Junior B playoff roundup: Falcons, Canucks, Panthers, Kilty B’s in control
Jacob Kelly scored with under a minute to play as the St. Catharines Falcons topped the Welland Junior Canadians 4-3 to take a commanding 3-0 lead in their Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Conference best-of-seven quarter-final playoff series.
The Falcons can complete the sweep Tuesday in Game 4 at Welland. Game 5, if necessary, is back in St. Catharines Friday.
Following a scoreless first period, St. Catharines roared out to a 3-0 lead less than nine minutes into the second period on goals from Carson Edwardson, Ethan Sims and Mike Masotti. Welland got one back when Matt Baumann scored on the power play later in the period. The Falcons outshot the Junior Canadians 25-5 in the second.
Welland tied the game at 3-3 on goals by Aaron Chiarot and Michael Arch in the third.
Noah Battaglia made 17 saves for the win.
Alex Vendette kicked out 48 shots in goal and was charged with the loss.
“Although we put lots of pucks on net we made it very easy for their goalie and team,” St. Catharines coach/general manager Frank Girhiny said. “Penalties will always keep a team around. The lack of execution and taking too many penalties gets you the result we had.
“I don’t think we have played our A game yet and I’m excited for our team to close out the series by bringing it on Tuesday evening.”
CANUCKS 11 REGALS 1
The Niagara Falls Canucks took a 2-0 lead with a convincing 11-1 win over the Lockport Regals Sunday at the Gale Centre.
Mitch Mendonca paced the offence with three goals and three assists while Brandon Bastasin added a pair. Patrick McCabe, Ben Evans, Matthew Riva, Ryan Donovan, Nicholas Prestia and Andrew Bruno also scored. Dillon Hill chipped in with four assists.
Hunter Litman replied for the Regals.
Zach Moore made 26 saves in goal for the win.
Games 3 and 4 are in Lockport Tuesday at 7 p.m. and Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
PANTHERS 2 HAWKS 1
Thomas Young scored on the power play with less than two minutes to play to give the Pelham Panthers a 2-1 win and 3-0 lead in their series with the Thorold Blackhawks.
Following a scoreless first period, Dylan Latty gave the Hawks a 1-0 lead halfway through the second. The Panthers later tied the game at 1-1 on a goal by Dylan Biggar.
Brandon McCorriston made 44 saves to earn the win.
Game 4 is Monday in Thorold. Game 5, if necessary, is Wednesday in Thorold.
KILTY B’s 5 METEORS 1
The Hamilton Kilty B’s took a 2-0 lead with a 5-1 win at Fort Erie Saturday.
Ralph Taggart paced Hamilton with two goals while Luke Croucher, Marino Moro and Chris Ishmael added singles.
Cail Cirillo replied for the Mets.
Game 3 is Monday in Hamilton with Game 4 Wednesday in Fort Erie.
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