Weekend junior B roundup: Meteors come out flying
The Fort Erie Meteors won twice over the weekend in Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League action. File photo: BILL POTRECZ.
The Fort Erie Meteors made a triumphant return to action with a pair of wins over the weekend in Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Conference action.
Duncan Nichols-Delay made 26 saves for the shutout as the Meteors cooled off the St. Catharines Falcons 2-0 Saturday night at the Leisureplex.
It was Fort Erie’s first game in over a month following the lifting of provincial lockdown measures.
“I think before the break we had two key wins against Thorold and Welland and it really started to look like we are learning how to win, and that is important down the stretch,” Meteors coach/general manager Nik Passero said. “Dunc made some huge saves for us but I thought we did a good job of keeping them to the perimeter. Our PK was 100 per cent and when we get tasks like that checked off I believe we’re a tough team to beat in this league.”
The Meteors jumped out to a 2-0 lead after one period on goals by Joseph Macchione and Jayden Baldinelli.
“Really impressed with the men tonight. Loved how they kept the foot on the gas and didn’t lay back when we were holding the lead,” Passero added.
The Falcons, coming off a 4-3 overtime win Friday at home versus Welland, dropped to 23-6-0-1 and missed a chance to move into first place past the Hamilton Kilty B’s, who lost 5-3 to the Caledonia Corvairs.
“Was great to get back to the rink this week and compete,” Falcons coach Tyler Bielby said. “Not the result we wanted tonight, but hats off to Fort Erie for a well-played game. We will take a couple days rest and be ready to go next week.
“It’s important we feel the loss, learn from it, and take positive steps forward. The next couple days are good days to reflect, and come Tuesday we start the work again in practice.”
The Meteors followed up their big win Saturday with a 5-2 triumph in Welland Sunday night.
Marcus Regina had two goals while Riley Noble, Macchione and Joshua DiFrancesco scored for the Mets.
Joshua Smith made 37 saves for the win.
Nathan Duplessis and Patrick Cole scored for Welland.
Corvairs 5 Kilty B’s 3
The Caledonia Corvairs broke open a close game with three goals in the third period to defeat the visiting Hamilton Kilty B’s Saturday at the Haldimand County Centre.
Markus Dempewolf, Dylan Dekoe, Ethan Doyle, Daniel Moro and Alec Brown scored for the Corvairs.
Sam Shakes, Connor Haynes and Colin MacDougall replied for the Kilty B’s.
Ethan Langevin made 20 saves in goal for the win.
Gage Stewart kicked out 24 shots for Hamilton and was saddled with the loss.
The Corvairs rallied from a 3-1 deficit Sunday afternoon in Pelham to post a 6-4 win over the Panthers.
Doyle collected three goals while Dempewolf, Dylan Dekoe and Noah Baltzer added singles.
James Norton made 29 saves for the win.
Florian Xhekaj, Steven Katsis, Jack Merkosky and Cameron Savoie replied for Pelham.
Brayden Kelso made 23 saves in a losing effort.
THIS WEEK
MONDAY
Welland at Thorold, 7 p.m.
Pelham at Hamilton, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY
Thorold at St. Catharines, 7 p.m.
Welland at Hamilton, 7 p.m.
Caledonia at Niagara Falls, 7 p.m.
SATURDAY
Hamilton at Thorold, 7 p.m.
Welland at Fort Erie, 7:15 p.m.
St. Catharines at Caledonia, 7:30 p.m.
SUNDAY
Fort Erie at Welland, 1:30 p.m.
Niagara Falls at Pelham, 2:45 p.m.
STANDINGS
1. Hamilton 24-6-48
2. St. Catharines 23-6-0-1-47
3. Caledonia 29-20-7-1-1-42
4. Fort Erie 15-12-0-1-31
5. Pelham 11-16-1-0-23
6. Welland 10-16-3-23
7. Thorold 7-22-14
8. Niagara Falls 3-26-1-7
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