Another Welland-Thorold junior B game results in yet another tie

Higher seeds lived up to their billing on the weekend in junior B hockey, and the Thorold Blackhawks and Welland Jr. Canadians did what they always do when they play each other these days.

Yup, they skated to yet another tie in double overtime.

While the first-place Caledonia Corvairs downed the third-place Niagara Falls Canucks and the seventhplace Pelham Panthers, the secondplace St. Catharines Falcons defeated the eighth-place Fort Erie Meteors, the fourth-place Ancaster Avalanche defeated the ninth-place Buffalo Regals, and the five-six battle between Welland and Thorold ended in a 3-3 draw.

The stalemate in a rare Saturday night game at Welland Arena was the third 3-3 tie in head-to-head play so far this season.

The Jr. Canadians won the only game that ended decisively with a 4-3 victory.

Thorold was 24 seconds away from evening the series at four points apiece when Matthew Giannini sent the game into overtime.

And if that wasn’t dramatic enough, his even-strength goal came nine seconds after Matt Maidens found the back of the net giving the Blackhawks their first, and only, lead of the game.

Anthony Grigg, who opened the scoring 39 seconds into the game, and Noah Bollert, on the power play, also tallied for the Jr. Canadians, 11-14-31.

Griffen Bell and Spencer Blackwell replied for the Blackhawks, 9-12-32.

Thorold outshot Welland 40-30. The Blackhawks finished the game 1-for-6 on the power play; the B’s,

1-for-8.

Welland hosted Ancaster Sunday night. Thorold is home to Erie Thursday night.

Corvairs 2 , Panthers 1

At Pelham, the Corvairs defeated the Panthers for their eighth win in a row and 11th in 12 games.

Caledonia improved to 23-3-0-1, best in the Golden Horseshoe Conference and tops in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.

Jesse Barwell and Isaac Taylor each scored a goal for the Corvairs in the come-from-behind victory Sunday afternoon.

Jared Hill found the back of the net for the Panthers who fell to 0-2 against Caledonia and to 9-17-1-2 overall.

Pelham was outshot 43-14 and held the Corvairs scoreless on seven power-play opportunities. The Panthers finished 0-for-3 with the man advantage.

Corvairs 4, Canucks 3

At Caledonia, Isaac Taylor, Jesse Barwell, Jeff Lindsay and Bailey Fletcher each scored a goal, and the hosts need them all on their home ice Saturday night.

Frank Pucci, with two goals, the first on the power play; and Owen Devine replied for the Canucks, 197-0-2.

Niagara Falls snapped a threegame winning streak and failed to earn at least a point for the first time in 12 games.

Caledonia outshot Niagara Falls 29-21.

The Canucks were 1-for-4 on the power play; the Corvairs, 0-for-4.

Falcons 6, Meteors 1

At Fort Erie, St. Catharines won its third in a row and improved to 4-0 versus the Meteors in head-to-head play.

Jaleel Adams scored two goals and Tanner Ferreira, Zach Lawrence, Noah Perlic and Lucas Smilsky one each for the Falcons who enjoyed the edge in shots, 33-16.

Tanner Lynds replied for the Meteors.

Both teams finished 0-for-6 on the power play.

St. Catharines, second in the Golden Horseshoe, improved to 20-5-02, while eighth-place Fort Erie fell to 8-15-1-3.

Avalanche 5, Regals 2

At Ancaster, the Avalanche scored three unanswered goals in the third period to beat Buffalo and snap a twogame losing streak.

Scoring for Ancaster, 18-7, were Kyle Kennery, Noah Romeo, Luke Croucher, Liam Van Loon and Matthew Bridgewater.

Cameron and Nash Braun scored for the Regals, who were outshot 4017 and fell to 1-25-0-2.

Buffalo went 0-for-2 on the power play; Ancaster, 1-for-2.