harlie Burns has made the most of his opportunity with the Fort Erie Meteors so far this season.
The 17-year-old Niagara IceDogs prospect has been nothing shot of brilliant in his four starts between the pipes for the Meteors.
Burns kicked out 39 shots Tuesday as the Meteors defeated the St. Catharines Falcons 6-2 in Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League action at the Leisureplex.
Burns is now 3-1 with a 2.26 goals-against average, .938 save percentage and one shutout this season.
“I think that’s huge coming in here (to have a good start) but I couldn’t have done it without the guys,” Burns said. “They have been giving me lots of help clearing the lanes and making things easy for me.”
The win improves Fort Erie’s record to 4-2 while the Falcons suffered their first loss following four straight wins to open the schedule, including a 6-3 triumph at Fort Erie in the first week of the season.
“That felt really good, especially after they beat us in our home opener. We knew it as a big game coming in and knew we had to get the job done here tonight,” Burns said.
Fort Erie general manager/coach Nik Passero is grateful to have Burns.
“He’s been so solid. His first start here in pre-season I think he gave up eight goals but he’s such a good kid. Both goalies (John Lloyd) are studs. Both are number ones in this league and we’re lucky to have them,” Passero said. “He’s very calm and composed back there and he plays the puck really well which is something that is huge for our D corps. We’re a pretty good defending team and he makes it very easy for us.”
Burns was selected by the IceDogs in the ninth round (167 overall) of the 2022 Ontario Hockey League draft. He appeared in three games for Niagara last season and also saw action with the IceDogs in pre-season this year.
“It definitely helped me a lot facing those bigger guys with harder shots. I think I can bring that experience here and bring it to my game,” Burns said.
Burns, who hails from Sault Ste. Marie, is determined to have a solid season with the Mets and get back to the OHL.
“It’s just work hard every day and put up good numbers and hopefully I get the call to go up there,” he said.
The final score was somewhat misleading — the teams played a scoreless first period and the Mets led just 2-0 after 40 minutes before letting loose with four in the final frame.
“Good effort. We’ve had probably five in a row good efforts,” Passero said.
Passero was particularly gratified to see the Meteors have success offensively.
“We’re struggling to score and it was good to get some guys going tonight,” Passero said. “We’re a completely different team than we were last year. We’re well defended and the guys work really hard but we’re going to have to battle to score. Every goal we scored was hard pressed When you can’t score you have to go where the goals are scored and that’s net front.”
Falcons general manager/coach Tyler Bielby is confident his club with turn the page following an uneven effort.
“A season is full of firsts for a team,” he said. “Tonight we suffered our first loss of the season and it’s now time to reflect, get better and respond. We have a great group of young men in our room. I have no doubt they will show up to practice tomorrow and put their right foot forward.
“It’s a long season and it’s important that they learn there is no days off in this league. Take a shift off and it will cost you. That happened too many times tonight. Time to get back to work.”
Metscellanious: Ty Gaudreault, Baedden Pollett and Owen Penny were scratched for the Meteors . . . Trent Vaillancourt, Zac Mizzi and Luca McLaren did not dress for the Falcons.
STATS PACK
Meteors 6 Falcons 2
Young’s Insurance Player of the Game: Fort Erie netminder Charlie Burns with 39 saves.
Fort Erie Meteors: Cameron Golovin 2 (1,2); Hunter Cooley (3); Ethan Lintner (1).
St. Catharines Falcons: Caleb Thompson (4); Kyle Adamo (3); Treyson Dewar (1); Brody Coe (1).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By Fort Erie on Hayden Jeffery (48), by St. Catharines on Charlie Burns (41); Power plays: Fort Erie 0/4, St. Catharines 1/7; Penalty minutes: Fort Erie 15, St. Catharines 9.
Up next: The Meteors host Caledonia Saturday and are in Welland Sunday. The Falcons host Welland Friday and travel to Port Colborne Saturday.
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