The Niagara Falls PowerHawks returned to action after the long holiday break with a 6-2 victory over the visiting Roc City Royals, 6-2, Friday night at the Hyde Park Ice Pavilion. The weekend will continue for the PowerHawks with a pair of games against the Binghamton Junior Senators on Saturday and Sunday. Game time for tonight is scheduled for 6:00pm. Sunday’s game will get underway at 1:00pm.
Michael Olszewski opened the scoring for Niagara Falls 1:14 into the first period, with assists coming from Spencer Hrynczak and Brandon Snyder. Mitchell Thornton added to the PowerHawks lead two minutes later. Branden Tripi was credited with the assist.
Tripi tallied one of his own at 3:05 of the second period. The shorthanded goal was unassisted. Evan Domiano made it 4-0 for the home team at 12:48. Andrew Logar and Matt Cavanaugh provided the assists. Stephen Minichiello closed out the scoring for period with the team’s second shorthanded goal of the night. Coming at 15:23, it was unassisted. Logar was awarded a penalty shot after he was hauled down in front of the Royals’ net. Josh Martinez was able to make the stop.
Stephen Minichiello scored his second shorthanded goal of the night only 21 seconds into the third period off a pass from Anthony Tomassi. Raymond Conroy broke through for the Royals at 6:51 of the third period. Dylan Candleana and Spencer Norris provided the assists on the powerplay goal. Nathaniel Nowak closed out the scoring for the evening to make it 6-2 at 9:48. Another powerplay goal, Candleana and Conroy were credited with the assists.
Carson Gates, making his first career junior start, stopped 19 of 21 shots in the victory. Josh Martinez, starting in goal for Roc City, turned away 29 of 35 shots before he left due to injury 21 seconds into the third. Frederick Peters stopped all 15 shots he faced after coming in for relief.
After this weekend, the Niagara Falls PowerHawks will host the Oswego Stampede next Saturday and Sunday. Those games will be held at Dwyer Arena at Niagara University.