Hawks Have A Good Weekend In Balmoral (FWSSC) Tourney
The Hawks were in Winnipeg this weekend at the Hockey For All Centre to participate in the Female World Sport School Challenge, hosted by the Balmoral Hall Prep hockey program.
The Hawks opened up play on Thusday by defeating the Interlake Lightning by a score of 6-3 This game would be best described as a physical battle. The Hawks got goals from Casey O'Brien (2), Payton Manness, Sophia Cox, Bree Pearce and Mia Brass. Hannah Bannister got the win making 27 saves. They dropped their second game of the day against the Winnipeg Ice by a score of 5-0. Madison Froese made 36 saves in the loss and really played well.
On day two of the event, the Hawks played one of their best games of the season. They outplayed and outshot the Rink Hockey Acadamy in the first period and were happy to be tied at two after twenty minutes. The Hawks grabbed the lead in the second on an absolute beauty of a goal by Leah Klassen. She fired a zinger snap shot through the defender's legs and bar down to get the fans on their feet. The RHA slowly took over the game from that point on and ended up winning 6-4 with an empty netter. The other Hawks goals were by Clare Boyd (2) and O'Brien. Bannister made 27 saves in the loss.
Day three saw the Hawks face off against several formal teammates, when the Pilot Mound Acadamy provided the opposition. Emotions were running high in this one. Pilot Mound has two players ejected in the opening period. The first was for a hit from behind and the second was the goalie for using her blocker to punch one of our players. The Hawks were the better team all game long. Pilot Mound did have a game earlier in the day, but the Hawks were just firing on all cylinders. We had goals from Cox, Boyd and O'Brien, who contibuted four markers. The Hawks finished third in their pool and earned a consolation game with the Avros for 5th place.
The Hawks grabbed the early lead in the consolation matchup when Klasses stole and puck and burried her chance. The Avros slowly chipped away and ended up winning the game 3-1. The Hawks will take away some good lessons from the weekend. They skated with some of the best teams in MB and held their own. They will look to build on the positives as they start the home stretch of the regular season.
Go Hawks
Hawks Drop Home Decision To Avros
The Hawks hosted the Winnipeg Avros last weekend. Madison Froese was the starting goalie.
The opening period was a wild one with 24 combined shots, including a penalty shot for the guests, but neither team could score.
The Hawks broke the ice early in the second. Mackenna Steeves moved the puck down low to Payton Manness who found Casey O'Brien open in the slot. OB found the back of the net for her 10th of the regular season. The Hawks doubled the lead at the halfway mark of the second. Claire Boyd won an offensive zone draw back to Rylee Harms. Harms moved into a good shooting position and fired a shot on goal. The puck was neatly deflected by Sophia Cox as she skated through the low slot. The goalie had no chance when the puck changed direction. The lead was short lived as the Avros managed to equalize before the end of the second.
The third period was dominated by the Avros as they outshot the Hawks 17-9 and managed three more goals. Several of the goals were very high quality finishes by skilled players.
The Hawks named Steeves as player of the game for producing a solid effort, breaking up several Avros' chances with an aggressive stick and for adding an assist.
The Hawks Sunday matchup with the Ice was cancelled and will be made up during this coming weekend's Balmoral tournament in the city.
The Hawks take to the ice in just over an hour to face the Interlake Lightning in game 1, before meeting up with the Ice at 7:15pm.
Go Hawks
Hawks Snap Four Game Losing Streak With Shootout Win
The Hawks hosted the Interlake Lightning on Wednesday night in Morden. Madison Froese got the call in net for this game. The Hawks were without Mia Brass, who was serving a one game suspension.
The opening period saw the Hawks take the early lead thanks to a beautiful shot from Casey O'Brien. OB took a pass from Delaney Darby in the neutral zone and took a few strides towards the goal, before firing the puck home. Sinead Convery was credited with the second helper. The Lightning took a while to join the party as they didn't register a shot through ten minutes of play. When they did come to life, they scored two quick goals to grab a 2-1 lead that they would keep until very late in the game.
The Hawks were outshooting the guests badly, but just couldn't even the score. They finally broke through with just over three minutes to play. Convery fired the puck deep into the Lightning zone and Payton Manness was aggressive on the forecheck to create a turnover. O'Brien grabbed the puck below the goal line and drove to the front of the net before sniping her second of the game. Bree Pearce picked up the second helper on this goal.
Overtime settled nothing thanks to Froese, who made several huge stops, including a breakaway attempt. This one went to a shootout and things were tied at one after three shooters. Manness tucked a backhand home, while Sophia Cox was stopped and Claire Boyd hit the crossbar. The shootout went two extra rounds with Froese making two stops before Boyd scored the winning goal. Boyd was the player of the game for her tremendous contribution all over the ice.
The Hawks face both Winnipeg teams this weekend. They welcome the Avros to Morden on Saturday at 4:30pm before heading to the Hockey For All Centre on Sunday at 12:15pm to face the Ice.
