Chatham, ON – The St. Catharines Falcons claimed the Sutherland Cup Championship on Sunday night with an 8-2 win over Chatham.
After the Falcons took game one of the best-of-3 on Friday night the GOJHL’s top two teams met on Maroons home ice.
Both sides had a tight battle in the first half of the 1st period but St. Catharines opened the scoring just past the midway mark when Mason Howard buried his 4th goal of the playoffs to put the Falcons up 1-0.
The Maroons would respond with a goal of their own off the stick of Issac Legood at the 14-minute mark which brought the home crowd to their feet and add even more energy to the Chatham Memorial Arena, which was packed to capacity.
St. Catharines would regain the momentum late in the period with a Nicholas Rubino goal with less than a minute remaining in the period to take a 2-1 lead into the 1st intermission.
“We thought they were bringing a lot of pressure (in the 1st period) so we made a little adjustment to try and get out of our zone quickly and create some rushes and I thought that that helped us get out to a good lead,” said Falcons Head Coach Tyler Bielby.
The 2nd period saw play open up for the Falcons when Rubino would light the lamp for a second time but this time it came shorthanded which extended the St. Catharines lead to 3-1 and seemed to deflate the Maroons bench. The Falcons would add two more in the 2nd period and take a 5-1 lead into the intermission.
In the 3rd period, Rubino would net an early marker to complete the hat-trick and the St. Catharines push to finish out the game and take the championship was evident as they would extend their lead to 8-1 and hold on to take the game and the title.
Defenceman Jonah Boria was named GOJHL Playoff MVP post-game.
“It’s awesome for sure but this is all about our team and our group,” said Boria “This ring will stay with me forever and this championship is just so special because I got to do it with this group of guys.”
Goaltender Andrew McLean, named GOJHL Goaltender of the Year in a pre-game ceremony was elated to finish out his junior hockey career with a championship.
“Personally, this was probably the most fun I have ever had playing hockey and definitely saved the best year for last,” said McLean “Every single guy has developed throughout the year and we all had the same goal in mind and to have that come together with a championship is incredible.”
In a season where McLean claimed multiple awards including the GOJHL Golden Horseshoe MVP, he said he couldn’t be happier to see Boria get recognized as Playoff MVP.
“That guy works the hardest out of all of our guys, he is just so skilled and talented, I think he should get a chance to play at the next level the way he moves around the ice and shoots the puck the way he does.” said McLean.
Bielby got an ice-water shower from his players during the post-game celebration and said it was the happiest he has ever been to be that cold.
“It doesn’t get any sweeter than that,” said Bielby “I was fortunate enough to lift the Sutherland Cup once in the past but as an assistant so getting the chance as a Head Coach is amazing and it really hasn’t sunk in just yet but I’m just so proud of this group and happy for all of them.”
Congratulations to the 2022 GOJHL Sutherland Cup Champion St. Catharines Falcons.
For more information, visit https://www.gojhl.ca/.
-30-
ABOUT THE GREATER ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE (GOJHL)
The Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League is a Canadian junior ice hockey league based in Southern Ontario, Canada. The league is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association, Ontario Hockey Federation, and Hockey Canada.
Website: www.gojhl.ca
Instagram: @gojhl
Facebook: @GOJHLHockey
Twitter: @GOJHL
