HAGERSVILLE –The Hagersville Hawks were looking for a win to put under the tree in the last Jr. C game before Christmas on Sunday evening at 5:30, in Glanbrook. Santa left them a 3-2 lump of coal instead.
The Hawks are one point above .500, falling back to sixth place heading into the short Christmas break with a 14-14-1-0 record.
Sunday, Hagersville’s Jason Soloman scored first with 3:37 remaining in the first period, assisted by Bailey Fletcher and Jacob Brown. Glanbrook’s Curtis Edward scored at 4:20 of the second, which Derek Friesen answered at 7:56 with a short-handed effort. Jacob Comley scored the tying goal before the second period ended.
Hagersville outshot Glanbrook in the third, but it was the Rangers’ Garnet Batrynchuk who put the only goal up, which stood as the game winner at 15:04.
The Hagersville Hawks inched past Niagara into 5th place after defeating the third place Dundas Blues 6-4 at the Hagersville Arena Saturday night. The Hawks rode on a solid 3-0 first period where Mitch Green, Derek Friesen and Jonathan Pace all scored, and goalie Jonah Capriotti kept the Blues off the score board towards the final victory.
Green made Dundas pay with a powerplay goal after a warm-up violation put the Blues down a man as the game began. Dan Mederios and Cole Martin assisted at 1:56. Matt Rimac, John Montour and Lucas Rimav also earned first period assists.
Mederios struck early in the second period to add to the Hagersville lead at the 48 second mark. Dan Pugliese was tossed after a head checking major and automatic game misconduct. On the ensuing Dundas Powerplay, the Blues were on the board. Cam McConnell made it 4-2 after 40 minutes of play.
Dundas drew within striking distance at 2:50 of the third but Green answered to preserve the two-goal edge. Kevin Jackson took advantage of a Hagersville miscue to made it a one goal game again and pulled in the last minute to gamble on the extra man. It failed, as Friesen capped it off with an empty net goal with one second remaining.
After the five-day Christmas break, the Hawks we be back in action Saturday, Dec. 27th when the Dunnville Mudcats visit Hagersville. Sunday the 28th, the Hawks fly down the Plank Road to Port Dover to face the Sailors.
