Hawks Take Full Flight In Tri-County

The Hawks arrived at Tri-County this weekend for their first tournament of the year feeling good after building some much needed confidence by going undefeated in their previous four District 3 league matchups, but knowing they were in for an extremely tough test given the tournament combatants featured the likes of the Grand Lake Wild, and the Oromocto Nuggets (the same team that handed the Hawks a crushing 3-2 loss to open the regular season).

Hawks take on Oromocto Wolves In Opener

The Hawks opened the tournament with another Oromocto team (the Wolves) on Thursday night, and, with only 10-skaters. Trent Haines opened the scoring to get the team on the board, and Keaton MacPhee followed shortly thereafter to move the Hawks up 2-0, but the Wolves turned the tide in the 2^nd, and put a scare into the team by closing the gap to 2-1, followed by a very dangerous chance to tie it up that was, thankfully, turned away on a terrific save by Justin Cronkite. Jonathyn Oland-Simon, however, would put the game out of reach for good by scoring two timely goals ranging up from his defensive position. The contest ended in a 4-1 win that kept the Hawks mojo going, and feeling good headed into Saturday morning’s match-up with Tri-County for a chance at a bye to the Semi-Finals on Sunday.

Player of the game honors was awarded to Trent Haines for his outstanding play (he was ever-present around the opposing team’s net), and the Nackawic Hawks hard hat to Josh DesRoaches for his unbelievable head’s up play from the blue line. If there was ever any Oromocto player trying to break free for a clear shot on our goalie, you can rest assured that Josh was right there to  thwart their chance! Honorable mention to Jonathyn Oland-Simon for his impressive play throughout the game. Not only is he a shutdown defenseman, but he is one of our leaders on the offensive side, as was clearly on display in this contest!

Hockey Morning In Tri-County

The Hawks took the stage Saturday at 8:55 AM against the host Tri-County Rivercats, a team that the Hawks had played the prior Sunday at home (winning 7-1), but were convinced they were not going to take the contest lightly, and it was a good thing too, because Tri-County came with a fierce effort to defend their home rink. The Hawks, for a rare time this season, had all 12 skaters on hand, and went toe-to-toe with their adversary for the full 36-minutes, never letting their foot off the gas until the dust had settled on a 6-0 victory, and a guaranteed place in the second semi-final game on Sunday at 9:10 AM as a result. This game was special to the coaching staff, because, again, contributions came from the entire roster with seven real standouts…

-          Luke McLellan -  who has been so very close to breaking out this season, in many prior contests, finally did just that, and in style, by having his first multi-goal outing EVER! He displayed amazing tenacity in getting to the net throughout the game, and showed great hands and patience when those opportunities arrived. For his efforts, Luke was the clear choice for Player of the game honors.

-          Justin Cronkite – recorded his first shutout of the year. While the defense kept most of the real danger away, Justin was called upon to make a few big saves to preserve that shutout! For reaching this outstanding milestone (in a tournament no less), Justin was the proud recipient of the Nackawic Hawks hard hat!

-          Austin Mills – An imposing figure on the opposing team’s blue line, Austin was rock solid keeping the puck in time after time, and contributed to the team’s goal scoring by pounding the puck at the opposing team’s net. While none of those shots found the back of the net directly, a rebound from one rocket was drilled home by Luke McLellan.

-          Denver Pike – Denver played his heart out the entire game, and got the Hawks on the board first with a tremendous rush that started near the Hawks bench. If you ask him, he will tell you he heard Coach MacPhee yell, “break to the middle, Denver”, and like a great hockey player does, he listened, split the Tri-County D, and hammered home his first goal of the season. With the way Denver has picked up his game of late, the coaching staff knows this is just the first of many to come!

-          Shane Fox – he played possessed along the boards in the opposing team’s zone, and contested every attempt Tri-County made to go by him. Once again, in less than a one week span, hard work, and positional play paid off for Shane, and he notched his second goal of the season.

-          Wade Ruest  - with persistent work along the boards and in the corners, Wade finally got Will Shaw on the score sheet in the tournament with the prettiest feed you will ever see! Wade took the puck on the left side behind the opposing team’s net, found Will open in the slot, and put a pass right in Will’s wheelhouse for a one-timer to the back of the cage!

-          Ramin Imran – tenacious forechecking and back checking was the hallmark of the game for Ramin who came oh so close on a few chances around the Tri-County net!

Goal scorers in the game included Denver Pike, Luke McLellan (2), Will Shaw, Keaton MacPhee, and Shane Fox

Semi-Finals Arrive

The Hawks arrived at the rink for their 9:10 AM Semi-Final game not knowing who their opponent was; only to learn it was the vaunted Grand Lake Wild - a tremendously difficult opponent undefeated in District 3 league play so far this year. But again, those feisty Hawks were not about to back down…they had come too far as a team for that, and they stormed out of the gate taking a 2-0 lead on the strength of two excellent first period goals by defenseman Duncan Christie (at 10:42 – his second of the season), and their Captain Will Shaw (8:54)! But then everything changed, and with each passing moment, Grand Lake seemed to grow stronger. Justin Chronkite was called upon to make save after save on numerous breakaway chances by the Grand Lake Captain Joel Curran, but finally was beaten twice in the second period to see the affair knotted between the two teams by the close of the second period. Things were looking bleak…Grand Lake had all the momentum, but the team huddled together at the bench before the start of the third, and refocused on the task at hand…only 12-minutes from an opportunity at a birth in the final!

