Feb 01, 2016 | GeoffRead | 669 views
Hawks Explode for Four in Third to Seal Victory
A four-goal third period preceded by a three-goal second allowed the Hawks to outgun West London B4 7-4 Sunday night. The Hawks showed some offensive flash and dash behind a four-point night by Theo Enns, who scored a hat-trick and added an assist, and one goal one assist games from four other Hawks forwards - Callum Knapp, Zach Read, Owen Verberne, and Owen Worby.
Defensively the Hawks played very well until the very last minutes of the game when, with victory assured, the team let up a bit to allow B4 to score two late goals. Still, on the whole the effort was solid all night, and no player was trying harder in his own end and along the boards than player of the game Josh McCarvell, who had one of his strongest efforts of the season, digging for the puck on the boards, using his size to out-muscle the D4 forwards, and keeping B4 star Connor Cunningham to the outside. McCarvell also used his long reach to advantage repeatedly, poking the puck off of B4 sticks.
Brendan Walsh also turned in a strong game between the pipes, using a butterfly style to cover the bottom half of the net and frustrate the D4 shooters. Walsh also made a spectacular save off a nice B4 across the net set-up early in the third, as he went post to post to make a Carey Price-like save and rob B4 of what seemed like a sure goal.
Another highlight of the game was that the Hawks killed off a 1:30 long two man disadvantage in the third period, as Pyper Baker sat in the box for an unlucky tripping call and was then joined by Zach Read who received a phantom penalty for slashing B4 goalie Miigizens Kicknosway. No one could figure out what the call was for but the referee was adamant that a slash had taken place. No matter, the Hawks bore down and killed the penalties with authority, as Enns even managed to complete his hat trick with a short-handed marker from the high slot.
Next weekend the Hawks are back at it with a game during the Superbowl. Fans are encouraged to skip the football and head down to the rink for a genuine display of pure athleticism.