Predators face tough test against number one team this weekend

On the heels of their fourth loss in a row, Niagara Predators head coach Kevin Taylor is looking for answers. 

And with a home-and-home series this weekend against the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League’s (GMHL) only remaining undefeated team, he needs those answers fast. 

With the Niagara-on-the-Lake Wolves Minor Hockey Association hosting their annual Harvest Classic Tournament this weekend, the Preds had a rare Friday night off. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons they looked so rusty Saturday on the road in their 6-3 loss to the Northumberland Stars in Colborne. 

In all fairness, they did outshoot the Stars 47-29, but they also topped Northumberland in penalty minutes, 35-28, including a game disqualification to defenseman Gehrig Lindberg in the second period. 

Saturday started out well, with the Preds scoring first and the opening period ending in a 2-2 tie. But the Stars picked up two of their three power play goals in the second period en route to the 6-3 victory. 

“Amazingly undisciplined,” Taylor said of his team’s performance Saturday night. “Just too many unnecessary penalties, we put ourselves into tough situations. As a team we just have to be better. We have to take accountability for the penalties we’re taking, and the leadership has to step up more.”

Cam Savoie, Nicholas Nicoletti and Rhys Jones all scored for Niagara.

Sunday afternoon’s game against the Ravens in St. George also began positively. 

“We played well in the first period,” said Taylor. “But we had a short bench on Sunday. We’re putting guys into situations they are not used to being in. Our best players are playing way more minutes than they need to be playing, and doing way more than what they need to do, because we’re so short.”

Lindberg’s Saturday disqualification meant he had to sit out Sunday’s game. Also in civvies with injuries were Nolan Wyers, Dylan Denning, Georgy Kholmovsky, Ethan Culp and goaltender Zane Clausen.

Newly acquired goaltender Kyle Magri got his first start for the Preds in the 4-1 loss Sunday. 

“We put him in on Saturday after we pulled Georgii (Kodzaev),” Taylor explained. “He played well Sunday. He made the saves, but when our team is not playing 100 percent we need a goalie to steal the win for us.”

Cam Savoie scored the lone Predators goal on a power play, assisted by Isaac Locker and Luca Fernandez.

The losing streak has dropped the Preds from fifth to seventh in the eight-team South Division standings, with a record of 4-7-1. They have, however, played only 12 games so far. That’s eight fewer than sixth place St. George, who are 6-14-0 on the season.

Taylor is expecting to have some of the players who missed Sunday’s game back this weekend for the team’s two contests against the first place North York Renegades. 

“Nick and Cam Savoie should both be back this weekend,” says Taylor. “Lindberg will be back, too. We’re hoping to have Denning back as well.”

In addition, prior to last weekend’s two road games, the team re-signed 2022-2023 forward Declan Fogarty, who amassed ten goals and 28 assists last season, making him third in points on the Preds. As well, forward Tyler Gearing just re-signed with the team and should be available for the North York games. 

“He brings something different to the team,” says Taylor. “He’ll give us a bit of a different look. We’re missing the jump we need. He plays with a lot of emotion, a lot of fire to every shift. That’s what we’re looking for.”

Of the mounting losses, Taylor insists at least five of those games should have gone in the Preds’ favour. 

“We can’t blame anybody but ourselves,” he laments. “We’ve put ourselves into this situation. I’d like to get some points this weekend. It all depends on who shows up to play.”

The Renegades, with Christopher Rende, the GMHL’s leader in points with 38 and assists with 23, visit the Meridian Credit Union Arena at 7:30 PM this Friday, November 10. The Preds travel to the Canlan Ice Sports Centre in York to return the favour Sunday at 3:00 PM.