Hawks one step forward and one step back

HAGERSVILLE – The Hagersville Hawks continue to take one step forward and another step back in the Jr. C standings after winning 6-4 in Dunnville Friday, followed by a 3-1 loss Saturday night at home.

Saturday, Dec. 3, the Hawks looked good in the first period posting a 1-0 lead with Derek Friesen converting a Jacob Harrison pass at 17:03.

In the second period which the Hawks should have added to their lead, outshooting the Sailors 16-6, Dover’s Eric Mueller evened the score at 1-1 heading into the third.

That’s when it all unravelled for the Hawks as frustration turned into fighting Game Misconduct penalties ejecting Clayton Millard and an unnamed new player in a sailor’s uniform. Then Jacob Harrison blew off at the on ice officials and was tossed at 10:11.

All of this extra-curricular activity, plus goalie Andrew Hawkins stoning Hagersville shooters, seemed to distract the Hawks who gave up two third period goals, one of them on a Port Dover powerplay. Michael Boating and Conner McLeod were the Dover marksmen.

The night before there was more focus and better results in Dunnville against the Jr. Mudcats.

Referee Adam Harris kept himself busy assessing a number of aggression penalties against both teams and four of the period’s five goals were scored on the powerplay.

After Matt Dolan scored for the Mudcats with Hawks’ Nick Chiarot serving a cross-checking penalty, there were chances both ways but nothing more until late in the period when the penalty parade swung in Hagersville favour. Isaac Taylor and Derek Friesen cashed in on extra man goals 27 seconds apart to take a 2-1 lead. But two more Cat’s goals late in the frame put the Hawks behind 3-2.

Coach Scott Hill settled his team down between periods and the Hawks began to take flight with steady, consistent pressure.

Hayden Smith evened the score with an unassisted effort at 7:21 and Tanner Brennecke adding another from Jacob Harrison at 18:11.

Dunnville’s Riley Quesnelle made it 4-4 at the halfway point of the third period but Matt Weston prevented a Dunnville rally quickly scoring what would be the game winner from Friesen at seconds later and later found the empty net at 19:02 for the final goal in the 6-4 win.

After weekend games, Derek Friesen tops all Hagersville scorers with 14 goals and 24 assist for 38 points in 22 games. Matt Weston is next with 16 goals and 13 assists for 29 points in 22 games.

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