Toronto Beaches Win In St Catharines Thanks To Willem Firth

Photo: P. Methner / OJLL

The St Catharines Athletics had an opportunity at their home opener Wednesday night to become the first team with two wins in the OJLL. However, 2022 league MVP Willem Firth of the Toronto Beaches had other plans with a huge offensive night, leading the visitors to a 12-7 victory.

Just under 12 minutes into the game Firth already had a pair of goals and an assist. Toronto’s Isaac Mills and Ryan Gonsalves and St Catharines Cody McNeil all scored their first OJLL goals. Gonsalves marker was the fifth on thirteen shots and signalled a goalie change for Steve Toll replacing Oliver Vanyo with 2023 draft pick Ty Wilson. The teams swapped goals to end the period 6-3 in favour of the Beaches.

Another first-time goal scorer, Noah Simpson, opened the second pulling the A’s within two. Four more points before the end of the period from Firth though would stretch the lead to 10-5. Beaches rookie Peyton Booth ended the frame with his first OJLL goal.

The third began as the second did – with an Athletics first-career goal, this time for Ryan Andrews. Owen Wills scored in transition for Toronto, a goal that was matched by St Catharines captain Keaton Zavitz. Firth ended the night how it began, scoring to cap a Toronto 12-7 win.

Willem Firth’s big night shot him to the top of the OJLL leaderboard in goals (5), and second in points (8).  Greg Palmer also had a big night with seven points (1+6). Ryan Gonsalves – an AP from the West Durham Ironheads - contributed a hat trick and fellow AP Isaac Wills had four points (1+3). Thomas Kiazyk was tremendous in net stopping 40 of 47 shots.

Keaton Zavitz led the way for the Athletics with four points (2+2) to lead the OJLL with 10 points through two games. He was the only multi-goal scorer for the home side. Trent Mooradian contributed three assists.