Hawks fans have an extra reason to be thankful after the results of the Hawkesbury Junior “A” team’s games this past weekend.
The Hawks won all three of their games played over the Thanksgiving weekend, improving their record to 8-4 on the season.
Their first contest came at home Friday against the Nepean Raiders, in the clubs’ first meeting of the 2017-2018 season and the second game in the Hawks’ temporary home arena in Alexandria. The Hawks would come out flying in the opening period of the game scoring three straight to take a 3-0 lead heading into the second intermission. Zachary Fournier potted two and added an assist, while David Jankowski had one goal and two assists. Nepean would creep back into the game over the course of the next two periods but ultimately, the Hawks held off the visitors to win the game 4-3. Kieran Craig added the fourth goal for the Hawks in the victory.
In their next game, on Saturday, the Hawks travelled to the Canadian International Hockey Academy (CIHA) in Rockland to take on the Brockville Braves. In contrast to their game the night before, the Hawks would pace out the scoring against the Braves. Hawkesbury would score one goal in each the first, second, and third periods to take the game 3-0 for their second win in a row. All three goals came courtesy of Chris Smith, earning him his first hat-trick of the season. Jankowski also picked up three assists, in what would end up ultimately turn out to be an eight-point weekend for the Hawks centre.
Looking to make it a perfect sweep for the weekend, the Hawks returned to the CIHA for a Monday matinee match-up against the Kanata Lasers. The game would prove the closest of the weekend; the Hawks’ Jankowski would score with just over five minutes left to play to tie the game and force the extra frame. The score would remain tied after the five-minute three-on-three overtime period, sending the game to a shootout. Smith would score the only goal of the shootout to give the Hawks the comeback win and earn them a perfect 3-0 streak in as many games.
The Hawks now sit at 16 points, placing them at third in the Yzerman division behind the Rockland Nationals (2nd with 20) and the Ottawa Junior Senators (first with 23). However, the Hawks still hold three games-in-hand on both teams.
Hawkesbury next travels to Cornwall to play against the Colts on Thursday, October 12, before coming to Vankleek Hill for their next home game at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, October 13.
