Read writing a successful story
Noah Read has made a quick and favourable impression in his first weeks with the St. Catharines Falcons.
The 16-year-old rookie hasn’t looked the least bit intimated or in over his head as he makes the jump from the Southern Tier Admirals to junior hockey.
Read netted his third goal of the season Friday as the Falcons defeated the Welland Junior Canadians 4-1 in Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League action at the Seymour-Hannah Sports Complex.
Falcons general manager/coach Tyler Bielby loves Read’s aggressiveness.
“Noah just plays with a ton of pace and is just so full of energy and always wanting to bring it,” Bielby said. “We’ve had some great 16-year-old forwards the last couple of years in Parker Forlin and Chris Reid and Noah Read is no different. He just attacks. He plays with that pace. Defenceman are always on their heels when he’s on the ice.”
Read also picked up three minor penalties Friday, but Bielby chalked that up to youthful inexperience.
“We have to reign in those penalties, but at the same time, for a 16-year-old there’s some emotion and passion and it’s just about channeling it,” Bielby said. “I love the energy.”
Read said he feels comfortable as he makes the climb up from midget.
“I really want to be able to help the team here win a Sutherland Cup. I’m not here to sit back. I’m just want to play my game and help the team win,” he said.
Read, who centred an effective line between Marcus Harris and Owen King Friday, was quick to give credit to his teammates for his strong start.
“I couldn’t have done it without these guys. They just set me up all day. A lot of these guys make it easy to play because they’re so skilled. I definitely noticed that,” he said.
Read was drafted by the London Knights in the 10th round (188th overall) of the 2023 Ontario Hockey League draft and attended their training camp.
“It was amazing seeing some of those players out there. It was really fun and a really cool experience playing with them. It was really fast and you had to keep your head up. Tape to tape passes. It was really impressive.”
The Falcons, who took a 1-0 lead after one and led 2-1 after 40 minutes, turned in a solid effort following a sloppy loss in Fort Erie earlier in the week.
“I don’t care about the score, I can about playing the game the right way and I thought they did that right from the puck drop tonight and they were consistent right to the end of the game,” Bielby said. “We have to learn from losses and mistakes. We challenged them and they guys had a good week of practice with the other coaches and made sure they were ready to bounce back. I thought you could see it right from the first period and they got rewarded.”
Ethan Labbe made 52 saves in net for Welland to keep the score respectable.
“The kid was unreal but once again, stick to the game plan and you have to think you’re going to wear them down and tire them out and pucks start falling a little easier. We just have to remind ourselves that’s how we have to play every night,” Bielby said.
The Falcons improved to 5-1 while the Junior Canadians dropped to 2-5.
Falcon facts: Trent Vaillancourt, Zac Mizzi and Luca McLaren were scratched for the Falcons . . . Nyklus Madere, Joey Marrese, Jerry Alexander, Kai Skillbeck and Lucas Ecker did not dress for the Junior Canadians . . . The new lights at Seymour-Hannah are a noticeable improvement . . . Long time Falcons announcer Jack Darling has switched roles and is now working in the lobby stamping hands. Chris Doig has take over behind the mic.
Falcons 4 Junior Canadians 1
Young’s Insurance Player of the Game: St. Catharines rookie forward Noah Read.
St. Catharines Falcons: Caleb Thompson (5); Noah Read (3); Ben Smith (2); Owen Simpson (1).
Welland Junior Canadians: Cooper Reid (1).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By St. Catharines on Ethan Labbe (56), by Welland on Calvin Gardner (15); Power plays: St. Catharines 1/4, Welland 1/2; Penalty minutes: St. Catharines 10, Welland 24.
Attendance: 447.
Up next: The Falcons visit Port Colborne Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Panthers 3 Sailors 2 OT
Luke Breadner netted the winner as the Pelham Panthers edged the Port Colborne Sailors 3-2 in overtime Friday night at the Vale Centre.
Brandon Petrov and Ryan Shier also scored for the Panthers.
Aiden Cupelli had both Sailors goals.
Logan Slou made 26 saves for the win.
Isaac Gravelle faced 47 shots for Port.
The win improved Pelham’s record to 3-3.
The Sailors are now 3-1-2.
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