Goaltender Charlie Burns (33), shown defending the Fort Erie net against St. Catharines in this file photo, backstopped the Meteors to a shootout win Sunday in Pelham.
Goaltender Charlie Burns (33), shown defending the Fort Erie net against St. Catharines in this file photo, backstopped the Meteors to a shootout win Sunday in Pelham.
Bob Tymczyszyn/Torstar file photo
Goaltender Charlie Burns (33), shown defending the Fort Erie net against St. Catharines in this file photo, backstopped the Meteors to a shootout win Sunday in Pelham.
Home is becoming synonymous with the win column for the Welland Jr. Canadians.
Though entering the week last in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Golden Horseshoe Conference and 21st overall in the 23-team league, they have scored upset victories in each of their last two home games at Welland Arena.
On Sunday, the Jr. Canadians jumped out to a 4-0 lead on the way to a 5-2 victory over the third-place St. Catharines Falcons. Jack Ryan and Matthew Coates, with two each; Cooper Reid found the back of the net and Andrew Welch made 35 saves to give interim head coach Brady Alfeskie, the youngest coach in franchise history, his second win since succeeding Don Herrington as the junior-B team’s bench boss.
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Welland excelled on special teams finishing 3-for-4 on the power play and limiting St. Catharines to one goal in four opportunities with a man advantage.
Zach Mambella and Dallys Hibbert scored for the Falcons who snapped a five-game winning streak and fell to 2-1 versus the Jr. Canadians head-to-head this season.
Alfeskie began 2023-24 as an assistant on Herrington’s coaching staff after playing his last two seasons of junior eligibility with the Jr. Canadians.
Originally from Oakville, he now lives in St. Catharines and is studying business at Brock University. Outside of the classroom, he is now coaching a few players who were his teammates last season
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“Three, four if you count the goalie,” the 21-year-old said.
Since Alfeskie has only too recently been there and done that, the transition to coaching from playing hasn’t been too difficult.
“I just think there is a lot respect that comes with it,” he said of being a former player. “I wore a letter last year so there was a lot of respect in the locker room.
“They know I’m here to help them and win.”
He handled the penalty kill and worked with the forwards as an assistant on the Jr. Canadians staff, and he accepted the promotion to interim head coach as a compliment as well as an opportunity to learn more about coaching.
Does he miss playing hockey?
“At times, yes; at times, no. I don’t miss the back-to-backs, all the injuries, stuff like that,” Aleskie answered. “But at the same I wish I could out there fighting with them.”
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In his first home game coaching his former team, he was awarded the game puck after the Welland defeated the Pelham Panthers 4-1.
“It’s still in my room,” he said with a chuckle.
The Jr. Canadians said he will continue to serve as interim head coach until a new head is named.
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