The Caledonia Pro-Fit Corvairs put some more distance between themselves and the second place Ancaster Avalanche after weekend games in the GOJHL. Following Saturday’s 8-3 win in Fort Erie over the Meteors, they suffered a 3-2 OT loss Sunday at home against the Avs, still good for a single point.
The Corvairs entered this week leading the Golden Horseshoe Conference with 36 points by way of 17 wins, one loss and one OT loss.
Coach Mike Bullard felt his team was snake-bit Sunday after playing a strong game.
“I think we played a wonderful game,” said Bullard. “We hit seven goal posts and the kids played very hard and very physical, but we spent most of the time in the penalty box. Our power play sputtered. We had three five-on-three chances. Ancaster ended up getting a four-minute power play in overtime when they scored the game winner.”
Corvairs players were hit with 36 minutes on 15 penalties. That is not counting the two game suspension that Bullard himself was charged with.
“I wasn’t very pleased with the refereeing and I let it be known,” he says. Bullard will not be behind the bench for the next two games. “Sometimes you have to stand up for what you think is right and I think the refereeing was taking away from our players but I am not going to cry over spilled milk. We had our chances to win and we didn’t.”
Scoring for the Corvairs on Sunday were Corey Pawley and Matt McCartney.
Saturday night, in Fort Erie, Quentin Maksimovich scored two and assisted on another with Matthew Hore recording a goal and two assists in the 8-3 win. Other Caledonia scorers included Jake Brown, Matt Rimac, Mitch Graham, Austin Brown, and Blake Luscombe. Zach Moore earned the win in net.
This early season especially, the Corvairs’ affiliation with the Jr. C Hagersville Hawks has been a win-win situation. The Hawks are stronger with their lineup augmented with Jr. B Corvairs sent down for conditioning in game situations rather than sitting on the end of the bench or not dressing. They have the option of calling up players from the Hawks when needed, knowing their players are in game shape.
One of the players staying in shape with the Hagersville Hawks is Michael Arch, who has contributed 8 goals and 14 assists in 15 games dressed. Another is goalie Stephan Tierney who has a goals-against average of 2.17%, and leads the league.
Upcoming games include a Friday the 13th clash with the Pelham Panthers in Pelham, with the Welland Canadians visiting the Haldimand County Caledonia Centre on Saturday night, at 7:30.
