Weekend sports ticker: IceDogs; Brock hockey; Junior B; River Lions
Ben Jones netted his 20th goal Saturday as the Niagara IceDogs doubled the North Bay Battalion 4-2 Saturday at the Meridian Centre. Photo by: OHL IMAGES
The Niagara IceDogs fell behind early but rallied for a big 4-2 win over the North Bay Battalion in Ontario Hockey League action Saturday night at the Meridian Centre.
The Battalion were up 2-0 11 minutes in on goals by Adam Thilander and Matthew Struthers before the IceDogs battled back with four unanswered goals.
Akil Thomas began the comeback with his 19th of the season late in the first. Sam Miletic and Elijah Roberts then scored in the second to give Niagara a 3-2 lead after two.
Ben Jones added an insurance marker, his 20th of the season, into an empty net at 18:15.
Colton Incze made 24 saves in goal for Niagara to pick up the win.
The IceDogs, 28-22-6-2-3, lead the Battalion by two points for fourth in the Eastern Conference.
The IceDogs are home to Hamilton Thursday, Barrie Friday and Peterborough next Sunday afternoon.
Badgers advance
The Brock University men’s hockey team knocked off the first-place Guelph Gryphons 5-4 in overtime to sweep the best two-of-three Ontario University Athletics West semifinal series 2-0.
The Badgers now advance to the OUA West finals where they take on the No. 2 seed York Lions in a best two-of-three series with the winner advancing to the USPORTS Nationals. Brock has captured two OUA West titles in school history (1994-95, 2007-08).
Matt MacLeod had two goals for the Badgers while Josh Timpano and Connor Brown also scored for the Badgers in regulation.
After the Gryphons had tied the game in the third, Brock won it in overtime when Dexter Weber’s shot from the blueline redirected by Mitch Nardi for the winner.
Brock starter Clint Windsor recorded 46 saves for the victory.
Falcons clinch second
The St. Catharines Falcons clinched second place with a 4-2 win over the Niagara Falls Canucks to wrap up the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Conference regular season Sunday afternoon at the Gale Centre.
The Falcons finished the season with a 38-8-1-3 record and will meet either the Welland Junior Canadians or Peham Panthers in the first round of the playoffs.
Falcons general manager/coach Frank Girhiny tipped his cap to his charges for a strong final 40 minutes. The Falcons needed at least a point to clinch second.
“Our team responded having arguably the best final two periods of the year, especially having a lacklustre first where we took some bad penalties,” he said. “We had a direct heart-to-heart with our forwards after the first and they responded admirably in the second and third.
“If we continue to be committed like that in the playoffs, we will be in good shape.”
Matt Busby, Noah Perlic, Kyle West and Michael Davies scored for St. Catharines.
Matthew Thorpe had both goals for Niagara Falls.
Lightning shock River Lions
The Niagara River Lions fell to 12-18 with a 106-98 loss to the London Lightning in Canadian Basketball League action Sunday afternoon at the Meridian Centre.
The Lightning, who improved to 20-9, broke open a close game outscoring the River Lions 31-21 in the final quarter.
Garrett Williamson and Royce White each had 18 points for the winners while Doug Herring, Jr. added 15 and Mo Bolden 13.
Guillaume Boucard had 15 for the River Lions while Dwayne Smith and Kris Joseph added 14 each and Sam Muldrow 13.
The River Lions are back in action Saturday in Windsor.
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