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Skyhawks fly past Sabrecats (updated)

Skyhawks Dustin McCrank and David Frawley talk with officials during a penalty filled 4-1 Skyhawks win. Photo by Todd Vandonk.


Skyhawks Dustin McCrank and David Frawley talk with officials during a penalty filled 4-1 Skyhawks win. Photo by Todd Vandonk.

A loud crowd of 2,017 fans showed up at Memorial Gardens Friday night to watch the Skyhawks down Rayside Balfour Sabrecats 4-1, in a penalty-filled affair.

The Skyhawks went into Friday’s game rested, and looking to grab two points from the slumping Sabrecats to build their league lead to five points.

Since recording a 3-2 win Jan. 27 versus Abitibi Eskimos, the Sabrecats have failed to register a point in the last five games.

Meanwhile, the Skyhawks rode a two game skid into Friday’s game.

The whistle would blow early and often throughout the game. The chippie play lead to fifty-six penalty minutes. A third period tussle saw Skyhawk’s Dustin McCrank do some dusting of his own on Brodie Wilson.

“I think penalties had an affect on the game. We scored two goals on the power play,” said Coach Randy Edmonds.

Skyhawks connected midway through the first on Tyler Perry power play goal. Despite three Sabrecats man advantages, the Skyhawks took a 1-0 lead into the second.

“We took too many undisciplined penalties as a team," Edmonds admits.

"Due to long shifts, we took lazy stick infraction penalties.”

With the boxes full again, the Skyhawks would take advantage with a man up early in the second. Tyler Perry would net his second of the night, on a nifty wraparound move giving the Skyhawks a 2-0 lead.

Nick Heins put the biscuit in the basket late in the period to draw the Sabrecats to within one after forty minutes.

“After it became 2-1, we stepped it up,” said Edmonds.

“We really took care of business, scoring twice in the third.”

After Dustin McCrank’s inspiring tilt twenty-eight seconds into the third, the energized Skyhawks scored at the 13:43 mark on an Alex Ward point shot, deflating the Sabrecat troops. Chase Gallacher would pot the empty netter with fifty six seconds left to extend the Sabrecats losing skid to six.

Skyhawks sit five points ahead of the Northern Michigan Black Bears for first spot in the NOJHL, and six points in front of Abitibi Eskimos for first spot in the East.

Catch Skyhawks action live next Sunday when they take on Division rivals Abitibi Eskimos. Game time is 7:00pm.

Game Notes: Tyler Perry finished with three points and was name first star. Ian Carlson added two helpers along the way. Frawley, Cappadocia, Pontes, Merson added assist on the night. Between the pipes, Skyhawks Chris Abbey faced 16 shots while Cedric Bradette turned away 33 shots.


Game Summary

First Period
1. NB: Tyler Perry (David Frawley, Ian Carlson) 8:43 PP

Penalties: Brett Venasse NB (ELB) 02:56; Brodie Wilson RB (RO) 06:52; Marc-Andre Rizk NB (RO) 06:52; Wil Callaghan RB (RO) 08:34; Matt Collins NB (USC) 17:17; Dustin McCrank NB (ELB) 17:46; Brendan Foreshew RB (RO) 19:06;

Second Period
2. NB: Tyler Perry (Alex Ward, Josh Merson) 04:33 PP
3. RB: Nick Heins (Ryan Crouch) 17:47

Penalties: Bench NB (TMM) 01:45; Eric Perreault RB (SL) 02:59; Nick Heins RB (CC) 04:05; Chase Gallacher NB (CC) 04:05; Andre Gauvin RB (SL) 06:17; Josh Merson NB (SL) 10:11; Trevor Hulme RB (INTGT) 12:18; David Frawley NB (SL) 15:08; Trevor Hulme RB (RO) 17:47; David Cappadocia NB (RO) 17:47; David Frawley NB (RO) 17:47;

Third Period
4. NB: Alex Ward (Ian Carlson, Tyler Perry) 13:43
5. NB: Chase Gallacher (David Cappadocia, Chris Pontes) 19:06

Penalties: Brodie Wilson RB (FI) 00:10; Dustin McCrank NB (FI) 00:10; Matt Williams RB (INT) 00:28;


Game story by Todd Vandonk, with Files from NOJHL.com

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Chris Dawson

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Chris Dawson has been with BayToday.ca since 2004. He has provided up-to-the-minute sports coverage and has become a key member of the BayToday news team.
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