By Bernd Franke/St. Catharines Standard
Two Niagara Falls natives committed to putting their hometown back on the national map for junior hockey are co-recipients of the Doug Austin Memorial Award as sportspersons of the year.
Frank Pietrangelo and Brandon Boone, co-owners of the Niagara Falls Canucks since 2022, moved the team to the junior-A Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) as an expansion franchise the following summer after 52 seasons competing in the junior-B ranks, most recently in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.
They received their award Wednesday night at the 44th Volunteer Recognition Awards held at The Exchange Cultural Hub & Market behind the Niagara Falls Museum on Sylvia Place.
“We’re Niagara Falls born-and-bred guys, we’re proud to be Niagara Falls Canucks owners and to give back to the community,” Pietrangelo said.
He concluded his short acceptance speech by promoting the hometown team’s next home game.
“So everybody out there, Friday night, seven o’clock, Gale Centre.”
Boone was at a loss for words in his remarks.
“Some would say that I never met a microphone that I didn’t like, but I have to admit I am woefully unprepared for this honour today,” he said.
The team dates back to 1971 and Pietrangelo and Boone first became involved with the Canucks in 1979-80. Boone pointed out Tony Baldinelli, now a Niagara Falls city councillor, and Pietrangelo played for the team and Boone’s father Al coached the team
“Since then, we’ve been huge fans and I’ve had the privilege of being involved with that great organization,” Boone said. “It’s true what they say, ‘If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.’
“And Frank and I are just the biggest fans, absolutely love what we do.”
Boone added that he and Pietrangelo are “huge hockey fans, but we’re huge fans of the City of Niagara Falls.”
“We really, really appreciate this honour.”
Pietrangelo, a one-time Canucks goaltender who went on to win a Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991, acquired the team in 2014 and soon began finding out he had difficulty competing as a junior-B team for prospects. Every year he began losing “top guys” to junior-B.
He lamented 16- and 17-year-old players shouldn’t have to move up to 20 hours away from home to play junior-A while there are two junior-A leagues in northern Ontario, one in eastern Ontario and one that includes Greater Ontario Area and central Ontario. The southwestern part of the province, including the Golden Horseshoe, is the only part of the province that does not have junior-A.
The Canucks’ move to the OJHL also means a junior team from Niagara Falls can compete for a national championship for the first time since the Ontario Hockey League’s Niagara Falls Thunder became the Erie Otters at the beginning of the 1996-97 season.
In junior-B, the Canucks captured Sutherland Cup championships in 1996 and 1998 but that is a league title, not a national one.
Now that they are playing in the OJHL, the Canucks are eligible to play for the Centennial Cup, which is awarded annually to the winner of a 10-team round-robin that includes champions from nine leagues across Canada as well as the host team.
Since joining the OJHL as an expansion team, the Canucks co-owners have brought (the OJHL Governors’ Showcase) to Gale Centre featuring all 24 teams in the league in addition to pro scouts and college recruiters.
First presented in 1982, the Doug Austin Memorial Award honours the memory of a man who served as Niagara Falls Review sports editor for more than 30 years.
In all, 51 awards were presented at a ceremony that Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati said celebrates the people and organizations that give so much back to the community.
“Volunteers always say the same thing, ‘I don’t do it to be acknowledged, I don’t do it to be recognized,’” Diodati said. “It’s maybe sometimes more for us than it is for you. It makes us feel good to be able to say ‘Thank you’ in a public setting, to draw attention to the efforts that you put in for our city.
“It’s part of the reason that we live in the best city anywhere. Volunteering is the backbone of our community, it’s a great place to meet new friends.
“It’s also a wonderful way to build a strong and caring connected community.”
He said besides helping to reduce stress by keeping active, volunteering also gives people a sense of purpose.
“It’s sometimes the reason to jump out of bed.”
Diodati recalled a neighbour who was shovelling snow well into his 90s.
“You know what he used to say to me? ‘It’s better to wear out than to rust out,’” he said. “And, you know what, I live my life in the same way.
“I want to make sure when I’m done, the gas tank is empty. I’m going to slide into home.”
Bernd Franke is regional sports editor for St. Catharines Standard, Niagara Falls Review and Welland Tribune.
Story and photo reprinted with permission of the Niagara Falls Review
