Kelly finding his groove
Nathan Kelly is rounding into form for the St. Catharines Rankin Construction Falcons.
Acquired from the Port Colborne Sailors along with Dylan Pergentile and Grayson Gare at the trade deadline, the talented forward has taken some time to adjust to his new surroundings.
The 20-year-old Smithville native Friday turned in his best performances since the deal, collecting a goal and an assist as the Falcons topped Kelly’s old club 5-2 in Greater Ontario Hockey League action at the Seymour-Hannah Sports Complex.
It was the first game for the trio facing their former teammates and Kelly admitted it was a bit strange.
“I was thinking about it all day,” he said. “You see some familiar faces and play against some old buddies.
“For the most part I just tried to play the game and help the team win but you see a guy and you give him a little tap and say hello. It was nice to see them.”
Kelly admitted he had some anxious moments after the trade was completed.
“I was pretty nervous but they welcomed us with open arms and they’re been awesome teammates so far.”
Kelly, who only had one goal for St. Catharines in his first six games, excelled on a line with Brenden Anderson and Noah Read.
“Anderson gets three goals tonight, no surprise he’s skating with a guy like Kelly,” Falcons general manager/coach Tyler Bielby said. “He’s just so headsy and can see the ice so well. We’re going to lean on him. We brought him in to help us win and play important minutes and that’s exactly what we’re seeing him do.”
Kelly’s goal came on the power play after he was crushed into the boards by Port defenceman Justin McGuffin, who received a boarding call.
“It was great. Right after it (check) broke my stick I got a new one and scored with it,” Kelly smiled. “Guess I’m going to have to keep rolling with that stick.”
Kelly has enjoyed his time in St. Catharines so far, on and off the ice.
“There’s so many good players here it’s unbelievable. There’s not a single guy who couldn’t be on a first line on pretty much any team in this league. We have an unreal team here and I’ve loved every second of it so far,” he said.
Bielby expects Kelly will provide even more offence as he settles into his new surroundings.
“His poise is incredible. No panic, made some great plays with the puck on his stick. His pass to Anderson on his first goal was all world,” Bielby said. “We couldn’t be happier with Kelly. He’s a great kid and he brings a great demeanour the rink every day. He’s starting to get comfortable in our uniform and it’s showing.”
The Falcons roared out to a 4-0 lead but then ran into trouble late in the second period when the Sailors scored a pair of goals 47 seconds apart, the first with goalie Isaac Gravelle on the bench for the extra attacker.
“The message was to stay between the lines, play between the whistles,” Bielby said. “We got away from it at times. I thought when they went on a five-on-three, what a great call by their coaching staff pulling the goalie and putting themselves back in the game. We just don’t need to put ourselves in that position because I thought when we were out of the box we were playing great hockey.”
Anderson completed his hat trick in timely fashion, scoring just six seconds into the third to quell any thoughts of a Port Colborne comeback.
The Falcons sit one point back of the Caledonia Corvairs and Fort Erie Meteors, who are tied for top spot with 55 points. The Corviars have played three fewer games than St. Catharines, the Meteors two fewer.
The Falcons are in Caledonia Saturday.
“When Caledonia and St. Catharines play, both teams are going to give their very best effort. We have to be ready to play and play disciplined and be ready to execute the game plan and play in their zone and not ours,” Bielby said.
Falcon facts: Mitchell Dmytrow, Mathew Hlacar and Jordan Marconi were scratched for the Falcons . . . Luke Hill, Cameron Golovin, Carson Bennett and Gabriel Trozzo did not dress for the Sailors . . . The Pelham Panthers topped the Welland Junior Canadians 4-1 at home Friday night. Max Schaubel, Brendan Grenville, Noah Aboflan and Caleb MacLeish scored for Pelham. Matthew Coates replied for Welland.
STATS PACK
Falcons 5 Sailors 2
St. Catharines forward Nathan Kelly with a goal and assist.
St. Catharines Falcons: Brenden Anderson 3 (14,15,16); Tyler Hunt (19); Nathan Kelly (7).
Port Colborne Sailors: PJ Alexander (10); Liam Wilson (1).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By St. Catharines on Isaac Gravelle (59), by Port Colborne on Cal Gardner (34); Power plays: St. Catharines 2/4, Port Colborne 2/5; Penalty minutes: St. Catharines 36, Port Colborne 24.
Attendance: 539.
Up next: The Falcons are in Caledonia Saturday and back home next Friday against Kitchener-Waterloo.
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