With the Greater Ontario Hockey League schedule just past the mid-way point, it’s time for the BPSN mid-term report card on each team.
Apologies for the tardiness but better late than never!
Teams will be graded using the old A-F grading system.
Keep in mind, the grade is based on not only how the team’s record so far, but the talent level and expectations. In other words, a .500 record may get an overachieving team a higher grade than it would for a disappointing start for a team expected to contend.
With plenty of hockey still remaining, teams unhappy with their grades still have time to work hard and move up.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from BPSN!
Caledonia 24-5-0-1-49
The Corvairs feature the top winning percentage in the GOJHL at .817 and appear to be ready to make another run at a championship.
Caledonia leads the Golden Horseshoe conference in goals with 130 thanks to a deep and talented lineup led by former Elmira Sugar King Jayden Lammel along with St. Catharines native and ex-Welland Junior Canadian Nathan Duplessis. Former Niagara IceDog Sami Douglas is averaging well more than a point per game from the blueline while Markus Dempewolf is on his way to his best junior season.
The Corvairs are no slouch at the other end of the ice either where they lead the conference in goals against led by Keegan Jackson and David Penner in goal.
The Corvairs made a somewhat surprising move parting ways with head coach Zenon Konopka earlier this season following a loss in St. Catharines but the team hasn’t missed a beat under Mike Bullard.
Grade: A+
Fort Erie 22-7-0-0-44
The Meteors are well on their way to one of the top seasons in the history of the organization with 22 wins in 29 games, including a recent eight-game winning streak.
The Mets have a solid group of forwards led by rookie sniper and Sarnia Sting prospect Liam Beamish while Kyle Adamo, Blake Hall and Hunter Cooley have also been consistent producers. Captain Rylan Masterson has come into his own and is also contributing offensively with 23 points in 26 games.
The Meteors are built from the back out and have been solid defensively most of the season.
The club took a hit recently when No. 1 goaltender Charlie Burns was recalled to the Niagara IceDogs for the rest of the season. Burns had been magnificent with a 16-3 record and 2.32 goals-against average.
General manager/coach Nik Passero quickly filled the void picking up Logan Slou from Pelham to team with incumbent John Lloyd.
The Mets need to improve their penalty killing which will become even more crucial in the second half and into the playoffs.
Grade: A
St. Catharines 19-7-1-1-40
On the surface the Falcons record, given their lofty expectations, seems slightly disappointing. The team won a Sutherland Cup two years ago and last season led the GOJHL with the best regular season record.
The Falcons only lost six games all of last season but there are some extenuating circumstances to this season’s start which has seen them already drop seven.
Injuries are part of hockey but not even the best and deepest of organizations cannot withstand a half dozen players out at once. The Falcons have been hit particularly hard by the injury bug, specifically on the blueline.
The club has done a solid job of being more than competitive while waiting for the injured to return to the ice and are hopeful of a full lineup in the new year.
Captain Caleb Thompson has been the team’s leader, on and off the ice, while former OHL winger Brenden Anderson has 22 points in 18 games. Rookies Noah Read, Matthew Hlacar and Treyson Dewar have more than held their own while Tyler Hunt is averaging two points per game.
Henry Attard has anchored the defence while Hayden Jefferey and Cal Gardner have both been more than solid in net.
Kudos to general manager/coach Tyler Bielby for keeping things on track so far under difficult circumstances.
Grade: A-
Hamilton 12-14-4-0-28
It has been an odd season for the Kilty B’s right from the get-go.
Hamilton began the year with a 9-1 win over the Pelham Panthers, only to lose to the Panthers 4-2 two nights later.
That inconsistency has plagued the team all season as evidenced by their sub.500 record.
The team has had trouble scoring goals with only Anthony Giacalone in double digits (12) while Brett Henderson leads the team in scoring with 21 points in 29 games. Dean Deligeorgis has chipped in with 20 points while newcomer Kaleb Frank has been impressive with eight goals and 15 points in just 13 games since arriving from the Ontario Junior Hockey League.
Gabriel Longo (3.01) and Vlad Vissan (2.96) have handled the goaltending duties since Cole Scullion, a second-round pick of the Ottawa 67’s, departed for the Mississauga Chargers of the OJHL.
The Kilty B’s will need to develop more consistency in the second half to have a chance to make any noise come the playoffs.
Grade: C+
Port Colborne 9-15-4-1-23
The Sailors, in their first official season in Port Colborne after playing there last year on an interim basis, got off to a flying start with six wins in their first nine games and appeared poised to have a solid campaign.
But the Sailors could not keep up that pace and soon found themselves at the .500 mark and now are mired in an eight-game losing streak which has seen them drop to 9-15-4-1.
The Sailors give up too many goals (116) while their offence has been up and down, no doubt hindered by injuries to snipers Nathan Kelly and Brendan Grenville.
Captain Dylan Pergentile has performed well, Aiden Cupelli is off to his best start as a junior and Sam Tonelli leads the team in scoring. P.J. Alexander and Grayson Gare have also contributed.
Rookie Gabe Trozzo has been outstanding on the blueline while Oshawa Generals pick Issac Gravelle (3.32) and Tucker Adams (4.21) have splint the goaltending chores evenly.
The Sailors need to turn things around in a hurry.
Grade: D+
Pelham 10-18-1-1-22
The Panthers, under the guidance of former National Hockey League forward Zac Rinaldo, have inched their way toward the .500 mark.
The Panthers have a substantial goals for/against differential at 38, which is never a good sign.
Pelham need to score more consistently with only leading scorer Connor Clark in double digits with 11 goals and no other player with more than six goals.
Goaltender Carter Vicente, a 17-year-old Mississauga native, has been a godsend with a 7-5 record, 2.73 goals-against average and .933 save percentage.
Wes Gee has taken over as sole owner while his daughter, Emelie Ficht, will act as assistant general manager. It will be interesting to see them put their stamp on the organization going forward.
Grade: D
Welland 8-20-2-0-18
The Junior Canadians recently underwent a coaching change when former Falcons coach Trevor Lariviere and ex-NHL forward Chris Gratton were added following the resignation of Don Herrington for personal reasons.
Lariviere and Gratton are sure to be a boost as evidenced by a pair of upset wins over the St. Catharines Falcons following the change.
Still, the Junior Canadians give up way too many goals — a conference leading 137 and it’s not close — and have scored the fewest at just 61.
Jack Ryan leads the club with 13 goals while Matthew Coates tops the scoring list with 21 points in 30 games.
Andrew Welch (2.27) has given the club a solid tandem between the pipes while Stanley Mannella and Shea Laurin are also on the roster.
The Junior Canadians could be a pain to play come the playoffs.
Grade: D-
THIS WEEK
TUESDAY
Port Colborne at Fort Erie, 11 a.m.
Hamilton at St. Catharines, 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
St. Catharines at Welland, 7:30 p.m.
THURSDAY
Caledonia at Hamilton, 10 a.m.
FRIDAY
Pelham at St. Catharines, 7 p.m.
Welland at Port Colborne, 7:30 p.m.
SATURDAY
Pelham at Caledonia, 7:30 p.m.
STANDINGS
1. Caledonia 24-5-0-1-49
2. Fort Erie 22-7-0-0-44
3. St. Catharines 19-7-1-1-40
4. Hamilton 12-14-4-0-28
5. Port Colborne 9-15-4-1-23
6. Pelham 10-18-1-1-22
7. Welland 8-20-2-0-18
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