No ’ Shoe in so far
No break in logjam atop Golden Horseshoe heading into midway point of regular season
Who’s in first?
This isn’t setting the stage for a takeoff on the Abbott and Costello skit, just a reflection on how parity has changed the pecking order in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Golden Horseshoe Conference.
The Caledonia Corvairs, 163- 0- 1, and the Niagara Falls Canucks, 16- 6- 0- 1, start the day tied for first place in the nineteam conference. Each has 33 points, but the four- time defending Golden Horseshoe champion Corvairs have three games in hand.
They could end the day tied for second.
The St. Catharines Falcons, currently 15- 4- 0- 2 in league play and one point back of the frontrunners, visit the Thorold Blackhawks, 9- 10- 1- 2, for a 7: 07 puck drop tonight.
The Falcons, winners of three in a row and five in their last six games, are 1- 1 versus the ’ Hawks in head- to- head play so far this season. They skated to a 10- 4 road victory in the opening game of the six- game season series before dropping a 5- 4 decision in overtime at home.
The Canucks are idle until Friday, when they host the Ancaster Avalanche, 14- 5, and the Corvairs are back on ice Saturday when the Buffalo Regals pay a visit.
The cellar dwellers, which fell to 1- 17- 0- 2 after a 3- 2 loss at home to Fort Erie Meteors Tuesday night, visit the Falcons Friday night before renewing their rivalry with Caledonia.
Taking about jumping from a fire into an inferno.
Niagara Falls is 0- 2 against Ancaster, St. Catharines is 1- 0 versus Buffalo, and Caledonia has blanked the Regals twice in as many starts this season – 9- 0, 5- 0.
Wear it’s at
Never mind the standings, the Niagara Falls Canucks are second to none when it comes to supporting worthwhile causes in the community.
On Friday night players on junior B hockey game will literally giving the shirts off their backs to fight cancer.
Commemorative, game- worn jerseys will be auctioned off during the home game against the Ancaster Avalanche.
Bidding starts at $ 50 with all proceeds from Hockey Fights Cancer Night at Gale Centre going to cancer research.
Alex Luey, 12, of Niagara Falls, who lost part of his right leg to osteosarcoma, the same cancer that claimed the life of Terry Fox, will be the guest of honour at the annual event.
“Cancer has touched all of our lives,” Canucks owner- head coach Frank Pietrangelo said. “I don’t think anyone hasn’t lost a loved one to cancer, and it’s just our way to give back.”
Luey will have a say in where proceeds from the fundraiser will be donated.
“We will determine that later later, as Alex Luey will help in that decision,” Pietrangelo said.
Money collected in previous years have been earmarked for breast and prostate cancer research as well as the JMAC Foundation.
The foundation honours the memory of John MacLean who was 31 when he lost a two- and- a-half-year battle with cancer.
In addition to sponsoring a hockey tournament, the foundation funds scholarships and supports the emergency department at Greater Niagara General Hospital.
For their special jerseys the Canucks will be using the same purple trim that NHL teams wear when they promote cancer awareness.
Caledonia Corvairs
Record: 16- 3- 0- 1, 99 goals for, 43 goals against, 524 penalties in minutes, 33 points, .825 winning percentage
Special teams: power play, 17.7 per cent, 13th in 26 team league; penalty kill, 83.8 per cent, 10th in 16- team league Streak: 1- 0
On the scoresheet: Adam Craievich, 17 goals, 12 assists, 29 points; Jesse Barwell, 6 goals, 23 assists, 29 points; Sean O'Brien, 11 goals, 16 assists, 27 points
Between the pipes: Brandon McCorriston, 15 games played, 2 shutouts, 2.12 goals- against average, .908 save percentage
Last week: win, home to Niagara Falls, 2- 1 OT; loss, at St. Catharines, 6- 3
Upcoming: Saturday, home to Buffalo, 7 p. m.; Sunday, at Welland, 7: 05 p. m.
Niagara Falls Canucks
Record: 16- 6- 0- 2, 92 GF, 57 GA, 378 PIM, 33 Pts, .717 Pct.
Special teams: PP, 20.2%, 7th; PK, 85.7%, 6th
Streak: 0- 0- 0- 1
On the scoresheet: Frank Pucci, 17 G, 20 A, 37 Pts; Matthew Caruso, 10 G, 15 A, 25 Pts; Ryan Mooney, 3 G, 19 A, 22 Pts
Between the pipes: Zach Moore, 19 GP, 2 Shu, 2.38 GAA, .915 Sv%
Last week: loss, at Caledonia, 2- 1 OT; win, home to Fort Erie, 5- 4 OT
Upcoming: Friday, home to Ancaster, 7 p. m.
St. Catharines Falcons
Record: 15- 4- 0- 2, 105 GF, 52 GA, 604 PIM, 32 Pts, .762 Pct.
Special teams: PP, 25.2%, 2nd; PK, 88.3%, 2nd
Streak: 1- 0
On the scoresheet: Lucas Smilsky, 12 G, 27 A, 39 Pts; Michael Davies, 13 G, 20 A, 33
Pts; Tanner Ferreira, 10 G, 14 A, 24 Pts
Between the pipes: Owen Savory, 19 GP, 3 Shu, 1.99 GAA, .942 Sv%
Last week: win, at Ancaster, 5- 0; win, home to Caledonia, 6- 3
Upcoming: tonight, at Thorold, 7: 07 p. m.; Friday, home to Buffalo, 7 p. m.
