Rough start to junior B lacrosse season

Niagara teams open regular season 0-3

Sports Apr 24, 2018 by Rod Mawhood St. Catharines Standard 

 

St. Catharines’ Jacob McMillan (8) is pinned up against the boards by Hamilton’ Ethan Riggs (47) while on a penalty kill in junior B lacrosse action at Merritton Arena in St. Catharines. - Bob Tymczyszyn , The St. Catharines Standard

St. Catharines’ Adam Kirchmayer (6) fires a shot on the Hamilton goalkeeper Dylan Sprentz in season-opening junior B lacrosse at Merritton Arena in St. Catharines. - Bob Tymczyszyn , The St. Catharines Standard

St. Catharines Spartans celebrate their first goal against Hamilton Bengals in Ontario Jr. B Lacrosse action Friday. - Bob Tymczyszyn , The St. Catharines Standard 

It was a rough start in more ways than one for two of the three local junior B lacrosse teams.
The Welland Generals were outscored 34-14 by perennial powerhouse Six Nations in a home-and-home series to start the 2018 season, as the two games combined for 228 penalty minutes over the two games, while the St. Catharines Spartans were humbled 12-4 by the Hamilton Bengals to open their campaign.
The Niagara Thunderhawks have yet to play a regular season game.
Friday night the Six Nations Rebels ran roughshod over the visiting Generals in a 17-4 victory.
 
Ethen Wellings paced Welland with two goals, while Talon Badawey had one goal and one assist, and Tanner Main two helpers for the Generals.
Bailey Fournier-Higgins had the other goal for Welland, which was outshot 62-33 overall.
Justin Rombough made 45 saves in the loss as the Generals went 0-for-13 on the power pl'ay in a game that featured 124 penalty minutes.
Sunday night back in the Rose City, the two teams combined for 15 first-period goals and 104 penalty minutes as Six Nations opened a 10-5 lead en route to a 16-10 final.
Peter Hryniuk led Welland with one goal and five assists, while Badawey had two goals and three helpers. Gavin McGregor chipped in with a hat trick for the Generals. Nick Villella and Max Brook both had three assists.
Justin Porga, younger brother of Welland all-time leading scorer Brandon, added one goal and one helper, while Main and Zach Otto had the other Generals' goals.

Rombough turned aside 46 shots as Welland finished the game 4-for-16 with the man advantage.

Spartans can't tame Bengals
The Spartans opened their 2018 season at home Friday night and kept things close for one period before Hamilton erupted for eight second-period goals.
Sam LeClair, who was just acquired in a trade with Welland last week, led St. Catharines with two goals and two assists, while Connor Aquanno had two goals and one helper. Aquanno plays field lacrosse at Brock University.
Second-year forward Aaron Ward added three assists for the Spartans, who were outshot 62-42 overall.
Dylan Busby-Carver made 50 stops in the loss.
The Niagara Thunderhawks open their season this upcoming Saturday night in Elora.