Weekend junior B roundup: Regular season concludes, playoffs begin Wednesday
The St. Catharines Falcons and Pelham Panthers begin their best-of-seven Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Conference quarter-final playoff series Thursday in Pelham. File photo: BERNIE PUCHALSKI.
The regular season of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League has finally come to an end.
All three conferences wrapped up on the weekend with playoffs set to begin later this week.
The St. Catharines Falcons split a pair of games, topping the Caledonia Corvairs 4-3 at Caledonia Saturday while dropping a 4-3 decision at Pelham Sunday afternoon in a game that saw head coach Tyler Bielby rest several of his veterans.
Impressive rookie Noah Reinhart, Logan O’Flanagan and Cal Reesor, with his first of the season, scored for St. Catharines. Rookie AP Luca Testa added an assist.
Pelham, which rallied from a 3-0 deficit for the win, got two goals from Florian Xhekaj and singles from Luca Marandola and Diego Da Silva.
John Burbidge made 30 saves in goal for the winners while Josh Johnson kicked out 26 shots for the Falcons.
“Time for playoffs,” St. Catharines coach Tyler Bielby said. “Was great to get some young guys in the lineup and let them get some reps in case they are called upon down the stretch. The focus is now on to a couple good days of practice, Tuesday and Wednesday, before opening round one up on Thursday night.
“It’s been a long time since a playoff series was played in our league. The team and all those involved are very excited to get going.”
Saturday, Reinhart, O’Flanagan, James Eng and Chris Reid scored for St. Catharines.
Ethan Doyle, Jacob Macdonald and Markus Dempewolf replied for the Corvairs.
Johnson earned the win with 40 saves.
Meteors 6 Canucks 2
The Fort Erie Meteors wound up their regular season with a win over the visiting Niagara Falls Canucks Saturday at the Leisureplex.
Riley Noble netted a pair of goals for the winners while Kyle Adamo, Hunter Zoccoli, Jayden Baldinelli and Luca Spagnola also scored.
Duncan Nichols-Delay played two periods and made 17 saves while permitting one goal while Josh Smith gave up one goal and made eight saves in 20 minutes of action for the Mets.
Cameron Eke and Owen Goodbrand replied for the Canucks.
Junior Canadians 4 Corvairs 3
Lucas Romero scored with 32 seconds to play as the Welland Junior Canadians edged the visiting Corvairs Sunday night.
Cameron Bauer had two goals for Welland while Nathan Duplessis added singles.
Dylan MacLeod, Jacob Macdonald and Jack McDonald replied for the Corvairs.
Keegan Jackson made 30 saves for the win.
FINAL STANDINGS
1. Hamilton 40-7-1-81
2. St. Catharines 36-10-1-1-74
3. Caledonia 31-13-2-2-66
4. Fort Erie 26-21-0-1-53
5. Welland 19-26-3-41
6. Thorold 15-32-0-1-31
7. Pelham 14-32-2-30
8. Niagara Falls 7-37-3-1-18
PLAYOFF SCHEDULES
Hamilton (1) vs. Niagara Falls (8)
Game 1
Wednesday, April 6 at Hamilton, 7 p.m.
Game 2
Friday, April 8 at Niagara Falls, 7 p.m.
Game 3
Sunday, April 10 at Hamilton, 7 p.m.
Game 4
Tuesday, April 12 at Niagara Falls, 7 p.m.
*Game 5
Thursday, April 14 at Hamilton, 7 p.m.
*Game 6
Saturday, April 16 at Niagara Falls, 7 p.m.
*Game 7
Sunday, April 17 at Hamilton, 7 p.m.
*if necessary
St. Catharines (2) vs. Pelham (7)
Game 1
Thursday, April 7 at Pelham, 7 p.m.
Game 2
Friday, April 8 at St. Catharines, 7 p.m.
Game 3
Sunday, April 10 at Pelham, 2:45 p.m.
Game 4
Tuesday, April 12 at St. Catharines, 7 p.m.
*Game 5
Friday April 15 at St. Catharines, 7 p.m.
*Game 6
Saturday, April 16 at Pelham, 7 p.m.
*Game 7
Sunday, April 17 at St. Catharines, 7 p.m.
*if necessary
Caledonia (3) vs. Thorold (6)
Game 1
Wednesday, April 6 at Caledonia, 7:30 p.m.
Game 2
Thursday, April 7 at Thorold (@Port Colborne) 7 p.m.
Game 3
Saturday, April 9 at Caledonia, 7:30 p.m.
Game 4
Monday, April 11 at Thorold (@Port Colborne) 7 p.m.
*Game 5
Tuesday, April 12 at Caledonia, 7:30 p.m.
*Game 6
Thursday, April 14 at Thorold (@Port Colborne) 7 p.m.
*Game 7
Saturday, April 16 at Caledonia 7:30 p.m.
*if necessary
Fort Erie (4) vs. Welland (5)
Game 1
Wednesday, April 6 at Fort Erie, 7:15 p.m.
Game 2
Thursday, April 7 at Welland, 7:30 p.m.
Game 3
Saturday, April 9 at Fort Erie, 7:15 p.m.
Game 4
Sunday, April 10 at Welland, 7 p.m.
*Game 5
Wednesday, April 15 at Fort Erie, 7:15 p.m.
*Game 6
Thursday, April 14 at Welland, 7:30 p.m.
*Game 7
Saturday, April 16 at Fort Erie, 7:15 p.m.
*if necessary
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