Weekend junior B roundup: Coers profile; Kilty B’s split
A couple of weeks into the season Thorold Blackhawks coach Scott Barnes took Dylan Coers aside and told him he needed to make some adjustments.
Barnes has always loved the 18-year-old Port Colborne native’s skill set, but needed more from Coers in a couple of key areas.
“We had a really good sit down after four or five games about dialling his game in and not taking so many chances and playing the right way,” Barnes said. “He went on a tear where we had a bunch of injuries on the back and end we were playing him 26-27 minutes and he was really taking control back there.”
Barnes was particularly concerned Cores take care of his own end first.
“It was (we need you) to play this way for us,” Barnes added. “We’re going to put you on the ice as much as we can but you have to make sure it’s defence first, you’re playing hard and you’re not playing so emotional. He’s a guy who wears his heart on his sleeve.
“It was really focusing and telling him less is more. He was trying to do a lot early on. When you take it down a notch, you’re actually going forward.”
To his credit, Coers took the chat to heart and turned his game around.
“It helped me with my defensive game a lot,” Coers said of his adjustments. “At the start of this year, I was able to produce in the O zone but also on for a lot (of goals) in the D zone. Now, I’m able to play my D zone well and still get up in the play.”
Coers, who has seven goals and 24 points in 40 games, is in his second season with Thorold after making his junior debut last year. His rookie season was stalled by a year due to the COVID pandemic.
“Coming off of COVID I hadn’t played any junior games so it was hard getting used to everything,” he said. “This year my confidence is up with the league and I’m older. It feels like it’s easier to play my game. I know what to expect.”
Coers enjoys being a go-to player.
“(It’s) a lot more fun. Playing a lot more, it makes the game easier. Being relied on is hard but I like it.”
Barnes is pleased with Coers’ overall development.
“He’s got a whole ton of skill. He’s a smart, little offensive defenceman,” he said. “It’s a big jump last from going from a COVID year — he was going to be in junior C in Dunnville — and before that it was Welland U18 so it was a progression.
“Last year was about getting your feet wet in the league and becoming comfortable. This year, as an 18-year-old, he’s taking more of a role, taking power play time.”
Coers, who is taking classes at Brock, is looking at heading south of the border at some point to continue his career
“I’m thinking about D3 and trying to get out there and see how far I can go,” he said.
SATURDAY
Meteors 5 Panthers 2
The Fort Erie Meteors broke a 2-2 tie with three unanswered goals to fend off the visiting Pelham Panthers at the Leisureplex.
Matthew Herb, Owin Hendsbee, Yianni Koukouves, Rylan Masterson and Brad DiTillio scored for the Mets.
Nolan Lane made 25 saves for the win.
Luke Breadner and Jeremiah Rausch replied for the Panthers.
Logan Slou faced 54 shots in goal.
Corvairs 4 Kilty B’s 3 OT
Dominic Mufarreh scored just 44 seconds into overtime to give the Caledonia Corvairs an overtime win at home over the Hamilton Kilty B’s.
Zach Ladd tied the game for Caledonia with just 28 seconds remaining in the third period. Clark Dunford and Tanner Hunt also scored for the winners.
Matthew Duarte, Luca Campola and Noah Vandenbrink had the Hamilton goals.
Marek Pavlas made 24 saves for the win.
The win moves Caledonia past the Thorold Blackhawks into fourth place by one point.
SUNDAY
Kilty B’s 3 Panthers 0
Leland Gill made 22 saves as the visiting Hamilton Kilty B’s blanked the Pelham Panthers Sunday afternoon.
Vanderbrink, Jack McAra and Torin Hession scored for the winners.
Canucks 4 Junior Canadians 1
Wolf Giles scored a pair of goals in the third period as the Niagara Falls Canucks topped the Welland Junior Canadians at Welland.
Gehrig Lindberg and Sam Ostafin also scored for the Canucks.
Gabriel Chiarot replied for the Junior Canadians.
THIS WEEK
FRIDAY
Welland at St. Catharines, 7 p.m.
Hamilton at Niagara Falls, 7 p.m.
Caledonia at Thorold, 7:30 p.m.
SATURDAY
Pelham at Niagara Falls, 7 p.m.
Caledonia at Fort Erie, 7 p.m.
St. Catharines at Thorold at Port Colborne, 7:30 p.m.
SUNDAY
St. Catharines at Pelham, 2:45 p.m.
Hamilton at Welland, 7 p.m.
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