Hawks celebrate Minor Hockey Day
Sat., Dec. 2 was Minor Hockey Day in Winchester, and the Hawks had a full afternoon of activities planned. The afternoon began with player autographs, followed by kids’ activities, and later, their game against the Embrun Panthers, where kids under 16 were admitted free of charge if they were wearing the hockey jersey of any team. The Hawks capped off the day with a float they decorated themselves for the Parade of Lights. When asked about the importance of Minor Hockey Day, team Captain Dillon Clemen of Morewood said, “I think it’s good that we give back to the kids who always come to our games, the same kids are here every Friday night. It’s nice to do something for them.”   O’Donohue photo

Jeff Moore
Record Staff
WINCHESTER – The Winchester Hawks had two games this past weekend as they welcomed the Richmond Royals on Friday night and hosted the Embrun Panthers on the Hawks’ /North Dundas Demons’ Minor Hockey Day.

Panthers 4 Hawks 3 (OT): The Hawks welcomed the Embrun Panthers to the Joel Steele Community Centre on Sat., Dec. 2, in the CCHL2. The Hawks were coming off a tough 4-2 loss to the Richmond Royals the previous night and looked to get back in the winning column against the Embrun Panthers who they beat in their last matchup 4-2.

The Panthers were coming off a big 5-1 win over the Ottawa West Golden Knights in an important four-point game but still sat in fourth place in the Martin Division now three points ahead of the Knights.

The Panthers opened the scoring at 9:59 of the first period when Jeremy Barrie blasted one to the back of the net from Joey Larcher and Lucas Roy to take a 1-0 lead.

The Panthers outshot the Hawks 21-3 in the opening period but took only a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. The Hawks tied the game when Kyle Kuehni snapped one home from Hunter Randell at 4:52. The Panthers retook the lead at 8:59 when Lucas Roy bulged the twine from Mark Morrison but the Hawks answered at 16:12 as Dakota Seaman sniped one from Jeremy Fidaoui and Kieran Gaynor.

The teams took a two-all stalemate into the second intermission. The Panthers took the lead for the third time as ex-Hawk Grifffin Patterson snapped one home from Michael Armstrong on the power play at 4:55 of the third period. With time winding down in regulation, the Hawks’ Joel Driscoll tied the game with 1:59 remaining from Joey Driscoll.

Neither team was able to pick up the win in regulation so the game headed to a three-on-three overtime period. The Panthers’ Larmer ended the game at 2:22 when he sliced one past the Hawks’ goalie from Sam Tremblay and Lucas Roy. The Panthers took the game 4-3 but the Hawks did pick up a point and moved to within four points of seventh place.

The Panthers moved back to within four points of the Casselman Vikings for second place. Picking up the win in the Panthers’ goal was Jean Sebastien Gratton making 23 saves on 26 shots and suffering the loss in the Hawks’ goal was Brent Pledge Dickson making 42 saves on 46 shots.

Royals 4 Hawks 2: The Hawks welcomed the Richmond Royals to the Joel Steele Community Centre on Fri., Dec. 1, in the CCHL2. The Hawks sat at the bottom of the pack of the Martin Division but have seen a resurgence as of late with three wins in their past five games.

The Royals sat five points ahead of the Hawks in a two-way tie for sixth place but held five games in hand. The Royals opened the scoring at 12:03 of the first period on a power play to take a 1-0 lead and made it 2-0 at 14:12 taking that lead into the first intermission.

The Royals made it 3-0 at 10:28 of the second period but the Hawks replied with a goal at 16:34 as Neil Gummeson slapped one home from Dillon Clemen and Kieran Gaynor. The Royals took the 3-1 lead into the second intermission. The Hawks got to within one as Gummeson scored his second of the game from Joel Driscoll and Joey Driscoll at 17:22 to make it 3-2.

With time winding down in the final frame, the Hawks pulled their goalie in favour of an extra attacker and put the pressure on the Royals but with four seconds remaining the Royals found the abandoned cage at the far end and took the game 4-2. Suffering the loss in the Hawks’ goal was Darien Johnson making 35 saves on 38 shots.

Up next: Fri., Dec. 8, 8:15 p.m., Hawks vs. Perth Blue Wings, Joel Steele Community Centre, Winchester; Sun., Dec. 10, 1:15 p.m., Hawks vs. Renfrew Timberwolves, Joel Steele Community Centre.