Nov 24, 2018 | GeoffRead | 222 views
Stingy Hawks Stymie Bandits
The West London Hawks Major Atom A4 bounced back after a tough loss in their last game to romp to a 6-1 win over the Bandits B4. Key to the Hawks' success continued to be their league best defence, which kept the Bandits' chances to a minimum and allowed goaltender Kayden Keating to lower his goals against average to a minuscule 2.36.
Many Hawks had gawdy offensive numbers in this game, but it was the hard-working effort of right-winger Maria Fernanda Pimentel that was recognized by her coaches with player of the game honours. Pimentel improves each time out and in this game was rewarded with two assists including one on a nice feed to Kaelen Walsh who buried his second goal of the season for the Hawks' fifth goal. Pimentel consistently outbattled Bandits, forechecked hard, and drove the net.
Another hard worker in the match was Andre Prato-Duran, a defenceman by trade who took his turn up front and played his off wing on the right side. Prato-Duran matched Pimentel with two assists as well as a reward for his hustling play throughout the game.
Aiden Hayes, the team's best offensive defenceman, broke through in this match as well notching his first goal of the season. Hayes did an excellent job all game long of getting shots on net from the point but, ironically and unusually for a defenceman, scored on a breakaway.
The other defenders, Paul Steele, Gregory Nicolis, and Brandon Miles, had quietly effective games and made a notable contribution, in particular, by keeping the puck in at the point to keep the pressure on the Bandits. As a group the defence also moved the puck well connecting on their breakout passes.
The offensive stars of the game were Connor Devlin, who continued his breakout season with a goal and three assists, Nathan Mason who got two goals, Owen Askew who recorded three assists, and James Nielsen who had two goals and an assist. With this kind of offensive depth, the Hawks were able to more than make up for the absence of playmaker and mucker Zoe Read and able puck moving defenceman Anderson Watt.
The reigning player of the game Troy Price was the only forward to be held off the scoresheet. But this is a good example of why offensive statistics don't tell the whole story: Price along with Nielsen might have been the best Hawks' forward in the game in the "2 way play" category. On offence he was driving the player carrying the puck into the the Bandits' end and buzzing around the zone. And, perhaps even more importantly, he backchecked hard and broke up several Bandits' rushes.
Go Hawks go!