The Hawkesbury Hawks’ reign at the top of the league pecking order was short-lived. Coming into this week’s action the Hawkesbury Hawks were tied with Carleton Place for the best overall record in the entire CCHL. But after a disastrous weekend, the Hawks find themselves in second place, only two points up on Ottawa, Kemptville, Smiths Falls and Cornwall.

On Friday night, the juggernaut that is the Carleton Place Canadians were in Hawkesbury to take on the Hawks. The Canadians opened the scoring on the powerplay in the second period when William Cullen beat Jacob Standen to make it 1-0. The Carleton Place powerplay struck again in the third period making it 2-0 CP. The Canadians would go on to add an empty netter for a 3-0 final.

Saturday evening the Smiths Falls Bears were in town. It appeared neither team was particularly concerned about defense – it was a shooting gallery out there. Smiths Falls put 19 shots on net in the first period alone, which is one shy of the 20 shots Standen faced against the Gloucester Rangers three games earlier.

Alex DiCarlo finally got to Standen in the second period on the Power Play to make it 1-0 Bears. Domenico Argento unleashed a canon of a shot from the point on the powerplay to even the game at 1-1. Hawkesbury went up 2-1 as Charlie Levesque banged home a rebound. Smiths Falls would add both a powerplay and a short handed goal to make it 3-2 Smiths Falls.

Alex Dicarlo and the Bear’s powerplay were clicking. Dicarlo scored on back to back power plays to complete the hattrick and make it 5-2 Smiths Falls. Jacob Drobczyk would score two power play goals of his own, but it wouldn’t be enough as Smiths Falls won the game 6-4.

The final shots on goal were 52-48 in favour of the Smiths Falls Bears. The two teams will renew their hostilities on Tuesday night when the Hawks travel to the Bear Den in Smiths Falls. Friday the Lumber Kings are in town and on Saturday the Hawks are in Ottawa to take on the Junior Senators.

Cougars shoot down the Rockets

The Vankleek Hill Cougars are back in the win column. The Cougars defeated the North Dundas Rockets 6-1 on Saturday evening. Anthony Vassall was solid in the win. Brenden Rowe lead the way with 2 goals. Tyler Dopelhamer, Maxime Emond, Cameryn Griffiths, and Trystan Lavoie all scored in the win. The Cougars have a pair of home games this weekend as they take on the Cumberland Bandits on Saturday evening and The Gatineau Hull Volant on Sunday.

By Mac Hinton and Jason Jackson 

Title sponsor for Pond Rocket announced 

Pond Rocket is pleased to announce that the King’s Lock Craft Distillery in Johnstown, Ontario has signed on as the title sponsor for the 2017 edition of the Pond Rocket Cup Hockey Tournament in Vankleek Hill. King’s Lock is a locally sourced, small-batch, organic craft distillery that opened it’s doors this past August.  The company produces 1000 Islands Moonshine (rum), Conestaga Gin, Prescott White Rye, and Von Schoultz Vodka. King’s Lock co-owner Joey Kelly has played in the Pond Rocket every year since it’s inception in 2005, and is a two time champion. The King’s Lock Pond Rocket Cup is taking place on Friday March 31and Saturday April 1, 2017 at the Vankleek Hill Community Center. For more information on King’s Lock you can visit their website (www.klcraftdistillery.ca) or follow them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/kingslockcraftdistillery).