Scoring was not an issue for the Hawkesbury Junior “A” Hawks this past week, as the team posted back-to-back eight goal outings en route to a pair of consecutive wins.
On Wednesday, the Hawks travelled to Nepean to take on the Raiders for a matchup between teams at opposite ends of the Yzerman Division. Hawkesbury entered the contest in first place in the division with 66 points on the season, while Nepean sat in last place with 24. Befitting the disparity in the standings, Hawkesbury would take a 2-0 lead to start the game courtesy of Matthew Titus and Nicolas Elia. The Raiders would strike back with one of their own to lessen the lead before the end of the first. However, the Hawks would take command in the second, scoring four goals to the Raiders’ one to set the score at 6-2 by the end of the frame. Hawkesbury would add two more in the third for an 8-2 final in their favour. Jeremie Lavalee would pick up a hat-trick and a pair of helpers for five points total on the night, while Matthew Petizian would make 21 saves to get the win in goal.
Next up, on Friday, the Hawks welcomed the Kanata Lasers as they looked to net their second win in as many games. The Hawks’ Luke Grainger would open the scoring early but the Lasers were quick to respond, scoring two of their own to take the 2-1 lead midway through the first. Fortunately for Hawkesbury, they would also have a response, scoring late in the period to tie the game 2-2 heading into the second. The back-and-forth play would continue in the middle frame, with Kanata netting a short-handed goal near the six-minute mark before Hawkesbury would put up two to reverse the lead 4-3 in their favour. Both teams would add another before the end of the period to make it 5-4 Hawks with one period left to play. Despite heavy Kanata pressure, the Hawks’ Patrick Callahan would score his second of the game to give the Hawks the first two-goal lead in the contest. The Lasers would get a chance late, with a power-play in the final minutes but it was Hawkesbury who would capitalize, scoring a shorthanded goal to make it 7-4 with less than two minutes left to play. Kanata would get one just 13 seconds later to close the gap but that is as close as they would come, as Hawkesbury would take the game with a 7-5 final. Eleven different Hawks skaters would have points in the win, including a three point effort (2g, 1a) from Azzaro Tinling. Petizian once again got the win in goal.
The Hawks return to action Friday, February 8 when they host the Ottawa Junior Senators.
Hawkesbury currently sits at the top of the Yzerman Division with 70 points. They trail the Brockville Braves and Carleton Place Canadians who are tied in first in the league with 71 points each.
