Mystery GM predicts Golden Horseshoe final
The upcoming Golden Horseshoe final between the St. Catharines Falcons and Niagara Falls Canucks promises to be one of the most interesting and competitive in years.
Not only are the Falcons and Canucks long-time rivals with a rich history but the teams were also the top two in overall points in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League by a wide margin. The Canucks led with 83 points followed closely by the Falcons at 81. No team in the West or Midwest Conference had more than 71 points.
With that as a backdrop, BPSN enlisted the help of a current Golden Horseshoe general manager for his insights on the series and his prediction.
To keep the heat off our insider, he will be referred to only as GM!
Game 1 is Friday in Niagara Falls.
GOALTENDING
Zach Moore and former Thorold Blackhawk Anthony Tremonte form the Canucks goaltending duo while former Erie Otter Noah Battaglia and impressive rookie Jack McGovern tend the nets for the Falcons.
Expect Moore and Battaglia to see all the action, an injury or unforeseen circumstance notwithstanding.
“Moore is a bigger goalie and he plays the puck extremely well,” GM said. “When we play against him, we try and keep the puck away from him as much as possible. He’s like a third defenceman back there.”
GM hasn’t seen as much of Battaglia, who joined the Falcons at the trade deadline.
“I know he’s got the pedigree behind him and is a really good goalie.”
Overall? It’s a tough call.
“I know Moore has been the guy in the Falls for a couple of years but Battaglia is bringing experience back in the OHL, so it’s pretty even.
“I don’t see a lot of difference. I think maybe the one key is Moore’s ability to play the puck.”
DEFENCE
The Canucks feature Dillon Hill and David D’Agostino, two of the most talented and offensive-minded rearguards in the GOJHL. Add in big Brandon Bastasin and Justin Schneider, and the Canucks are well balanced and experienced on the blueline.
“I think Niagara Falls have a couple of guys (Hill, D’Agostino) who can really jump up and help the offence,” GM said. “I think they are real good back there mobility-wise and move the pucks up.
“The Falls are pretty stacked back there.”
The Falcons feature a more conventional defence led by stay-at-home defenders Bryce Robertson, Josh Urbshott, Tanner Brown and Adam Pys. Andrew Somerville led the Falcons in scoring from the blueline during the regular season, but has been used more up front lately. Tanner Main had a solid season and has continued to play well in the post-season.
“St. Catharines maybe are more evenly balanced but I don’t think they have the high-end top guys the Falls have,” GM said. “They have some size, who can play quite physical and eliminate guys in front of the net.”
FORWARDS
The Canucks are loaded up front with the GOJHL’s most valuable player and leading scorer Justin Kyle. Toss in the likes of Ben Evans, Mitch Mendonca, Nicholas Prestia and former Niagara IceDogs draft pick Ryan Smith, and the Canucks have offence to spare.
“That’s a real top line (Evans, Mendonca, Kyle) and they all feed off each other,” GM said. “We know what they are going to do and they still manage to get it done.
“They also have the ability to create space for themselves by playing physical. They are not a one-dimensional line. They can play it any way.”
At the same time, the Falcons can score as well — the Canucks led with 282 goals with St. Catharines second at 259 — and feature some snipers of their own.
Jacob Roach led the club in scoring while former Otters Christian Girhiny and Carson Edwardson are also dangerous every time they touch the puck.
“St. Catharines come at you with four lines and they can all play. They’re tough to match up that way. You try and take one line away and they have two other lines who can do the same thing almost effectively.
“Both teams have four solid lines, that’s why they are this far.”
PREDICTION
“I want to say it’s going to go seven because I’d like to see it. I think both teams match up pretty good but I feel it’s going to be the Falls in six.”
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