It worked!, the team came back at Grand Lake with a flurry, and Keaton MacPhee blistered a low shot in off the left post with 7:29 to play. With Grand Lake still reeling, Jonathyn Oland-Simon gave the team a much needed cushion by scoring just over 1-minute later at 6:27 of the third. Grand Lake was far from done, however, and despite the Hawks playing some of their most aggressive Hockey ever witnessed, they pulled within one on a goal at the 5:43 mark…setting up a furious finish. Grand Lake threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Hawks in that last few minutes of the game, trying to get the equalizer, but, to a man, the Hawks were on a mission, and would not be denied – stifling Grand Lake at every turn! Final Hawks 4, Grand Lake 3!!!

Player of the game honors went to Duncan Christie for his absolutely amazing play! Not only did he get the team out of the gate quickly offensively, but he was virtually unbeatable, both at the opposing team’s blue line, and as he dropped back to steer the dangerous Grand Lake forwards toward the boards. Honorable mention here definitely goes out to Justin Chronkite who, by far and away, had his most spectacular game of this year’s campaign! If it wasn’t for his steadying play in the 2^nd period, the Hawks would have been travelling home early on Sunday! Keaton MacPhee was awarded the Hawks hard hat for his consistent hard work on the ice, and for his timely goal in the third that turned the momentum back in the Hawks favor!

A Chance at Glory and Redemption

After a few hours rest, and a good solid meal, the Hawks were back in action at 12:45 in the Championship game against the Oromocto Nuggets, but the strain of the tournament, on a team with a very short bench, showed with a lethargic start. It took only 17 seconds for the Oromocto Captain (Logan Ormond) to put the Hawks down. A daunting proposition, as the Hawk knew full well, from their 3-2 home loss against this same team a few weeks prior, that goals would come at a premium against Mitchell Stewart (the Oromocto goalie) who completely stole the show in that first match-up. The Hawks did manage to come alive though, and mustered several quality chances, but still couldn’t solve Mitchell after one period of play. Finally a break!!!…Luke McLellan found himself at the left side of the Oromocto net at 10:04 of the second period, pulled the puck free and beat the Oromocto net minder to get the team even.

It was short lived. Logan Ormond broke free, and beat Justin Chronkite at 9:03. Undaunted, the Hawks continued to press hard, and had one series where they seemed to be in the Oromocto zone, and getting quality chance after quality chance, for nearly two minutes straight. Then, with 1:08 to play in the second, Logan Ormond again rushed down the ice with Jonathyn Oland-Simon in heavy pursuit, and driving Logan to the right boards (perfect play Jonathyn!), but Logan threw a beautiful pass over to Oromocto Nuggets #4 Ashton Dickey who deflected it past Justin Chronkite to make it 3-1.

Gut check time! Down 2 late in the game against an amazing goaltender, it looked like the Hawks might be happy to take the consolation prize, but no one told that to Shane Fox or Will Shaw! They watched Oromocto’s pretty passing display, and decided two could play at that game! Shane took the puck along the left boards in the Oromocto zone, got his head up, and fed the puck smartly to an open Will Shaw in the high slot. Will took a few strides in, and tickled the twine behind Mitchell Stewart to make it 3-2 with 50 seconds left to go in the second!

The Hawks huddled again at the bench before the start of the 3^rd, knowing there was only 12-minutes to go, and knowing they needed their very best to have a chance at victory.

They delivered!!! Duncan Christine made a beautiful rush from his D position...

...and pushed hard to the Oromocto net. Mitchell Stewart was up to the task, stopping Duncan’s point blank shot, but the puck was free in the crease and Keaton MacPhee, who had been driving to the net behind Duncan on the slightest chance of a rebound, was rewarded for his effort, and put a backhand into the open cage, knotting the game with 11:14 left to play!

3-3 –Back in it! The Hawks, tired or not, approached the rest of the game with incredible commitment and passion; determined not to let the dangerous Oromocto players free. Anywhere Oromocto turned with the puck, they were sure to have two Hawks right there with them stride for stride. About midway through the third it looked like Ramin (sporting his brand new stick bought the day prior) had put the Hawks in front with an amazing one-timer, but Mitchell Stewart was there once more with an incredible left pad save.

Then, a signature moment in the game…with but a few minutes to go, an Oromocto player broke free from the Hawks defense, and crossed the Hawks blue line on what might have been a game ending play, but Luke McLellan seemingly came out of nowhere on the back check to quell the opportunity. That play was significant, because it was only a few moments later, with the puck along the right boards inside the Hawks zone, where Luke and Josh DesRoaches out dueled Oromocto for the puck and sent it free for Keaton MacPhee, who skated parallel to the blue line to avoid an Oromocto checker, before turning up the middle of the ice, and splitting the Oromocto defensemen. With a mere 2:18 remaining in the contest, Keaton was able to set and fire a shot that eluded Mitchell Stewart low to the blocker side, and elated a crowd of pro-Hawks supporters that had been on the edge of their seats all day!

It was their first lead of the game, but one they would never relinquish. Oromocto tried to pull out all the stops to send the affair to overtime, but the Hawks held their ground, finishing the rest of the game hemming Oromocto in their own zone, and not allowing them an opportunity to pull their goalie for the extra attacker.

The player of the game honors this time went to Keaton MacPhee, who scored the tying and winning goals, and the hard hat belonged to their Captain Will Shaw (also the recipient of this week’s Robin’s Donuts player of the week!). Will was injured in last Sunday’s Home game, needing to miss the following practice, but got back to health just in time to lead his team to a Championship, and lead he did logging a grueling number of minutes throughout the tournament.

CONGRATULATIONS HAWKS…WE KNEW YOU WERE CHAMPIONS, BUT NOW YOU HAVE THE BANNER AND HARDWARE TO PROVE IT!!!

Looking forward to more good things to come Hawks!