KITCHENER-WATERLOO TAKE CLOSE, IMPORTANT WIN OVER ST CATHARINES

Friday night marked an important game at Kinsmen Arena for both the St Catharines Athletics and Kitchener-Waterloo. Despite being winless since the season opener, the Athletics could move into a tie with Burlington and KW with a win. However, it was the home side that came out on top 10-7 for Kitchener’s third win of the season, moving into a potential playoff spot.

Malikye Good and Nolan Barker opened the scoring for KW, who later took two minors on the same play. The five-on-three led to a Keaton Zavitz power play goal ending the first period 2-1 for Kitchener-Waterloo.

The A’s would quickly tie the game in the second on a goal from Christian Lefeuvre. He’d be needed again after Chris Rathwell scored. Just 18 seconds later Max Frattaroli regained the lead, one Kitchener would not relinquish, thanks in part to two more before the end of the second period.

Five minutes into the third period Frattaroli set up Good’s hat trick goal. It looked as though St Catharines was headed for a run with goals in 27 seconds from Zackary Toll and Colin French. However, the run was cut short by Cal Brennan’s goal just 15 seconds later, and then another from Dylan Lee. The Athletics would get two more to close within two, but that’s as close as they’d come eventually losing their seventh straight, 10-7.

Kitchener-Waterloo was led by the duo of Chris Rathwell (2+4) and Max Frattaroli (1+5). Malikye Good scored his first hat trick of the season, and just third of his OJLL career. KW’s 57 shots is the second-highest output of the season.

For the Athletics Zackary Toll (1+3) and Keaton Zavtiz (1+3) each had four points. Christian Lefeuvre (2+0) was the only multiple goal scorer.