B’s hold to beat Regals

There was a time when playing the Buffalo Regals was a guaranteed win for teams in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Golden Horseshoe Conference.

All teams needed to do was show up, and remind players to lace up their skates. Otherwise they might trip on the way into the winner’s circle. Times have changed.

While the Welland Jr. Canadians were able to declare two points at Customs on their way back into Canada, there was nothing easy about their victory over the Regals Tuesday night in Buffalo.

The B’s were outshot 41-29, held scoreless in four power-play opportunities, and had to come from behind to score a 2-1 victory in overtime.

“Buffalo is a lot better this year,” Welland head coach Keith Osborne said.

The win was the Jr. Canadians second in three nights. They rebounded from a 12-2 road loss to the St. Catharines Falcons, their most lopsided setback of the season, by edging the Ancaster Avalanche Sunday night at home.

“Those were good bounce-back games for us,” he said.

Welland faced Buffalo with three affiliated callups in the lineup replacing players who remained home serving a suspension and concentrating on exams.

Osborne’s lineup was further depleted after Nick Bisser and Matt Hobbs each received a game misconduct for fighting early in the second period in the game versus the Regals.

“We did a good job getting the win.”

Welland’s second win in a row, and second in head-to-head play versus the Regals this season, improved the team’s record’s to 7-121-1. The Pelham Panthers, 7-11-1-1, also have 16 points but have a game in hand.

Benjamin Gallivan put the hosts up 2-1 midway into the second period after Welland’s Tanner McEachern and the Buffalo’s Logan Gare traded goals 17 seconds apart late in the opening frame.

Brendan Rylott made the score two-all 9:19 into the third period to send the game into overtime.

McEachern’s second goal of the night completed the Jr. Canadians’ comeback 2:27 into the extra frame.

The Regals, 1-16-0-2, only have four points so far this season, but all of them have come in the last five games. They earned their first consolation point of the season Oct. 24 in a 6-5 loss in overtime to the Fort Erie Meteors and beat Pelham 3-2 a week later, also in overtime.

Welland visits Pelham Friday night, and Buffalo is off until next Tuesday when it hosts the Fort Erie Meteors.