Hawks FINALLY Meet Mac Attack - January 10, 2014 by Jeff Shaw

After much speculation through the Fall about the Oromocto Big Mac Attack team, the Hawks finally met them on January 10 on their home turf.  Unsure of the other team but confident in our ability, we hit the ice and started to test the waters.  Our first few chances proved what we suspected- the Oromocto goalie was STRONG, with good coverage and quick reflexes.  This was not going to be easy…I hear “let’s try the blocker, what about low shot, high shot?” but nothing is going in.  Finally with only 5 minutes left in the first period, a near miss shot by Will Shaw rebounds hard off the boards behind the net and back out onto Denver Pike’s stick.  Denver makes no mistake hammering the rebound into the back of the net to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.  But it wouldn’t last, and less than a minute later Onyx Durling rifles a bullet past a reaching Justin Chronkite to tie the game.

Period 2 passes with both teams having several chances but no goals.  Our goaltenders are on fire! With support by the defense on both teams, all chances for scorers are shut down with great saves on both ends, what a game!

Period 3 arrives and Determination pays off!  A neat pass out front by Will Shaw to Luke McLellan finds Luke ready and no chance for the goalie to even react as the puck hits the back of the net and I mean HARD.  All the practice on positioning pays off to put the Hawks ahead again.  Less than a minute later and positioning pays off again as Trent Haines delivers on a pass from hard fighting Ramin Imran in the corner.  Wow, it really does work like we practice! 3-1 and our Hawks are starting to breath a little easier…maybe too easy as a breakaway by Oromocto forward Brandon Lemieux finds the back of the Hawks’ net.  Six minutes to go and a 3-2 lead forces the Hawks into hard action to defend the lead.

The minutes tick by and the tension builds on several breaks by the Mac Attack, testing Justin Chronkite but not beating him.  The Oromocto goalie successfully defends on numerous shots as well keeping the Mac Attack in the game and fighting hard.  Finally the clock winds down and the Hawks win the match!  Well done Hawks...

 Hard Hat winner in this one was none other than Shane Fox who impressed throughout the game with his commitment to fierce forechecking and defensive zone coverage. Way to go Shane!