The Main event
A year of experience has made a world of difference for Tanner Main.
The 18-year-old Welland native had a solid rookie season for the St. Catharines Falcons last year and has followed it up with an even better sophomore campaign.
Main collected a goal Tuesday as the St. Catharines Falcons blanked the Lockport Regals 9-0 in a Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Conference game at Jack Gatecliff Arena.
The win was the 10th in a row for the Falcons who improved to 27-3-0-2 and moved one point past the Niagara Falls Canucks into first place.
The Regals are 3-29-1 and have dropped 16 in a row.
Main, who has five goals and 22 points in 30 games, has already surpassed his points total from last year.
“Last year I came in not really knowing if I was going to be in the lineup every night and this year I have a set role and went to an OHL camp,” Main said. “It builds your confidence and I was on the ice all the summer and now I know what the league is like, too.”
Main, who attended camp with the Erie Otters, is a skilled skater who has good offensive instincts.
“I’ve always been a stay at home defeneman but the last couple of years I’ve been trying to turn my game more offensive,” said Main, whose older brother Zach is a former Falcon. “This year it’s shown with a few more points than last year.”
Falcons coach/general manager Frank Girhiny has seen a big improvement in Main over last season.
“I think confidence, for sure,” Girhiny said when asked for a factor in Main’s improvement. “We’re putting him in situations where he can succeed. He’s been getting top-four minutes.
“We have a lot of confidence in him as coaches and you’re seeing that transferred to his game.”
Girhiny feels Main’s offence will continue to improve.
“He’s a real offensive player and he’s starting to find that part of his game,” Girhiny said. “As get gets older he’s going to be a real good offensive player. We don’t want him going coast to coast. He can make the one pass and jump in if he wants.”
Main also plays junior B lacrosse for the Welland Generals.
St. Catharines led 1-0 after one period and 3-0 after two before exploding for six in the third.
Jack McGovern turned back 28 shots for his fourth shutout of the season. He also picked up an assist in the third period.
Girhiny left the coaching duties to assistants Chris McLean and Brody Kritsch while he worked the phones with the trade deadline Thursday.
Falcon facts: Nicholas Boehmer (suspension), Jack Venneri, Kristopher Black, Dawson McKinney and Jaleel Adams did not dress for the Falcons . . . Midgets Jacob Anger and Kyle Glenney were called up to fill out the roster. Glenney chipped in with a goal and an assist . . . Falcons rookie Ethan Sims turned 17 Tuesday.
Falcons 9 Regals 0
BPSN Star of the Game: St. Catharines forward Jacob Roach with four goals and an assist.
St. Catharines Falcons: Roach 4 (20,21,23,24); Carson Edwardson (25); Tanner Main (5); Mike Masotti (5); Ethan Sims (8); Kyle Glenney (1).
Lockport Regals: No scoring.
Game stats: Shots on goalie: By St. Catharines on Anthony Santarosa (41), by Lockport on Jack McGovern (28); Power plays: St. Catharines 0-for-1 Lockport 0-for-2; Penalty minutes: St. Catharines 16, Lockport 14.
Attendance: 217
Up next: Home to Hamilton Friday.
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