Welland back in win column

Jr. Canadians put seven-game losing streak in rear-view mirror

Joey Fratantonio stopped 44 shots helping the Welland Jr. Canadians snap the longest losing streak in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.

Welland doubled the Thorold Blackhawks 4-2 on the strength of goals from Matt Bauman, Jason Horvat, Kellan Rosenbaum and Cody Wall.

The Jr. Canadians, now 3-9 in league play, put a seven-game winless streak in the rear-view mirror and won for the first time since Sept. 23 despite being outshot 46-33.

Trevor Neumann and Devon Thibodeau scored on the power play goals for the Blackhawks who finished Sunday night’s game at Welland Arena 2-for-11 with a man advantage. Welland went 0-for-4 on the power play.

Thorold, winners of three in a row and seeking a sweep in a home-and-home series with Welland, fell to 5-7.

Thorold hosts the 8-3 St. Catharines Falcons 7:07 p.m. Thursday, and the Jr. Canadians visit the Falcons the next night at Jack Gatecliff Arena.

Monday night action had the Hamilton Kilty B’s home to the Lockport Regals.

Golden Horseshoe standings heading into last night’s game: Niagara Falls Canucks, 12-1, 12 points; Hamilton, 9-3, 18 pts; Pelham Panthers, 9-5, 18 pts; St. Catharines, 8-3, 16 pts; Thorold, 5-7, 12 pts; Welland, 3-9, 6 pts; Fort Erie Meteors, 2-9-0-1; Lockport, 2 pts. Niagara Falls boasts the mostpotent offence in the conference netting an average of 6.3 goals per game. St. Catharines, 4.6 goals; and Hamilton, 3.9; are second and third, respectively.

Four Canucks are among the top five in league scoring: 1. Ben Evans, 15 goals, 21 assists, 36 points; 2. Justin Kyle, 10 G, 24 A, 34 pts; 4. Dillon Hall, 3 G, 25A, 28 pts; 5. Mitch Mendonca, 14 G, 12 A, 26 pts.

Hamilton, 2.33 goals-against average; Niagara Falls, 2.46 GAA; Pelham, 2.57 GAA; St. Catharines, 2.82 GAA; and Thorold, 3.42 GAA; boast the five stingiest defences in the conference.

With a 31.2-per-cent conversion rate, Niagara Falls is the most effective on the power play and Lockport is the best so far this season killing penalties, 92.3 per cent.