Canucks sweep Falcons in home-and-home
Panthers open their new arena with win, Jr. Canadians edge Meteors
Patrick McCabe scored two goals and the Niagara Falls Canucks defeated the visiting St. Catharines Falcons 6-1 completing a sweep in a season-opening homeand-home series.
Niagara Falls broke a 1-1 tie with five unanswered goals to improve to 2-0 in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League Golden Horseshoe Conference.
While “obviously happy” with his team’s winning weekend, Canucks owner-head coach Frank Pietrangelo said “we’re still a work in progress.”
“We have 12 new players, so it will take some time to get everyone on the same page,” he said. “However, the positive is that the guys are buying into what will make us successful, and the work ethic is tremendous.”
To get to where they want to go over the course of a long season, Pietrangelo added, the Canucks need to improve every time they hit the ice.
Philippe Angrevil, Brandon Bastasin, David D’Agostino and Garrett Downie also netted goals for the Canucks before an announced crowd of 401 at the team’s home opener Sunday night at Gale Centre.
Andrew Sommerville replied for the Falcons, who fell to 0-2.
Niagara Falls finished 1-for-2 on the power play, while limiting St. Catharines to one goal in seven man-advantage opportunities.
The Falcons failed to capitalize on the power play for the second time in as many games. They went 1-for-5 on the power play in a 6-3 loss in their home opener Friday night.
Niagara Falls hosts the Thorold Blackhawks 7 p.m. Friday. St. Catharines is home to the Fort Erie Meteors at the same time.
Panthers 4, Regals 1
At Pelham, the Panthers were victorious in their first league game in their new home scoring a whistle-to-whistle win over Lockport.
Pelham improved to 2-0, thanks to goals from Michael Marchesan, Zach Thompson, Michael Olszewski and Jared Hill.
Alex Stinis scored on the power play for the Regals, who were outshot 36-18 and fell to 0-3.
Attendance at Pelham’s home opener was listed as 412.
The Panthers are back in action 7:30 p.m. Friday when they host the Welland Jr. Canadians.
Lockport is off until 7:05 p.m. when it visits Welland.
Jr. Canadians 4, Meteors 3
At Welland, the Jr. Canadians edged Fort Erie in their season opener despite being outshot 35-20.
Jarrett Olbruck scored two even-strength goals and Michael Arch and Mario Zitella one each on the power play for Welland.
Finding the back of the net for
the Meteors, 0-2, were Cail Cirillo, with two; and Logan Warner.
Fort Erie went 0-for-2 on the power play; Welland, 2-for-4.
Welland was on the road Monday night facing the 1-1 Hamilton Kilty B’s, formerly the Ancaster Avalanche.
Results of that game were unavailable
at press time, but a summary is posted online at stcatharinesstandard.ca, niagarafallsreview.ca and wellandtribune.ca.
Bernd.Franke@niagaradailies.com 905-225-1624 | @TribSportsDesk