Kilty B’s prevail in first-place showdown
If only the St. Catharines Falcons could have saved even one goal from their two previous games.
After pouring 17 goals past opposing netminders in back-to-back, lopsided romps, the Falcons came up empty in a 1-0 loss to the visiting Hamilton Kilty B’s in Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Conference action Friday night at the Jack Gatecliff Arena.
The Falcons (31-8-1-1) could have closed to within one point of Hamilton for first place in the conference but instead the Kilty B’s (34-7-1-0) now have a five-point cushion atop the standings.
Other than the result, Falcons head coach Tyler Bielby had little to quibble about his team’s performance.
“For the most part, I thought we played a solid 60 minutes but you are not going to win many hockey games if you don’t score,” he said. “We got some good looks and we just didn’t bear down and finish. Sometimes that is the way the game goes.”
Good chances for both teams were few and far between and several of the Falcons best opportunities went wide or were blocked before they could get to the net.
In their own end, the Falcons were up to the challenge.
“I think the boys did an excellent job and when we only give up one goal in a hockey game we expect to win.”
Friday’s game may have had two head coaches appreciating the attention to detail but there wasn’t much to get the fans out of their seats.
“I think you have two teams who were feeling each other out for 60 minutes and you don’t see that happen too often,” Bielby said. “Usually it happens in the first period but nobody wanted to make that big mistake on either team.”
And when Hamilton made a rare mistake, the Falcons couldn’t capitalize.
“Once again we have an open net and we break a stick,” Bielby said, referring to a cross ice feed to Kyle Glenney from Jonah Boria. “It is an imperfect game and sometimes you just have to work a little harder for your bounces. But I don’t want to take anything away from the guys in that dressing room.
“I thought they had a great week of practice and they brought an effort tonight but the pucks just didn’t drop for them.”
The game had an obvious playoff feel to it.
“Anyone who was watching and knows that they have that in store at some point down the road, knows it will be entertaining for all parties involved,” Bielby said.
It was a game that the refs decided to put away their whistles for the most part. There was some grumbling from the stands but the officials were consistent all night in what was and wasn’t a penalty. Bielby had no complaints about that approach.
“You could tell they had a chat and decided to let us play. You have two great teams in the province going at it and what better way than to let us sort it out.”
Despite the setback, the Falcons are still not conceding first place to the Kilty B’s.
“There is no question that that is going to be a challenge but you have to have memory loss right away,” Bielby said. “We have to be ready to go against Caledonia tomorrow, play for pride and make sure we finish the season strong. We have to keep at it, keep working in practice and good things will happen.”
The Corvairs sit just four points back of the Falcons with two games in hand and another challenge awaits the Falcons Saturday.
“That is why the post-game talk wasn’t very long,” Bielby said. “It was ‘Guys this should hurt because if you are competitors it will hurt. But forget it quick and let’s be ready for Caledonia.’ ”
St. Catharines defenceman Jonah Boria with several dangerous rushes during the game.
STATS PACK
Kilty B’s 1 Falcons 0
St. Catharines Falcons: No scoring.
Hamilton Kilty B’s: Matthew Duarte (21).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By St. Catharines on Braedyn McIntosh 22; by Hamilton on Andrew MacLean 28. Power plays; St. Catharines 0-2, Hamilton 0-2. Penalty minutes: St. Catharines 4, Hamilton 4.
Up next: St. Catharines is at Caledonia Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
