Hockey / B's stay unbeaten as Laforme's late goal helps salvage point

B's stay unbeaten as Laforme's late goal helps salvage point

Date:  Source: OHA Hamilton Kilty B's

Hamilton Kilty B's forward Andrew Salt and Niagara Falls Canucks defenceman Anthony Bruno battle for the puck during Monday night's 3-3 tie. (Ken Pagan photo)

 

By Ken Pagan

Five games into the GOJHL season, the Hamilton Kilty B's are the lone unbeaten club in the nine-team Golden Horseshoe Conference.

Steven Laforme scored with 1:02 remaining in regulation and goaltender Matteo Drobac piled up 40 saves as the Kilty B's pulled out a point in a 3-3 double-overtime draw with the defending conference champion Niagara Falls Canucks, three nights after a 6-5 overtime win on the road in Niagara Falls.

The Kilty B's (4-0-1) did not bring their best effort for the full 60 minutes, but were able to approach the Canucks' intensity level over the final 30 minutes.

Jaleel Adams scored the lone goal of the opening period for the Canucks (2-0-3), who outshot the Kilty B's 15-6 in the opening period and 43-37 overall. 

Christian Pelley and Laforme put the Kilty B's ahead 2-1 in the second period, before Niagara surged ahead on goals from Cody Wall and Ryan Donovan. Laforme's tying goal was scored with Drobac pulled for an extra attacker, taking a feed in front and beating Niagara goaltender Anthony Tremonte to the left post. The teams played two five-minute overtime periods before settling for the draw.

"We came out slow and I really think it shouldn't have been that way, but we came back, we battled hard and we got a point and that's all that matters," said Laforme. "But I think we have to come out better and ready to play."

A 16-year-old forward from Hagersville, Laforme now leads the team with four goals and seven points and has at least a point in each of the first five games. He is hoping the club can build off the strong start to the season.

"I think we can beat any team in the league," he said. "Like Rizz (general manager Brian Rizzetto) said, we've got to bring it more. We have guys givin' er and we have guys who have to get going more and if we can come together as a team, I think we'll be sitting good."

Hamilton 6, Niagara Falls 5

On Friday, captain Jacob MacDonald settled things 1:02 into overtime to extend the Kilty B's win streak to four games. Peyton Adams-Matthews, Ellis Rickwood, Justin Monteith, Laforme and Fred Teeple also scored for Hamilton, while goaltender Justin Easter stopped 36 of 41 shots.

Thomas Lenart, Owen Holmes, Matthew Riva, Jaleel Adams and Ryan Donovan scored for the Canucks.

The Kilty B's travel to Pelham on Sunday night before hosting the Caledonia Corvairs Monday evening at Dave Andreychuk Mountain Arena.