It’s a kaleidoscope of colours at the top of the standings after the first four weeks of play in the Vankleek Hill Mixed Softball League.
With identical records of four wins against no losses, the Green, Yellow, and Orange teams are tied at the top of the standings with eight points each. Trailing them are the Blue, Red, and Black teams, each with one win apiece, with the Black team having played only three games. The Maroon, Purple and Grey teams are still looking for their first wins of the season.
Last week’s play saw Yellow top Black 47-23 and Green over Blue 40-22 in Thursday evening play. On Tuesday it was Red 43-37 over Maroon in a very close contest.
This week’s play for Tuesday evening was moved to Monday, June 7, due to a forecast of rain, with Grey scheduled to face the Red team and Purple to take on the Yellow squad. Scores were unavailable at press time.
This Thursday, June 9, Maroon will face off against Blue at 6:30 p.m. and the Green will take on Black beginning at 8:30 p.m. All games take place at the Vankleek Hill Community Centre.
Hawks Quesnel, Klanow off to Potsdam University
Hawkesbury Hawks forwards Jeremy Quesnel and Max Klanow have both committed to the Potsdam University Bears hockey program in New York State University, to study and suit up for the school’s hockey team for the next four years.
Quesnel recorded 16 goals and 21 assists for 37 points with the Hawks during the 2021-2022 regular season and was a key figure in the team’s run to the Central Canada Junior Hockey league finals, scoring 9 goals and adding 5 assists in just 14 games. He also played for the Hawks during the 2019-2020 season, scoring 17 goals and adding 19 assists for 36 points.
Klanow joined the Hawks for the 2021-2022 season and was an important defensive forward for the team, using his speed to shut down the power play of opposing teams and their top forwards. He recorded two goals and six assists during the regular season and added two more goals in 13 playoff games.
Potsdam Bears fans should be very happy with the team’s new acquisitions.
Oilers look dead, Lightning on rise
I had high hopes for the Edmonton Oilers in the National Hockey League’s western finals, but after dropping the first three games to the Colorado Avalanche, it’s not looking good for the last Canadian team left in the NHL playoffs.
Goaltender Mike Smith has looked really shaky in this series, giving up at least one soft goal per game. That will just deflate any hockey team, no matter how well they are playing.
On the bright side, my Tampa Bay Lightning bounced back with a 3-2 home win over the New York Rangers, after losing the first two games on the road. Tampa Bay’s players have the experience and the desire to win the team’s third consecutive Stanley Cup and I’m counting on them to come back over the Rangers and then top Colorado in the finals.
Known as Vankleek Hill’s Sports Authority, Mackenzie Hinton writes regular sports updates on his popular Facebook page. Mac is the statistician for the Vankleek Hill Cougars and Hawkesbury Hawks Junior hockey clubs. His column appears weekly in The Review.
Above and below photos: Action from the Vankleek Hill Softball League. Photos: Reid Masson
