Hawks fortunate to have Fortuna
Noah Fortuna is the backbone of the Thorold Blackhawks.
The 21-year-old Niagara Falls native is not only a solid, dependable backstop, but he is also a leader in the dressing room.
“He’s our captain without wearing the C,” Thorold owner/coach Scott Barnes said. “We joked about putting a letter on him. He means a lot to this team and I think having him back there behind a younger team, it’s huge.
“All the guys know they have Noah back there.”
Fortuna has appeared in 28 of the Blackhawks 33 games and figures to get the bulk of the work down the stretch and into the playoffs.
“That’s something you work for, especially as a goalie,” Fortuna said. “That’s your main goal, to be the backbone of your team.
“Being able to know you have another chance I guess makes the nerves go away. It’s something I’ve learned as I get older. You have to forget what happens in the past and move forward. Don’t get too high, don’t get too low.”
Barnes feels Fortuna deserves that chance in his final season of junior eligibility.
“It’s kind of nice in his last year to get the ball and be able to run with it,” Barnes said. “I know the success hasn’t been there for the team all year but he’s been unbelievable. For him, it’s coming to the rink and he knows he is playing. I think that’s something he really appreciates and wants.”
Fortuna admits now that the finish line is in sight, he has thought about the end of the junior playing days.
“It’s in the back of my mind but I’m just trying to enjoy every minute,” he said. “I think last year put it into perspective what it felt like not to play hockey. When this year started I had it in the back of my mind and I tried to shut it out it for a bit, but now that it’s getting pretty close I’m getting a little scared.”
However, he isn’t going to let it consume him.
“I can only control what happens right now. Just go day-by-day. I’m playing here now so that’s all that matters,” he said. “I don’t have to worry about anything in the future. It will work itself out. I’m here now and that’s what I am focused on.”
Fortuna, who is a third-year Bachelor of Business Administration student at Brock, is sharing the net for the rest of the season with Tucker Adams.
Adams, who turns 18 later this season, was acquired from Welland for Nico Balice in a swap of netminders earlier this year.
“I think he’s a really good goalie. He didn’t get a lot of action in Welland but he’s going to get some action down the stretch. I really feel he’s going to be a solid goalie in this league,” Barnes said.
Fortuna and Adams both saw action Monday as the Hawks dropped a 5-2 decision to the visiting Caledonia Corvairs in Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Conference action at the Thorold Arena.
Hawk talk: Wyatt Gibson, Nathan Kelly, Roberto Polillo and Grayson Gare (suspension) did not dress for the Hawks . . . Midgets Parker Forlin and Christiano Stogiannis were brought up to fill out the roster . . . Hamilton blanked Pelham 2-0 in the only other game Monday.
STATS PACK
Corvairs 5 Blackhawks 2
Caledonia’s Ethan Doyle
Thorold Blackhawks: Sam Tonelli (10); Aiden Cupelli (6).
Caledonia Corvairs: Ethan Doyle (19); Noah Baltzer (10); Calvin Crombie (5); Tanner Hunt (4); Dylan Dekoe (3).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By Thorold on Ethan Langevin (24), by Caledonia on Noah Fortuna/Tucker Adams (35); Power plays: Thorold 0-for-5, Caledonia 0-for-2; Penalty minutes: Thorold 36. Caledonia 20.
Up next: The Hawks visit Niagara Falls Friday and Caledonia Saturday.
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