FIRTH AND PALMER STAR AGAIN IN TORONTO BEACHES HOME WIN

It was a meeting of teams headed in opposite directions on Thursday night. On one side, the Toronto Beaches, looking to remain perfect on the season in their second home game; the other, the St Catharines Athletics, on back-to-back nights, trying to end a three-game losing streak. The Beaches fired 68 shots in a 10-8 victory becoming the first team to four wins on the season.

The Athletics led early with goals from Ian Kohut and Keaton Zavitz. Willem Firth and Matt Collison sandwiched goals around a Tye Steenhuis power play marker to end the first 3-2 for St Catharines.

Firth and Collison continued their offensive onslaught scoring the first three goals of the second period, the latter two coming 32 seconds apart. Steenhuis answered eight seconds later. The teams traded power play goals to end the period with the Beaches leading by two.

After an early Athetics goal, Toronto’s Greg Palmer scored back-to-back power play markers completing his hat trick. Liam Aston added a fourth Toronto power play goal. Zavitz was able to score with just under seven minutes remaining, and again in the final minute to pull the visitors within one. But a late Firth goal with time expiring secured the 10-8 win, keeping Toronto a perfect 4-0.

Willem Firth hit double-digit points (4+6) for the second time this season. Greg Palmer (3+4) was right behind. The pair now lead the OJLL in points with 36 and 29 respectively (through 4 games).

Keaton Zavitz sits fifth (21 points in 5 games) after adding five (3+2) Thursday. Ian Kohut (2+1) and Tye Steenhuis (2+1) had three. Ty Wilson made 58 saves in a losing effort after Oliver Vanyo played Wednesday.