Hawks Squeak Out Victory at Bostwick Arena, News, HL - Minor Bantam - 27, 2018-2019, CHL Bantam (West London Minor Hockey)

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This Team is part of the 2018-2019 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Mar 06, 2019 | GeoffRead | 523 views
Hawks Squeak Out Victory at Bostwick Arena
In the nearly $56 million confines of Bostwick Arena, the West London Hawks Minor Bantam #27 squeaked out a win Sunday night defeating the North London Nationals #17 4-3.

The North London squad had been the only team the Hawks had not beaten this season, so this was a monkey that was nice to get off the Hawks' backs. The victory came courtesy of some very good goaltending by fill-in Liam McQueen (as starter Zach Read was on a rehab assignment in Florida), a nifty hat-trick from #9, and some gritty play when it counted by the Hawks in the defensive zone.

#9 had quite a night, scoring two even-strength and one short-handed goal. All three were pretty but the shorthanded one was the most memorable. #9 and Owen Worby were doing yeoman's work killing a late penalty to Callum Knapp while the Hawks clung to a 3-2 lead. #9 cycled the puck into the left corner to Worby who gave it back to his winger at teh side of the night. #9 moved out front, pulled the puck to his backhand and slipped it on the backhand through his legs. The puck found the five-hole and just like that the Hawks were up 4-2. 

But full credit to North London as they did not quit and got a late marker to pull close to the Hawks. Luckily, after the solid penalty kill the Hawks continued their strategy of "bend but don't break" and clung to victory until the final buzzer.

The fourth goal was the Hawks' second and came from Matt DiCicco on what was, essentially, a nice solo effort early in teh second period. Defender Pyper Baker moved the puck up the boards to Callum Knapp who chipped it to DiCicco in the neutral zone. DiCicco first went wide to the right and then as he crossed the blueline cut back into the centre in an S pattern. As he crossed in front of the net he put a hard wrister on net that beat the Nationals' goaltender.

The other forwards, Nathan Senese who played with Worby and #9, Brendan Walsh who played with DiCicco and Knapp, and a third line of Matt Hodgins with wingers Jack Churney and Cole Chick, also battled hard in this hard-fought game. Likewise, the defence of Baker with Noah Weber and Jacob Grover with Liam Stewart competed in front of the night and generally did not give up a lot of second chances.

So it wasn't a perfect effort from the Hawks, but it was a good one and it ended in a much-needed win.

Go Hawks go!