Go Hawks
Hawks Overpowered By Selects
The Hawks travelled to Niverville on Sunday for a matchup with the Eastman Selects. These teams played last weekend and the Hawks were eager to try to avenge the recent 6-1 defeat. Birthday girl Hannah Bannister got the start in goal.
The Hawks were coming off a good effort in a losing cause against the Avros and Eastman were fresh off a 3-2 overtime loss to the Yellowhead Chiefs. The Hawks had to be nervous that Eastman would come out full throttle on the heels of a home defeat and boy did they ever.
Eastman dominated play from start to finish outshooting the Hawks 38-15 and outscoring them 11-0. Sinead Convery was named player of the game for her effort in the battles, working hard to get pucks out of her zone and for blocking an amazing total of seven shots.
The Hawks will be back in action Wednesday night in Morden when they host the Interlake Lightning. These teams have played some high scoring games this year, so it should be entertaining for the fans. Puck drop is at 7:30pm.
GO HAWKS
Hawks Fall To Avros Despite Strong Effort
The Hawks were at the Seven Oaks Arena Saturday night to take on the Winnipeg Avros. Madison Froese got the start in goal.
The Hawks came out with good jump and were very aggressive on the forecheck. They outshot the Avros 13-7 in the first, but the Avros managed the only goal, a really great shot by their leading scorer.
The second period was an entertaining fast paced frame. The Hawks tied the game after a great shift with almost a minute of offensive zone possesion. All five Hawks touched the puck on the equalizer. Sinead Convery found Claire Boyd who moved it down low to Sophia Cox. Cox rimmed it around the boards to Mackenna Steeves at the point. Steeves' effort was knocked down by Boyd in the slot and her attempt was blocked. The puck fell to Leah Klassen who chipped it up and over the goalie's glove to tie the game.
A major turning point in the game came on a disallowed Hawks' goal. After another strong shift the Hawks had one called back. After a good forecheck on the wall by Ariel Rondeau to force a turnover, Payton Manness drove the puck in hard and moved it behind the net to Chase Braun. Braun found Delaney Darby open at the point and Darby's shot was deflected by Braun in the slot. The ref was standing close to the play an immediately waved it off for a high stick. While watching live it didn't look like a high stick and watching the video after confirms the puck was closer to Braun's waist when she tipped it in. These things happen and the Hawks were forced to move on, being unjustly denied the go ahead goal. The Avros grabbed the lead just after killing off a penalty later in the second. A good forecheck by the penalty killer led to a turnover. The Avros' attempt on net went off the blocker of Froese and into the goal to give the hosts a 2-1 lead, that they held into the second intermission.
The third period saw the Hawks push back to try and tie the game, but two of the Avros skilled seniors found the net to extend the lead to 4-1 with just over six minutes to play. The Hawks didn't quit and pulled one back with just over four minutes to play. An Avros defender threw a puck cross ice in her own zone and Cox picked it off before firing a shot home low glove side. The ref awarded assistes to Boyd and Ella Victor on the play. The Hawks battled hard to the final whistle, but ended up losing 4-2. Klassen was player of the game for a great effort all night long at both ends of the ice. The Hawks are off to Niverville Sunday to meet the Selects who will be extra fiesty coming off a 3-2 home loss to the Yellowhead Chiefs.
GO HAWKS
Hawks Dismantled By Selects
The Hawks were in Niverville last weekend to take on the Eastman Selects. Madison Froese made the start in goal for the visitors.
The Hawks shuffled the lines for this game and the coaching decision paid dividends in the opening period. Sophia Cox picked up a nice pass off the boards from Leah Klassen and fired a good shot into the net to give the Hawks the very early advantage. Despite getting outshot in the opening period 10-6, the Hawks held the one goal lead into the intermission.
The second period saw the Selects push back in a big way. They dominated the play, the quality chances and eventually the scoreboard. They managed four unanswered goals to grab a commanding 4-1 lead after forty minutes.
In the third period, the Selects continued to dominate play, added two more goals and ended up outshooting the Hawks 45-14 on the afternoon.
Froese was a well deserving choice as player of the game, making 39 saves. The Hawks have two games this weekend when they travel to Winnipeg tonight to face the Avros at 7:30pm at Seven Oaks and they are right back in Niverville on Sunday to try their luck again with the Selects for a 4pm game time.
GO HAWKS
Hawks In Giving Spirit Against Ice
The Hawks travelled to Winnipeg the weekend before Christmas to face the Ice. They had home games cancelled in the preceding two days due to poor road conditions. The Ice are always a tough opponent, but the Hawks made things extra easy for the Ice with some pre Christmas generosity.
To spare the painful details, the Hawks were thumped 11-1 and the only bright spot was Mia Brass getting her first of the regular season with an assist from Skyla Hildebrand (who was strong on the forecheck to force a turnover).
The Hawks enjoyed their Christmas break and head back to work on Saturday, January 3rd in Niverville, when they take on the other league juggernaut (Eastman Selects) at 2pm.
