 10, Thorold 6.
Attendance: 511.
Up next: The Falcons visit Fort Erie Saturday at 7 p.m. The Hawks host the Niagara Falls Canucks Saturday in Port Colborne at 7:30 p.m,
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