Hawks Suffer Overtime Heartbreak, Deciding Game Upcoming

 

The Hawks were in Portage Sunday with a chance to close out the Central Plains Capitals and move on to the Championship Final Series. The Capitals were obviously hungry to keep their season alive. 

 

The first period saw plenty of great scoring chances. The Capitals opened the scoring almost halfway into the first on a good effort play by one of their defencemen. The Hawks tied things up late in the first when Bree Pearce found Madilynn Frey on a two on one and Frey burried the shot to send the teams to the intermission tied at one. The Hawks enjoyed a 20-12 advantage in shots in the opening frame. 

 

In the second period the Hawks again outshot the hosts 14-11, but neither team could score and the game remained tied at one after two periods of play. The third period saw the Hawks dominate the action, having several shifts with constant pressure and a handful of glorious chances, but they couldn't take the lead. The game remained tied after regulation with the Hawks outshooting the Capitals 63-35. 

 

Overtime started with an early power play for the Hawks. Unfortunately, the Capitals took advantage of a neutral zone draw and earned a dangerous scoring chance of their own. The Capitals' top scorer got behind the Hawks defence and snuck the puck home to give the Hawks a rather heartbreaking loss. Frey was named player of the game for her ongoing strong effort against her former team.  

 

The series is now tied at one game each and the deciding game three will be played in Carman on Friday, March 21st. Come cheer on our Hawks. 

 

Go Hawks

Hawks Open Second Round With 5-2 Victory

 

The Hawks opened the best of three semi-final series on home ice in Carman on Friday night. Their opponents are the Central Plains Capitals, who defeated the Westman Wildcats in three games in the opening round. 

 

This matchup features players who know each other very well as many grew up playing their minor hockey together. The first period was a bit of a sloppy one as the puck seemed to stick to the ice at times. The Hawks jumped out to a great start. Just before the five minute mark Maddilyn Frey moved the puck down low to Kyrah Fillion behind the goal line. Filly threw a pass towards the front of the net that deflected off a Capitals' stick and right to Bella Starling in the slot. Starling fired a good wrist shot low blocker side to open the scoring. Six minutes later the Hawks doubled the lead. Once again Frey helped get things started, moving the puck towards the goal. Rylen Fallis found the rebound and made no mistake in finding the net. The second half of the opening period saw the Capitals have several grade A chances. Their leading scorer made a good play at her blue line and raced in on a clear breakaway, but Charlie Fust denied her to keep the Hawks up two after the first period. 

 

The second period saw lots of action. There were seven minor penalties assessed and four goals scored. Central Plains pulled one back just over a minute into the second off an offensive zone faceoff. They had lots of pressure and took advantage of a scramble to score a nice rebound goal. The Hawks didn't take long to respond. Less than two minutes later Frey created another turnover behind the Capitals' net and Claire Boyd found the puck and quickly wrapped it around and under the goalie. Central Plains cut the lead to one a few minutes later. Fust made the first save, but couldn't direct the rebound away from danger. The Capitals found the net to put the pressure back on the hosts. Late in the second, the Hawks restored the two goal lead on the power play. Frey was active, moving the puck into the slot area. Boyd had a whack at it before Bree Pearce took control and fired home a great shot. 

 

The Hawks opened the final period with the two goal lead, but were killing a penalty to start the period. The Capitals really pushed hard in the third to close the gap. They outplayed and outshot the Hawks in the final frame. Fust was unbeatable down the stretch, making a handful of key saves to protect the two goal cushion. Despite directing 20 shots on Fust, CP couldn't find the net. Gianna Yaschyshyn added an empty netter with an assist from Payton Manness with 48 seconds to play. 

 

The Hawks named Fust player of the game for a truly strong performance between the pipes. Frey deserves an honourable mention for a great effort and helping to set up four goals against her former team. Game two in this series goes Sunday afternoon in Portage at the BDO Centre for the Community. Puck drop is scheduled for 3pm. Game three, if necessary, will be back in Carman on Friday, March 21st at 7pm. 

 

Go Hawks!!

Hawks Sweep Wild, Await Semi Final Opponent

 

The Hawks were back in Carman as the visiting team on Saturday evening with a chance to eliminate the Norman Wild. 

 

The Wild came out strong and played a very competitive opening twenty minutes. The Hawks managed one goal in the first when Claire Boyd opened the scoring. The play started with a good pass up the wall from Rylee Harms to Kylie Williamson who chipped the puck to Boyd. Boyd raced in and fired a good shot to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead after the first. 

 

As the game went on, the Hawks got stronger. They added three goals in the second and four more in the third for an 8-0 win. Charlie Fust earned the shutout and while she only made nine saves, several of them were beauties, thwarting some grade A chances for the Wild. 

 

Hawks goals in the second and third were as follows; 

 

Willow Winslow from Bree Pearce and Sinead Convery

Tenley McLaren from Williamson and Maddilyn Frey

Rylen Fallis from Harms and Bella Starling

McLaren from Williamson and Convery

Winslow from Pearce and Boyd

McLaren completing her hattrick from Gianna Yaschyshyn

And rounding out the scoring was G from Ariel Rondeau and Payton Manness. 

 

McLaren was named the player of the game for her hard work and getting the hattrick. 

 

The Hawks will now await the results of the other first round matchups to see who they will face in the semifinals. That round will most likely get underway on Friday, March 14th in Carman, but that has yet to be confirmed. 

 

Go Hawks

Hawks Open Playoffs With Dominant Victory

 

The Hawks began what they hope will be a long playoff run on Friday night in Manitou. They are matched up in the opening round with the Norman Wild. The Wild had a tough season, but came into the playoffs on a high note, after earning their first win of the season last weekend in the Pas. 

 

The Hawks were certainly the better team on paper and came out showing why they were the top team in the league this season. They outshot the guests 35-2 in the opening period. The first goal of the game was a big one for one of the Hawks. Ariel Rondeau put the puck on net from the blue line and Bree Pearce had a chance on the rebound before Claire Boyd opened the scoring. With the assist on the goal, Pearce earned her 100th career point as a member of the U15 AAA Hawks. The Hawks added three more in the first period. Rylen Fallis scored with assits from Kyrah Fillion and Maddilyn Frey. Gianna Yaschyshyn scored with help from Rylee Harms and Payton Manness. Mia Brass completed the first period scoring with helpers from Yaschyshyn and Manness. 

 

The second period was again dominated by the hosts. They outshot the Wild 27-2 and added two more goals. Yaschyshyn got her second of the playoffs from Sinead Convery and Gillian Rose. Willow Winslow scored the sixth goal with help from Pearce and Boyd. 

 

The third period saw the Hawks blow things wide open. They added 39 more shots and seven goals. Norman's captain managed to find the net twice in the final period.

 

The Hawks third period goals were as follows:

Frey from Harms and Rondeau

Winslow from Pearce and Boyd

Fillion from Convery

Fillion from Harms and Convery

Fallis from Convery and Frey

Rondeau from Pearce and Boyd

Brass from Manness and Convery

 

The Hawks were very happy with the 13-2 victory. The Hawks chose Filly as player of the game for her tenacious effort and for adding a few goals and a helper. 

 

Game Two in the best of three series goes Saturday afternoon in Carman. The Hawks will be the visiting team for this game. Puck drop is at 4:30pm. Come cheer on our Hawks. 

 

Go Hawks