Nov 27, 2019 | jdisher | 531 views
A Buti Goal Wins It
The Welland 91.7 Giant FM/Country 89 Tigers are so replete with talented players it's easy to overlook some of them on occasion. Chace Buti, tonight's coaches' selection as player of the game, is a perfect example of this; a very quiet, hard-working team player who just blends into the fabric and let's his play do all the talking. Since the St. Thomas tournament, however, his play has really increased its voice and everyone is starting to take notice.
Chace faced a steep learning curve, having to adjust not only to hockey at the "A" level but also to a new position, having played defence in house league last season and he is now lined up at centre. Through perseverance and excellent coachability he has improved greatly since the beginning of tryouts and now that the second half of the schedule is upon us, he can confidently say that this is the level where he belongs.
Buti, assisted by Jonah Bello and Mason Risto, scored the game-winning goal against the Stoney Creek Warriors with 3:26 remaining as Welland improved to 13-0-2 in minor peewee A league play with a 2-1 win on Wednesday night at the Welland Main Arena.
The Warriors opened the scoring three-and-a-half minutes in on Henry Allen's goal that was set up by Angela Liu and George Walsh before Julian Belcastro countered four minutes later to knot the game at one on helpers from Tyler Laszlo and Bello.
Some very long shifts and occasional undisciplined play from the home side likely kept this game closer than it should have been but in the end the Tigers pulled out the victory to remain unbeaten in divisional play.
Welland's penalty-killing was perfect on the night, holding the Warriors scoreless on three opportunities. The Tigers only had one chance at the powerplay and it was not successful.
The team now heads to Cobourg for the Northumberland Silver Stick Regionals this weekend and once again will face a tough tournament draw. Their opening game on Friday morning at 10:30am is against the 2nd-ranked Orillia Terriers, while they square off against the 21st-ranked Clarington Toros in a 5:30pm matinee. Saturday morning sees the Tigers rise early to face the 11th-ranked B team in Ontario, the Russell Warriors.