Skyhawks drown Isles

Story by Michelle Baril

With a 9-4 win against the Manitoulin Islanders Sunday night, the Skyhawks soared into first place in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.

Goaltender Andre Laperriere took notes from fellow netminder and teammate Ian Wilson as he made his Skyhawks debut between the pipes helping the Hawks kill off four penalties in the first, plus Nick Brunette's 10 minute major for fighting.

Four minutes into the first, former Brampton Battalion forward John Seymour skated end to end and slid a slick pass from the hash marks over to AJ Shiverdecker in the slot for the first goal of the game. Brad Norkum also added a goal with the assist coming from Dustin Fummerton to give the Hawks a two goal lead going into the second.

The second period opened up, and saw six pucks hit the back of the net, five going behind Manitoulin netminder Ben Caneba. Half way through the second, Darren Moses rifled one, high glove side past Laperriere to put the Isles on the board.

After North Bays Mike Lawlor snapped the 'Hawks seventh goal of the game, Manitoulin attempted to change thier predestined outcome by summoning backup goalie JJ Gargour. Gargour didn't fair much better, allowing two more goals before the game was put to rest. Late in the second the Hummel brothers combined to score goal number eight. Tyler took the feed from older brother Brad and skated in to jam the puck past Gargour.

Once again the Skyhawks defense crashed in the third allowing the Islanders back into the game where they scored three of their four goals.

"We pressured them for the first forty minutes and I would have liked a one on the board instead of a four but our guys worked hard, and if we played like we did for the first two periods we'll be in good shape," said Skyhawks Head Coach Darren Turcotte.

The Skyhawks look to extend their division lead against the Soo Thunderbirds as they face the Abitibi Eskimos in a home and home this Wednesday and Friday.