Oct 03, 2016 | CCecchini | 302 views
A Breakthrough Performance in Niagara Falls!
After a lopsided loss to a very talented Welland Tigers team in the season opener, the St. Catharines Novice A Falcons hoped for better results in their two games this weekend.
On Friday night, the Falcons welcomed the Port Colborne Sailors to the Seymour-Hannah Sports & Entertainment Centre for their home opener. The first period was a tight checking affair and ended with no goals being scored by either side, earning the players a great ovation from their supporters in the crowd. The second period saw more of the same great defence but the Sailors would strike a couple of times in that middle frame to take a two goal lead into the final period. Ultimately, Port Colborne would go on to score four more times in the final period, ending up with a 6-0 victory. The goaltending tandem of Quinton Burkley and Bryanah Smith combined to make 14 saves in the contest.
It was a step in the right direction and the Falcons hoped to build on that small bit of momentum on Sunday evening, as they made the short drive to Niagara Falls to take on the Flyers at the Gale Centre. The team's newfound confidence was apparent from the outset and just over two minutes into the game, Ben Grohnwald struck for the Falcons first goal of the regular season, bringing the St. Catharines fans to their feet! Then, with just under three minutes remaining, the Falcons struck again, as Malik Moore sent a bullet past the Flyers goaltender to give the team a 2-0 lead that they would take into the break!
Niagara Falls would battle back in the second period, scoring two goals in the latter half of the frame to knot things at 2 as the teams headed into the third period.
Both teams were attacking but the Falcons would once again take the lead, with Malik Moore scoring his second of the game a little over three minutes into the third and that was followed up by the first goal of the season from Sam Evangelista on a well-placed shot from the left wing, giving St. Catharines a 4-2 lead. Niagara Falls kept coming and would eventually score with a little over seven minutes remaining in the game to bring them to within one.
However, the Falcons weren't to be denied on this night. First, they killed off a penalty late in the period, with an absolutely outrageous left pad save from goaltender Quinton Burkley off a rebound a key highlight. Finally, the Falcons withstood a final minute Flyers push with their own goaltender on the bench in favour of a sixth attacker and when the buzzer sounded, the Novice A Falcons had their first win of the young season!!!
Assists in the game went to Dante DiFranco (2), Evan Bosela (2), Michael Magnotta and Zach Engelen. St. Catharines outshot Niagara Falls 20-16 in the contest. Quinton Burkley played the entire game for the Falcons, making 13 saves. Every single player on the team should be commended for their tireless work ethic and commitment at both ends of the ice.
The Novice A Falcons (1-2-0) will head to Dunnville on Tuesday night to face the 0-4-0 Mudcats. Game time at Dunnville Memorial Arena is 6:10pm.
Go Falcons!