By Rod Mawhood, Special to The Standard
Calling up midget-aged players has become common place in many sports.
But when the player getting called up is a goaltender, and that said goaltender gets the start in a game, it adds a little more credence to the transaction.
That’s why St. Catharines Spartans general manager Chris Spiers was smart when he called up Troy Holowchuk last season to make his first career junior B start.
Spiers knew Holowchuk would be leaned upon heavily this season.
And Holowchuk, a 16-year old Laura Secord Secondary School student, was brilliant in the Spartans home and season opener Saturday night at Merritton Centennial Arena making 44 saves and adding two assists as St. Catharines battled back from a 5-1 second period deficit to defeat the Owen Sound North Stars 11-8.
“I trusted the team in front of me,” said the humble Holowchuk, who also played for Team Ontario in 2016.
“I was nervous in the first (period) but I knew they (the team) would step up and they did. That was a huge comeback win for us.”
Holowchuk made 16 stops in the first frame as the North Stars opened a 4-1 lead.
Then just 19 seconds into the middle stanza Owen Sound would make it 5-1. However, from then on the Spartans took over.
St. Catharines would score five straight goals in just more than 10 minutes time to take a 6-5 lead, and led 8-6 after 40 minutes.
“It all starts with Troy in the net,” said Spartans head coach Rob McKibbon.
“Both our goalies can pass the ball, and stop the ball. I’m quite confident with him, and both our goalies this season. But the thing is, we never gave up, and got better and better each period.”
Despite being only 16 years old, Holowchuk knows he’s an important piece at the back end of the floor for St. Catharines.
“I feel the goalie should always have and take a leadership role, both on and off the floor,” he said.
“We have a lot of leaders on this team and that’s really helpful for all the young guys coming up on just how to play junior B lacrosse.”
While Holowchuk was doing his thing between the pipes, Cree Blakely and Kealan Pilon were doing theirs on the offensive end of the floor.
Blakely, playing in his last season of junior lacrosse scored twice and added six assists, while second year Spartan Pilon bulged the twine four times and added two helpers.
“Both those guys will be playing both junior A and junior B this season,” said McKibbon. “But to have them both to start the season with us — we’re lucky to have them.”
The Spartans host Hamilton Friday night. Game time at Merritton Arena is 8 p.m.
“We have to continue to make good decisions, and not run into double teams,” McKibbon said.
“We have a transition game that we laid out but didn’t get to use it properly tonight. We have to get back to practice this week.”
Added Holowchuk, “We definitely have to work on our transition,” . “We picked things up in the third period tonight, and will have to continue that for our next game.”
Spartans remaining home schedule
(all games at Merritton Arena)
Friday, April 28 vs. Hamilton 8 p.m.
Tuesday, May 2 vs. Niagara-on-the-Lake 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 6 vs. Windsor 8 p.m.
Tuesday, May 9 vs. London 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 14 vs. Welland 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 21 vs. Six Nations 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 28 vs. Orangeville 7 p.m.
Friday, June 2 vs. Hamilton 8 p.m.
Tuesday, June 6 vs. Niagara-on-the-Lake 8 p.m.
But when the player getting called up is a goaltender, and that said goaltender gets the start in a game, it adds a little more credence to the transaction.
That’s why St. Catharines Spartans general manager Chris Spiers was smart when he called up Troy Holowchuk last season to make his first career junior B start.
Spiers knew Holowchuk would be leaned upon heavily this season.
And Holowchuk, a 16-year old Laura Secord Secondary School student, was brilliant in the Spartans home and season opener Saturday night at Merritton Centennial Arena making 44 saves and adding two assists as St. Catharines battled back from a 5-1 second period deficit to defeat the Owen Sound North Stars 11-8.
“I trusted the team in front of me,” said the humble Holowchuk, who also played for Team Ontario in 2016.
“I was nervous in the first (period) but I knew they (the team) would step up and they did. That was a huge comeback win for us.”
Holowchuk made 16 stops in the first frame as the North Stars opened a 4-1 lead.
Then just 19 seconds into the middle stanza Owen Sound would make it 5-1. However, from then on the Spartans took over.
St. Catharines would score five straight goals in just more than 10 minutes time to take a 6-5 lead, and led 8-6 after 40 minutes.
“It all starts with Troy in the net,” said Spartans head coach Rob McKibbon.
“Both our goalies can pass the ball, and stop the ball. I’m quite confident with him, and both our goalies this season. But the thing is, we never gave up, and got better and better each period.”
Despite being only 16 years old, Holowchuk knows he’s an important piece at the back end of the floor for St. Catharines.
“I feel the goalie should always have and take a leadership role, both on and off the floor,” he said.
“We have a lot of leaders on this team and that’s really helpful for all the young guys coming up on just how to play junior B lacrosse.”
While Holowchuk was doing his thing between the pipes, Cree Blakely and Kealan Pilon were doing theirs on the offensive end of the floor.
Blakely, playing in his last season of junior lacrosse scored twice and added six assists, while second year Spartan Pilon bulged the twine four times and added two helpers.
“Both those guys will be playing both junior A and junior B this season,” said McKibbon. “But to have them both to start the season with us — we’re lucky to have them.”
The Spartans host Hamilton Friday night. Game time at Merritton Arena is 8 p.m.
“We have to continue to make good decisions, and not run into double teams,” McKibbon said.
“We have a transition game that we laid out but didn’t get to use it properly tonight. We have to get back to practice this week.”
Added Holowchuk, “We definitely have to work on our transition,” . “We picked things up in the third period tonight, and will have to continue that for our next game.”
Spartans remaining home schedule
(all games at Merritton Arena)
Friday, April 28 vs. Hamilton 8 p.m.
Tuesday, May 2 vs. Niagara-on-the-Lake 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 6 vs. Windsor 8 p.m.
Tuesday, May 9 vs. London 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 14 vs. Welland 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 21 vs. Six Nations 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 28 vs. Orangeville 7 p.m.
Friday, June 2 vs. Hamilton 8 p.m.
Tuesday, June 6 vs. Niagara-on-the-Lake 8 p.m.
