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Novelli helps Steelers to 3-2 win Sunday

OBSERVER Photo by Ron Szot Dunkirk-Fredonia’s Nick Novelli makes a save during his team’s WNYCHL game against the Buffalo Explorers, on Sunday at the Steele Hall Ice Arena. The Steelers won the game, 3-2.

When the Dunkirk-Fredonia Steelers needed a goal, they got it from one of the players they will rely on most this season as Mike Meredith scored with 5:30 left in the third period to hold off the Buffalo Explorers, 3-2, Sunday in the Western New York Club Hockey League season opener at Steele Hall.

And while Meredith scored the game-winner, it was the play of goaltender Nick Novelli that kept the Steelers in the game.

It was quite the welcoming to varsity hockey for the sophomore goalie, who finished with 28 saves.

“What a baptism by far for him,” Dunkirk-Fredonia coach Jay Bishop said. “The thing with goalies is they can develop confidence early in a game. He is a sophomore and it’s a tough position for him to be in at this level. I thought he really rose to the occasion.”

In the opening three minutes, Buffalo had a 2-on-1 break, but Novelli made a clean save.

Midway through the opening period, Dunkirk-Fredonia took two penalties giving the visitors a 5-on-3 advantage.

Fortunately, Novelli and the penalty killers were able to keep the Explorers off the scoreboard.

Though Buffalo had more quality scoring chances, the Steelers opened the scoring at the 6:57 mark as a shot from the point was redirected before finding the stick of Carter D’Agostino, who was left alone to the right of the net and put it home for the 1-0 lead.

“I love seeing kids score their first goal of varsity hockey,” Bishop said. “For them, this is the show. He worked hard and he showed me a lot at the (scrimmage) last Friday and earned himself a spot.”

Taylor Mattoon and Zach Rybak were credited with assists on the goal.

The visitors finally broke through in the opening seconds of the second period as Dylan Marciano put a shot on net that deflected off a Steelers’ defensemen’s skate and into the net for the equalizer. Ray Conroy and Josh Kalinowski were given the assists.

During the second period, it was Dunkirk-Fredonia’s turn to try its luck on the power play.

With a 5-on-3 advantage, Nolan Mages skated down the right side and put a wrist shot on net that went 5-hole for the 2-1 lead with 9:17 left in the period. Ryan Thompson had the assist.

“That was a good, hard-working goal,” Bishop said. “He has done a great job for us. He plays with a lot of intensity.”

And after going 5-for-5 on the penalty kill through two periods, the Explorers finally made the Steelers pay as Isaac Murray lit the lamp on their sixth power-play of the game with just :26 left in the second period.

After intermission, the Steelers regrouped and had the visitors on their heels, and finally broke through as Thompson and Meredith started a 2-on-1 break. Thompson, skating down the left side, crossed a pass to Meredith, who put the puck in the top right corner of the net for the eventual game-winner.

“That was a nice 2-on-1,” Bishop said. “Mike went upstairs with it. It was great shot placement and a great pass across. It was good to see that. I think that line needs some confidence. It was good to see them get a goal.”

Going into the contest, Buffalo had a reputation for undisciplined hockey, but it was the Steelers who found themselves in the penalty box throughout the game with eight penalties.

“You will not be successful in this division playing short handed,” Bishop said. “There is no way. We really have to work on some of the penalties. We need to eliminate lazy penalties. Our penalty kill did awesome. They got a lot of work. They really stuck to game plan and did well. The thing about this division is it’s faster. Kids are bigger and stronger and you have less time making decisions with the puck. We ran into that the first period.”

The Explorers had one last chance to tie the game with an extra attacker, but Novelli made two big saves to preserve the win.

“I was biting my nails at the end,” Bishop said. “The kids responded well. It was a good win, but we have a lot to practice on. The competition is so tough. It was a big win for us. I thought a win would start our season. I couldn’t ask for a better result. Now we know what things we have to work on.”

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