Weekend junior B roundup: Falcons respond; Mets remain optimistic
Mason Howard netted the winning goal Monday as the St. Catharines Falcons edged the Niagara Falls Canucks 3-2 at Niagara Falls. File photo: BILL POTRECZ
The St. Catharines Falcons rebounded from an off night Friday to earn a pair of wins over the weekend in Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Conference action.
The Falcons topped the Pelham Panthers 4-0 at Pelham Sunday, then edged the Niagara Falls Canucks 3-2 Monday afternoon at the Gale Centre.
“It was nice to finish three (games) in four nights with a road win,” St. Catharines coach Tyler Bielby said.
The Falcons and Canucks were tied 2-2 after one period. Owen Simpson and Blake Yetman scored for the Falcons while Liam Mahoney and Ethan Walker replied for the Canucks.
“Thought we had slow start versus Niagara Falls,” Bielby said. “We were sloppy in our own end and that allowed Niagara Falls to get two early. We challenged the guys in the room to tighten up and play with a little more purpose. Thought we got better as the game went on, and as a result they were rewarded with the win.”
Following a scoreless second period, Mason Howard netted the winner in the third period.
“Happy for Mason who now has four goals for us in his last four games,” Bielby said. “We know he can defend and be extremely difficult to play against, but today he helped the boys with a big game-winner.”
The Falcons take on the first-place Hamilton Kilty B’s at home Friday and then again Monday in Hamilton.
“We are looking forward to a great week of practice as we prepare for Hamilton,” Bielby said. “Stakes are getting higher as we get closer to the playoffs. It’s imperative the young men in our room continue to be students and execute the game plan.”
Sunday in Pelham, Howard, Joe Colasurdo, Jordan Schanbacher and James Eng, with his first since joining the Falcons, scored for St. Catharines.
Josh Johnson made 21 saves, including one on a penalty shot by Florian Xhekaj, for the shutout.
Meteors turn the page
The Fort Erie Meteors dropped three games over the weekend to fall below .500, but head coach/general manager Nik Passero remains optimistic.
“At first glance, no, this wasn’t a weekend we wanted,” Passero said. “But our guys battled, and they battled hard. Our schedule caught up to us and it’s not an excuse but it’s something we’re definitely going through.
“I have no doubt we will figure this out and we will get the job done.”
The Meteors dropped a 5-1 decision at home Monday afternoon to the Caledonia Corvairs.
Marcus Regina had the lone goal for the Mets while Ethan Doyle had two goals and Terry Bridgland, Jacob Macdonald and Will Mathers singles for the Corvairs.
The Meteors also dropped a 2-1 decision to the Welland Junior Canadians Sunday in Welland.
Kyle Adamo scored for Fort Erie while Taylor Ewing and Patrick Cole replied for the Junior Canadians.
Fort Erie began the weekend with a 7-5 loss at Hamilton.
Luke Gualtieri scored twice for Fort Erie while Jayden Baldinelli, Brendan Krawczyk and Josh DiFrancesco added singles.
Colin MacDougall and Dylan Abbamont netted two each for the Kilty B’s while singles came off the sticks of Nathan Phillips, Sam Shakes and Justin Monteith.
Blackhawks split
The Thorold Blackhawks split two games, defeating the Panthers 4-1 at home Monday afternoon after dropping a 5-2 decision at Caledonia Saturday.
Ashton Murdoch, Rian Meisner, Adrian Diodati and Anthony Dicarmine scored in the win over Pelham.
Xhekaj had the Pelham goal.
Sam Tonelli and Dylan Pergentile scored at Caledonia while Doyle, Mitchell Ferras, Dylan MacLeod, Macdonald and Mitchell Brewer had the Caledonia goals.
In one other game Monday, the Kilty B’s cooled off the visiting Junior Canadians 9-0.
Connor Haynes had three goals and Nathan Phillips two while Nolan Underwood, Josh Hempel, Matthew Duarte and Abbamont scored.
Braedyn McIntosh made 17 saves for the shutout.
STANDINGS
Hamilton 30-6-60
St. Catharines 27-7-0-1-55
Caledonia 24-8-0-1-50
Fort Erie 16-17-0-1-33
Welland 14-19-3-31
Pelham 12-21-1-25
Thorold 10-26-20
Niagara Falls 3-20-2-8
THIS WEEK
FRIDAY
Hamilton at St. Catharines, 7 p.m.
Welland at Niagara Falls, 7 p.m.
SATURDAY
Thorold at Fort Erie, 7:15 p.m.
Pelham at Caledonia, 7:30 p.m.
SUNDAY
Fort Erie at Pelham, 2:45 p.m.
Caledonia at Welland, 7:05 p.m.
MONDAY
Niagara Falls at Thorold, 7 p.m.
St. Catharines at Hamilton, 7 p.m.
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