Panthers pounce into second place

Brandon McCorriston stopped 34 shots backstopping the visiting Pelham Panthers past the Thorold Blackhawks in junior B hockey Thursday night.

Chris Webber, on the power play; and Noah Caperchione scored for the Panthers. Jonah Devereux found the back of the net for the Blackhawks. Shots on goal were 35-24 in favour of Thorold.

The Panthers went 1-for-5 on the power play; the Blackhawks, 0-for-7.

Pelham improved to 13-7-0-1 in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Golden Horseshoe Conference and moved one point ahead of the idle Hamilton Kilty B’s, 13-5; to take over third place.

the Panthers, the St. Catharines Falcons, 13-3-0-1; also have 27 points, but they had four games in hand heading into a home game Friday against Hamilton.

Thorold visits the Fort Erie Meteors, 4-13-0-1; for a 7:15 p.m. puck drop Saturday. Pelham hosts the Niagara Falls Canucks in a 2:30 p.m. matinee Sunday at Meridian Community Centre.

Conference-leading Niagara Fall, 16-2-0-1; hosted the Lockport Regals, 3-14-1; in Friday night’s other game on the Golden Horseshoe schedule.

Regals 5, Jr. Canadians 4 2 OT

In western New York, Brendan Murray scored with one second remaining in the second overtime period to send host Lockport past Welland.

Nolan Slachetka, Brett Cameron, Todd Smith and Erich Thur each scored a goal in regulation for the Regals, who outshot the Jr. Canadians 66-43.

Martin Nowysz, with two goals; Mario Zitella and Matt Baumann, who forced overtime with three seconds to go in the third period, provided the offence for Welland.

Neither team scored in the power play: the Regals, 0-for7; the Jr. Canadians, 0-for-7.

Lockport, 3-14-1; won its second in a row – and second of the season against the Jr. Canadians - and extended its point streak to three games.

Welland lost its fourth in a row to fall to 5-13-0-1.

Next action for the Jr. Canadians is 7:05 p.m. home game Sunday versus St. Catharines.

Rangers 3, Riverhawks 2 OT

At Niagara Falls, Noah Matteson’s goal 2:26 into the first overtime gave Glanbrook a victory over Niagara in Provincial Junior Hockey League action at Gale Centre.

Connor McQuhae scored two goals in regulation to the Rangers who outshot their hosts 43-35 and improved to a South BloomLike field Division-leading 17-1-0-1.

Finding the back of the net for the RiverHawks, 10-8-0-1; were Keith Palmer, shorthanded; and Jacob Saddler.

Head coach Tim Barath was disappointed Niagara was unable to play a complete game against the defending junior C league finalists. “We played a great first period and not-so-good second and our third was good as well, but we need to play a full 60 minutes, especially against a good team like Glanbrook.”

The RiverHawks visit the Hamilton Huskies Jr. Blues 7:30 p.m. Sunday hoping to slam the brakes on a three-game losing skid.

Niagara’s next home game is 7:30 p.m. Thursday against the Hagersville Hawks.

Bernd.Franke@niagaradailies.com

905-225-1624 | @TribSportsDesk