Jan 03, 2018 | Bryan Box | 1110 views
Novice White- Hespeler Olympics
The Novice White Hawks celebrated the holidays and participated in the 51st Annual Hespeler Olympics. This holiday traditional allowed the Young Hawks to showcase their talents in front of their extended families over the festive season.
The Hawks began the tournament against the White Winterhawks from Milton. This top tier team was a tough challenge, especially coming off the holiday break. They were lead by a strong defensive core and one of the top goalies in the area. The Hawks started slow and found themselves in quick 2-0 hole after the first. The Milton goalie was on top of his game displaying several high quality saves including an outstanding glove save as the Hawks mounted a comeback. The Hawks showed some comfort with the blue puck and struck back in the second to even the score at 2 a piece. In the third as the Hawks pressed to take the lead the Milton defence held tight and the Hawks were unable the capitalize on some chances. The final score was 4-2 in favour of the Milton team.
The second game of the tournament had the Hawks facing the host team from Hespeler on on their home ice. The crowd was outstanding as the cross town rivals traded chances in the first period. In the second frame, the Hawks asserted their high pressure forecheck and attack which the Shamrocks were unable to hold off. When the final buzzer sounded the Hawks were victorious 5-2 levelling the Hawks' record at 1-1 after day one.
Day two had the Hawks facing the Guelph Gryphons in the morning. The high powered offence that started to appear the day before exploded as the Hawks were on the board for 12 goals. This provided ample support to the Hawks goalie who was playing his first complete game of the season. Although the Gryphons' pressed late to break the shutout the coaches were pleased with the focus and performance from the net-minder and the Hawks finished with a 12-2 win.
In the afternoon, the Hawks controlled their own destiny as they faced a desperate team from Orangeville, in a "win and you are in!" game. The atmosphere was electric at Karl Holmuth as the teams traded chances early in the first. The eventual winning goal was pushed across the line showing that the message on the bench to "play to the whistle" was put in force. As Orangeville tried to even the score the Hawks continued to take advantage of the openings, securing their place in the semi finals with a 7-3 victory.
In the semis the Hawks faced their only loss of the tournament, a rematch against the Milton Winterhawks on the big ice in Hespeler. The Hawks started the game with several chances including three breakaways but again were unable to beat the Milton goalie. As the Hawks continued to press, some uncharacteristic defence lapses lead to the Hawks trailing 3-0 after the first. The second was a back and forth affair with neither team able to light the lamp. In the third the Hawks again pressured to get back into the game and exposed themselves once more allowing the Winterhawks to secure a finals appearance and sending the Hawks home with a 6-0 loss.
The coaches were pleased with the play showcased after the break. Not only did the team battle back after a tough loss in game one but, continued to make the coaches instructions on the bench -reality on the ice. This was a great end to 2017 and an exciting forecast to 2018. The Hawks are eager to get back to work.