Ancaster Avalanche
Record: 14- 5, 80 GF, 56 GA, 448 PIM, 28 Pts, .737 Pct.
Special teams: PP, 17.8%, 11th; PK, 83.6%, 11th
Streak: 0- 1
On the scoresheet: Liam Van Loon, 11 G, 11 A, 22 Pts; Benjamin Woodhouse, 9 G, 10 A, 19 Pts; Dirk Stadig, 5 G, 12 A, 17 Pts
Between the pipes: Ryan Dugas, 10 GP, 2.67 GAA, .917 Sv%; Tanner Sheppard, 10 GP, 1 Shu, 3.02 GAA, .896 Sv%
Last week: loss, home to St. Catharines, 5- 0; win, at Thorold, 3- 2 2OT
Upcoming: Friday, at Niagara Falls, 7 p. m.; Saturday, home to Pelham, 7: 30 p. m.; Tuesday, at Buffalo, 7 p. m.
Thorold Blackhawks
Record: 9- 10- 1- 2, 72 GF, 88 GA, 347 PIM, 21 Pts, .477 Pct.
Special teams: PP, 17.7%, 12th; PK, 82%, 19th
Streak: 0- 1- 0- 1
On the scoresheet: Matt Maidens, 5 G, 14 A, 19
Pts; Brendan Charlton, 12 G, 6 A, 18 Pts; James Guest, 5 G, 13 A, 18 Pts
Between the pipes: Anthony Tremonte, 17 GP, 3.78GAA, .885 Sv%
Last week: loss, at Ancaster, 3- 2 2OT; win, home to Fort Erie, 3- 2 2OT
Upcoming: today, home to St. Catharines, 7: 07 p. m.
Pelham Panthers
Record: 8- 12- 1- 1, 62 GF, 96 GA, 512 PIM, 18 Pts, .409 Pct.
Special teams: PP, 10.9%, 23rd; PK, 79.6%, 24th Streak: 0- 1
On the scoresheet: Matt
Ruigrok, 8 G, 9 A, 17 Pts; Noah Caperchione 10 G, 6 A, 16 Pts; Adam Scholz, 3 G, 10 A, 13 Pts
Between the pipes: Nicholas Kidd, 10 GP, 4.37 GAA, .889 Sv%
Last week: loss, at Welland, 4- 2; win, home to Pelham, 4- 2
Upcoming: Saturday, at Ancaster, 7: 30 p. m.; Sunday, home to Fort Erie, 2: 30 p. m.
Welland Jr. Canadians
Record: 8- 13- 1- 1, 78 GF, 99 GA, 387PIM, 18 Pts, .391 Pct.
Special teams: PP, 12.8%, 21st; PK, 83.3%, 15th
Streak: 1- 0
On the scoresheet: Daelyn Minovski, 5 G, 17 A, 22 Pts; Matthew Gianni, 12 G, 9 A, 21 Pts; Tanner McEachern, 11 G, 10 A, 21
Pts
Between the pipes: Charles Grimard, 16 GP, 4.27 GAA, .897 Sv%
Last week: win, home to Pelham, 4- 2; loss, at Pelham, 4- 2
Upcoming: Saturday, at Fort Erie, 7: 15 p. m.; Sunday, home to Caledonia, 7: 05 p. m.
Fort Erie Meteors
Record: 6- 12- 1- 3, 60 GF, 98 GA, 341 PIM, 16 Pts, .364 Pct.
Special teams: PP, 16.5%, 14th; PK, 81.1%, 23rd Streak: 1- 0
On the scoresheet: Drew Passero, 10 G, 10 A, 20 Pts; Andrew Somerville, 2 G, 16 A, 18 Pts; Marco Lariccia, 9 G, 18 A, 17 Pts; Mike Masotti, 6 G, 11 A, 17 Pts
Between the pipes: Tyler Szczepaniak, 13 GP, 4.08 GAA, .887 Sv%; Jacob Hearne, 10 GP, 4.74 GAA, .878 Sv%
Last week: win, at Buffalo, 3- 2; loss, home to Thorold, 3- 2 2OT; loss, at Niagara Fall, 5- 4 OT
Upcoming: Saturday, home to Welland, 7: 15 p. m.; Sunday, at Pelham, 2: 30 p. m.
Buffalo Regals
Record: 1- 17- 0- 2, 36 GF, 112 GA, 347 PIM, 4 Pts, .100 Pct.
Special teams: PP, 6.5%, 26th; PK, 83.3%, 16th
Streak: 0- 1
On the scoresheet: Cameron Clark, 7 G, 4 A, 11 Pts; Nash Braun, 4 G, 6 A, 10 Pts; Logan Gare, 4 G, 4 A, 8 Pts
Between the pipes: Peyton Zern, 13 GP. 6.59 GAA, .836 Sv%
Last week: loss, home to Fort
Erie, 3- 2
Upcoming: Friday, at St. Catharines, 7 p. m.; Saturday, at Caledonia, 7: 30 p. m.; Tuesday, home to Ancaster, 7 p. m.