Panthers trip up Falcons again

The Pelham Panthers knocked off the St. Catharines Falcons Sunday. PHOTO BY: BERNIE PUCHALSKI

Less than 48 hours after knocking off the Caledonia Corvairs to move into first place, the St. Catharines Falcons took a step backwards Sunday afternoon.

The Falcons permitted three goals in the third period as they dropped a 5-3 decision to the Pelham Panthers in a Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Conference game at the Pelham Arena.

The Falcons, who came into the game with a 12-4-0-2 mark, have now dropped five games this season in regulation time, two to the upstart Panthers.

Pelham inched closer to the .500 mark at 7-11 with the win.

“We did exactly what we wanted to in the first and second, then got way too undisciplined in the third and handed the game over,” Falcons coach Dan Fitzpatrick said. “We need to be smarter and way less selfish if we want to be successful.

“Letting that game get away is very disappointing.”

Lucas Smilsky scored the lone goal of the first as the Falcons outshot the Panthers 13-4.

The teams then traded four goals in the second with Smilsky netting his second of the game while Carson Eden also scored for the Falcons. Matt Ruigrock and Brenden Bouvier replied for Pelham.

The Panthers took over in the third scoring three goals by Ruigrok, Anthony Gigliotti and Francesco Gigliotti. Two of the goals came on the power play.

Nicholas Kidd made 26 saves in goal for the win. Riley Eberhardt made 15 saves and took the loss.

The Falcons welcome Welland Friday at Jack Gatecliff Arena.

Blackhawks 5 Regals 2

Five players scored as the visiting Thorold Blackhawks defeated the Buffalo Regals.

Mason Howard, Spencer Blackwell, Daniel Rocco, Brendan Charlton and Matthew Dolan scored for the Hawks.

Eric Dhillon picked up the win in net.

The Blackhawks host Niagara Falls Thursday.

The Regals remain winless at 0-15-0-1.

Canucks 5 Junior Canadians 3

Hayden Broomhead scored twice as the visiting Niagara Falls Canucks edged Welland.

Noah Boman, Frank Pucci and Garrett Downie also scored for the winners.

Brendan Rylott and Jeremy Oriet replied for Welland.

SATURDAY

Corvairs 8 Blackhawks 0

The Caledonia Corvairs jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period en route to a shutout win over the visiting Blackhawks at the Haldimand Centre.

Caledonia got goals from eight players: Griffin Roubos, Joshua DeFarias, Jeff Lindsay, Adam Craievich, Sean O’Brien, Owen Lane, Jeremy Marco and Eddie Schulz.

Pierce Charlson made 16 saves for the shutout.

Panthers 5 Junior Canadians 1

The visiting Panthers fired 50 shots at Charles Grimard as the Panthers defeated the Junior Canadians.

Peter Izzo, Thomas Young, Francesco Gigliotti, Ruigrok and Anthony Gigliotti scored for the Panthers.

Maliek Powell replied for Welland.

Avalanche 5 Meteors 2

James Graydon scored a pair of goals as the visiting Ancaster Avalanche topped the Fort Erie Meteors.

Nicolas Breault, Benjamin Woodhouse and Yianni Skropolis added singles.

Matt Masotti and Garrett Jennings scored for the Meteors.