Feb 12/16 vs Westman Wildcats

Playing the postponed match that was supposed to have been played on Sunday Feb 7th, the Hawks hosted the Westman Wildcats at 7:30pm in Manitou. With pressure on the Hawks to try and secure second place, the Wildcats were in a race themselves, vying for third place overall in the MFMHL, bringing an added level of anticipation to this match up. Both teams seemed eager to get off to a good start and the crowd was entertained with some exciting back and forth action. The Hawks played well, both forechecking and defensively, and Halle was key in net, making some great saves. The Hawks started managed to get on the board first, with a great passing play. In the Westman zone, Mackenzie Hutchinson knocked down a clearing attempt and after corralling it, threw it to the middle of the ice where Makenzie McCallum picked it up. Without hesitation, Makenzie no-look passed it cross ice to her left to a wide open Chelsea, who slammed the puck into the yawning cage, giving the home crowd a reason to cheer. That goal came at 16:28. Then, at 10:04, the Hawks would do it again, this time it would be Katie, the recipient of a wide shot on goal by Jenai, when it bounced hard off the end boards, Katie swooped in and knocked the loose puck into the net, for her first of the contest. Drawing the assist were Jenai and Chelly. There was no other scoring in the first, as the shots registered 13-12 in favour of the home team. The second period would feel like a different game altogther. At about the 12 minute mark, the Hawks were seen trickling out of the dressing room. In all seriousness, the Hawks were badly outplayed. The Wildcats played with desperation and were rewarded, albeit with two unfortunate goals against Halle. Both goals were deflections that she really had no chance on, but they count nonetheless, and the visitors had tied up the game with 3:43 left in the second. The Hawks managed only four shots on net in the second, compared to 22 for the Wildcats, but one of those four shots was a goal. Jenai restored the Hawks one goal lead with 56 seconds remaining in the frame, as she too benefitted from a deflection, with her shot, walking in from the point. Getting the helpers on that powerplay goal were Megan and Katie. In the third, the Hawks desperately clung to that one goal lead as Westman continued to carry a bulk of the play. Halfway through the third, Westman would tie the game up on some very smooth passing in the corner and into the slot. Halle made a valiant attempt to stop the free Wildcat, but a nice shot did beat her, knotting the game back up at three a piece. The game remained 3-3 at the end of regulation, which forced the always exciting four on four overtime period. No goals were scored in OT, so a shootout would be needed to decide a winner. Ashton Bell was first up for Westman, but Halle easily stopped her. The Hawks' first shooter was Katie who went to her backhand, but came up short. Halle wasn't fooled by the second shooter as she poke-checked the shooter to make the save. Sage was up next for the Hawks, but her shot was gloved down by the Westman netminder. The third Wildcat shooter tried a deke, but Halle read it all the way, stopping the third shooter. Lindsay tried going high, blocker side, but the Wildcat goalie made a good save up high on her. Westman sent Bell in for another attempt and as she went from Halle's right to left, Halle had her covered all the way and made a great pad save to stone her once again. Hannah Petrie got the nod next, and as she moved in, she wired a shot that just missed the top glove side, keeping the shootout alive. The next Westman shooter almost got Halle to bite on a fake, but a last ditch attempt by Halle sticking out her left pad, kept the puck out again. Getting a chance to redeem herself, Katie was asked to go again. This time as she sped in towards the net, Katie kept her feet moving and quickly snapped a wrister through the five hole giving the Hawks the victory and the extra point in the standings. Westman would badly outshoot the Hawks, 45-27, but would fall short as the home side skated off with the W. Halle made some terrific saves in her 42 save performance. 

Next up, the Hawks take on the Norman Wild, Saturday Feb 13th in Morden, at 2:30 pm. A win at home on Saturday would clinch second place overall in the standings.