Weekend junior B roundup: Panthers edge Junior Canadians; two others postponed
Pelham Panthers head coach Zac Rinaldo has high hopes for the team down the stretch. File photo: BILL POTRECZ
The Pelham Panthers were busy at the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League’s trade deadline last week.
The Panthers brought in talented forward Noah Aboflan from the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League and also completed a nine-player deal with the Port Colborne Sailors.
Pelham head coach/assistant general manager Zac Rinaldo said both deals were by design.
“We wanted to make a mark, let our players know we’re in this to compete and wanted to let the league know we’re not just here to be average and just blend in like we did in the past,” Rinaldo said. “I think we really did a really good job executing on that deal (with Port Colborne) and also bringing in Noah Aboflan from the NOJHL. He’s a very, very, very, special player. He’s going to go on and do some very big things. We just have to help him grow his game and develop it both on and off the ice.”
The Panthers also shipped Jacob Raposo, Nick Tymochenko, Val Johnston, Carson Bennett and Ryan Haeney to the Sailors in exchange for forwards Aiden Cupelli, Brendan Grenville, Liam Wicks and defenceman Christian Williams.
Rinaldo has big plans for Cupelli and Grenville.
“I expect them to play a 200-foot game from the D-zone to the neutral zone to the O-zone. They’re going to play top minutes, they’re going to be relied on in all situations,” Rinaldo said. “Their experience and their skill and the way they can produce Grade A scoring chances is what we really brought them in for. Bringing in older guys, you’re always looking for them to lead the young guys so that’s half the reason why we wanted to get a little older and bring in some good people. The culture plays a big part.”
Rinaldo plans to use Wicks up and down the lineup.
“I can move him from the first line all the way down to the third line, checking role into the fourth line energy situation. I’m a huge fan of Wicks. I think he’ll be really good for us on the PK and maybe get him a couple of touches on the power play net front. I can trust him all over the ice.”
Williams is expected to see key minutes on the blueline.
“Williams is big, strong, he can skate, he can pass the puck. I’m looking for him to really be a strong, defensive defenceman and move the puck when he can and really eat minutes against the big, heavy teams when we find ourselves in our end for an extended period of time,” Rinaldo said.
The five newcomers made their Pelham debut Sunday night in a 4-3 win over Welland. Cupelli had two goals and Aboflan one while Grenville added two assists.
“Things were kind of up and down. We had a lot of new faces, a lot of new kids, so they’re still trying to find their groove within the structure, within the system,” Rinaldo said. “I think a big part of it plays inside the dressing room. They’re all young kids, all fresh faces, so I think for the most past we were a little inconsistent but the pieces we brought in really shined and they helped us prevail.”
Thomas Sefton also scored for the Panthers while Carter Vicente made 35 saves for the win.
Nyklus Madere had two Welland while Dustin Lariviere also scored.
Andrew Welch made 24 saves in a losing cause.
The Panthers sit at 12-21-1-1-26 and have won two of their last three. They lead Port by one point for fifth place with 15 games remaining in their season.
“We’re just trying to compete night in and night out but when we look at St. Catharines and Fort Erie and Caledonia we’re looking to give them a better game than we have in the first half,” Rinaldo said. “We’re trying to steal points against those big teams. We’re in the points business as a management and a staff. We’re trying to collect points and climb the standings to set ourselves up for a good situation for the playoffs.”
The only other games this weekend, Caledonia at Fort Erie Saturday and Port Colborne at Caledonia Sunday were postponed due to inclement weather.
THIS WEEK
THURSDAY
St. Catharines at Hamilton, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY
Welland at St. Catharines, 7 p.m.
Fort Erie at Port Colborne, 7:30 p.m.
SATURDAY
Hamilton at Fort Erie, 7 p.m.
Pelham at Caledonia, 7:30 p.m.
SUNDAY
St. Catharines at Pelham, 2:45 p.m.
Port Colborne at Welland, 7 p.m.
STANDINGS
1. Caledonia, 26-7-0-1-53
2. Fort Erie 25-8-0-0-50
3. St. Catharines 23-9-1-1-48
4. Hamilton 16-16-4-0-36
5. Pelham 12-21-1-1-26
6. Port Colborne 10-19-4-1-25
7. Welland 10-24-2-0-22
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