Go Hawks
Hawks Stage Epic Comeback to Down Lightning
The Hawks were in Arborg Saturday night to face the Interlake Lightning. The Lightning have only one win this season and it came at the expense of the Hawks in Morden. The Hawks were looking for revenge and Hannah Bannister was given the start in goal.
This game was full of goals. The Lightning opened the scoring after a turnover behind the Hawks net led to some confusion. The Lightning attacker faked to drive behind the goal and when the Hawks defender and Bannister took the bait, she deked back short side and stuffed it in the open net. The Hawks evened the score less than a minute later. Off an offensive zone draw taken by Chase Braun, Skyla HIldebrand took a big hit to get the puck to Mia Brass. Brass found Rylee Harms at the blue line and Harms' innocent shot through traffic, found its way into the back of the net, to make it one goal apiece. The Hawks grabbed the lead with five minutes to play in the first when Bree Pearce grabbed an ill advised pass up the middle of the ice at the Lightning blue line and fired a good shot through the five hole to make it 2-1 Hawks after 20 minutes of action. The Hawks outshot the hosts 13-7 in the first.
The second period saw the Hawks extend the lead on the power play, before the Lightning stormed back to tie the contest. Six minutes into the second, Makayla Warnick won a battle in her defensive corner. Leah Klassen scooped up the puck and moved it cross ice to Ella Victor. Victor gained speed through the neutral zone and made a great move to cut inside the Interlake defender. She put a shot on goal that was stopped, but Klassen was right there to hammer home the rebound to make it 3-1 Hawks. If the Hawks were hoping the Lightning were going to roll over and surrender, they were sadly mistaken. The Lightning got two goals in less than three minutes in the middle of the period to tie the game at three after forty minutes of play. The hosts outshot the Hawks 15-10 in the middle period.
The third period saw the Hawks fall behind when Interlake scored two goals in the first five minutes to really put a scare into the Hawks. They found themselves down 5-3 with fifteen minutes to play on the road. The Hawks didn't panic and came storming back with four big third period goals. Sophia Cox got them to within one just before the seven minute mark. Casey O'Brien was aggressive on the forecheck and moved the puck back to Mackenna Steeves. Her shot was knocked in to the corner where Hildebrand picked it up and moved it to Cox. Cox walked out front and snuck one home to make it 5-4. Just past the halfway point of the period, the Hawks drew even. VIctor made a nice clearing pass off the boards and Payton Manness was quick to jump behind the defence and scoop up a breakaway chance. Her shot found the five hole and the game was tied with with nine minutes to play. Two minutes later, the Hawks grabbed the lead for good. Pearce was aggressive on the forecheck and forced a turnover. The puck made its way to Brass who moved it back to Sinead Convery at the point. Convery's shot was blockered down by the goalie, but Claire Boyd found the rebound and picked out an open Delaney Darby, who fired home the go ahead goal. The Hawks rounded out the scoring a minute later when a relentless forecheck paid off. O'Brien forced a turnover on the boards and Cox chipped the puck to Manness heading towards the goal. Manness made a nice move to the backhand and tucked the puck five hole to make it 7-5 for the guests.
There were no more goals and the Hawks were pleased with their offensive outburst in getting the hard earned two points. Victor was named player of the game for a solid effort all night long, being strong defensively and being the catalyst for numerous Hawks' chances and goals. The Hawks head into a busy weekend ahead. They host the Eastman Selects Friday night before welcoming the Lightning to town Saturday afternoon. To cap things off, they head to Winnipeg Sunday for a game agains the Ice. They will hope to head to the Christmas break with some positive play and hopefully some points for the standings.
Go Hawks!
Hawks Drop Close Decision To Ice
The Hawks welcomed the Winnipeg Ice to Morden on Wednesday night. The Ice were coming off a strong showing at the 2 Nations Prep Tournament in Brampton, losing in the semifinal. Madison Froese got the start in net for this one for the hosts.
The opening period started well for the Hawks as they registered the first four shots on net and were playing with some good jump. Unfortunately, it was the Ice who found the scoresheet first. Off a faceoff in the Hawks zone, the puck found the stick of an Ice forward who fired it home before Froese could react. The Ice extended the lead off a lucky bounce later in the first. A point shot hit a body in front and fell right onto the stick of an open Ice player who had an open net to deposit the puck into. It was the last goal Froese would allow.
The Hawks battled hard and got one back in the second period. A really good offensive zone sequence lead to a Hawks goal. All five Hawks players touched the puck before it found the net. Sophia Cox moved it from the corner to Sinead Convery at the point. Convery went cross ice to her D partner Delaney Darby. Darby's vision found Payton Manness who fired a shot on net. It was saved, but Casey O'Brien was right there to knock home her seventh of the season.
The Hawks came out to start the third with high hopes of tying up the score at least a point on this night. They just find the net again and when the final buzzer sounded, they lost 2-1.
The Hawks are back at it Saturday night when they travel North to visit Santa and will make a stop along the way to face the Interlake Lightning in Arborg, Manitoba
GO Hawks!
