Offensive outburst powers Thorold

By Stephen Dyell

What’s On Thorold

The past two games had been above average for the Thorold Blackhawks.

An average of eight goals per game and a perfect 2-0 record has Thorold flying high with seven games remaining on the schedule as they took it to their rivals across the border 9-1 Thursday night.

“We’ve been working hard the past two games and we are getting rewarded,” Head coach Chris Johnstone spoke of the sudden outburst of scoring from the red, white and black.

Buffalo scored early in the first but died down quickly after. Thorold took advantage of the young squad from America and continued their hot streak finding the back of the net.

Greg Cerilli scored four goals and assisted in one goal in their previous meeting and managed to add two more Thursday, putting his total at 29 goals scored on the season.

Another Blackhawk with the hot stick was Joel Forestell who potted a hat-trick against Buffalo’s Cory Sorrento who faced 50 shots in a lopsided game.

“On the ice, everything is coming together,” Colt Kennedy stated, who recently returned from a foot that had kept him out for the past few weeks. Kennedy was also sporting a “C” on his jersey for the second time this season and will look to lead his men into a tough upcoming schedule.

The Blackhawks play Friday night and then again Monday. They then have a home-and-home Wednesday and Thursday finishing the week with a Sunday night match-up.

Johnstone isn’t deterred by the busy schedule.

“The more you’re at the rink and the more your playing the better it is. You get use to the schedule cause that’s how it is in the playoff playing every other night. It’s going to be a good run for us heading into the end of the season.”

Kennedy has the same mentality heading down to the final games.

“I think if anything it’ll bring the team together. If we manage to go undefeated in the eight games remaining, you can’t ask for anything better,” Kennedy said with his Jr. B career dwindling down to his final spring season.

“Thinking five years ago that I had four years left and now I’m down to a month or two.”

They will look for a month of hockey that continues to be as near perfect as Thursdays heading into the playoffs. With players coming together at the right moments, Johnstone and Kennedy will continue to be content and playing hockey.

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Former Thorold Blackhawk and NHL All-Star Owen Nolan officially retired from professional hockey this week.

A native of Ireland, his family moved to Thorold where he began playing in the Blackhawks association before moving onto the Cornwall Royals of the OHL.

His career then went through eight NHL cities including four All-Star appearances.

While he never captured Lord Stanley, his play earned him a spot on the 2002 legendary Canada team which brought the country together earning a gold medal in Salt Lake City.

Nolan retires to his wife and two kids and will continue his hosting duties on Fish TV.