Heartbreaking loss for Falcons
The Niagara Falls Canucks celebrate the winning goal by David D’Agostino with 21 seconds remaining as the topped the St. Catharines Falcons 7-6 in Game 7 of the Golden Horseshoe Conference championship final Monday at the Gale Centre. Photo by: BERNIE PUCHALSKI
When Christian Girhiny left the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League earlier this season, he did so with the hopes of leading the St. Catharines Falcons to a championship.
Girhiny more than held up his end with 36 goals in 32 regular season games, then continued his excellence in the playoffs with 16 more goals and 32 points in 17 games.
But despite his best efforts, Girhiny wasn’t quite able to finish off his junior career as he had hoped as the Falcons dropped a gut-wrenching 7-6 decision to the Niagara Falls Canucks Monday at the Gale Centre.
It’s hard to imagine a more dramatic way to win — or lose — a championship.
After more than six months of hockey and overtime looming in Game 7, the Canucks broke the hearts of the Falcons when David D’Agostino scored with 21 seconds remaining to give Niagara Falls their first Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Conference title since 2011.
The Falcons were looking for their first championship since 2013.
Girhiny, who has committed to play for Brock next season, admitted it was a bittersweet way to wrap up his career.
“It sucks that my junior hockey career is over but I know not only myself, but the whole team, gave it their all,” he said. “You could say we were the underdogs and we lost with 20 seconds left in Game 7.”
Girhiny said playing for his father, Falcons head coach and general manager Frank Girhiny, was the icing on the cake.
“It was a pleasure playing for my dad and all the coaches,” he said. “They helped me get to this point in my career.”
Christian Girhiny said he would do it all over again in a heartbeat.
“I don’t think I regret it. My time in Erie was phenomenal. I got to play with some of the best players in the world and coming back I had a blast.
“It was everything I could have expected.”
Frank Girhiny said he couldn’t have asked more of the experience of coaching his son in his final season.
“I’m so proud of him coming here. He was the second-leading scorer in Erie when he decided to come home.
“It was so nice to coach him.”
Josh Urbshott, Dakota Miskolczi, Kyle West, Nicholas Boehmer and Mike Masotti are the other members of the Falcons who are graduating.
“It bodes well for all the returning guys,” Frank Girhiny said.
Looking back, Frank Girhiny admits the Falcons could have — maybe should have — come away with the series.
“It was a real good series for us,” he said. “You have to win the games. I’m not going to say we were the better team, but we sure had a lot of chances to win the series.
“We lost four one-goal games and three in overtime. I’m disappointed because these guys battled real hard to get to the next round and it didn’t happen but kudos to Niagara Falls, they are a well-deserved champion.”
The Falcons grabbed a 2-1 lead after one period. Dakota Miskolczi opened the scoring for St. Catharines on a nice individual effort before D’Agostino quickly replied for the Canucks. Carson Edwardson then blasted a shot past Zach Moore with just under a minute remaining to restore the lead for St. Catharines.
The Canucks regained their composure early in the second and fired three quick goals by the nine-minute mark of the second to build a 4-2 lead.
That’s when things got a little crazy.
The Falcons responded right back with two goals to tie the game before Mitch Mendonca gave Niagara Falls the lead back less than a minute later. On the play, Canucks forward Patrick McCabe knocked into Falcons netminder Noah Battaglia and was assessed a head check and 10-minute misconduct. On the ensuring power play, Jacob Roach tied the scored at 5-5.
Mendonca put the Canucks up 6-5 in the third with his second of the game before Girhiny tied the game at 6-6 with McCabe off once again, this time for a head shot.
That set the stage for D’Agostino’s winner, which came on a slapshot from the point and a huge scramble in front of Battaglia.
Junior B jottings: Joseph Colasurdo, Ethan Sims and Noah Blakely did not dress for the Falcons . . . Justin Kyle was scratched for the Canucks . . . A moment of silence was held for former Fort Erie Meteors owner Tony Passero, who passed away Saturday.
Canucks 7 Falcons 6
BPSN Star of the Game: Niagara Falls defenceman David D’Agostino with two goals, including the winner.
St. Catharines Falcons: Christian Girhiny 2 (15, 16); Jacob Roach (13); Carson Edwardson (11); Xavier Drummond (10); Dakota Miskolczi (3).
Niagara Falls Canucks: David D’Agostino 2 (10, 11); Mitch Mendonca 2 (15, 16); Ben Evans (10); Andrew Bruno (6); Ryan Smith (3).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By St. Catharines on Zach Moore (30), by Niagara Falls on Noah Battaglia (33); Power plays: St. Catharines 2-for-3, Niagara Falls 0-for-3; Penalty minutes: St. Catharines 8, Niagara Falls 4.
Attendance: 1,507.
Up next: The Canucks take on the Waterloo Siskins of the Midwest Conference in the Sutherland Cup semifinal. Game 1 is Friday in Niagara Falls.
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