Skyhawks Get A Much Needed Win

By Jacob Robinson

All is good again with the North Bay Skyhawks as they ended their recent struggles Sunday night with a 5-4 over the Smiths Falls Bears. The game was a slugfest but in the end, North Bay got contributions from everyone to pick up the victory.

"We had a good talk yesterday about what it takes to win," Skyhawks coach Kevin Kerr said.

"We never quit. We got down but we stuck to the game plan and everybody bought in. Tonight everybody played the role I expected them to play."

The first period saw a barrage of shots fired at both goalies. A rough start indicated that each team would battle for every inch of ice. The Skyhawks, while on a power play late in the first, would slip up when Bears forward Matt Gordon made a great move around his man and roofed a shot to draw first blood. The Hawks answered right back on the same man advantage just 19 seconds later. Alex Ward snapped one from the shot that beat the Bears Goalie Jody O’Neill on the glove side.

The blue and white would start the second much like they ended the first. Brett Venasse jumped on a puck given away by Andrew Simmons, wound up and fired a slapper home while playing 4 on 4. The Bears then got a lucky bounce off the back boards that went right to Dave Ingimundson who made no mistake to tie it up. Soon after the Bears struck again when Colin Bowie made good on a break away that just slipped under Dominic Leveille.

Kerr was happy with how his team responded.

"We had a couple breakdowns but that’s going to happen over the course of a game," he said.

"I feel that (Smiths Falls) is as good or better than any team in our league." Referring to the crossover with his team playing teams from the CJHL."When we can compete against a team like that it's going to benefit us in the long run."

Kerr’s team would answer right back when Dustin McCrank hit Austin Rugal sending him in on a partial break. Rugal made no mistake getting his first goal as a Skyhawk.

"Finally, its about time," a relieved Rugal said after.

"McCrank made a great pass across the middle. I just saw the corner open and buried one. To get one it’s a big load off my shoulders."

Another great pass set up a Hawk tally late in the second. Justin Roy converted on a perfect feed from Adam Cook to give their team the lead once again.

"It's confidence," The Hawks coach said of his team setting up some beautiful goals.

"I wanted to re-assure guys that we are going to make mistakes. As long as their not because of lack of effort that’s the most important thing."

The Hawks Justin Piquette scored after another Smiths Falls give away to put his team up two which would turn out to be the game winner.

"We took it to them physically and mentally." Rugal stated. "The confidence on this team is tremendous. We have all the confidence in the world that we can take this team to the Dudley (Hewitt Cup)."

Dominic Leveille was sharp making 36 saves for his 10th win of the season. Bears captain Chris Lowe had a quiet 3 assists on the evening giving him a share of the team point lead with 60. North Bay will be on the road for two games later this week then return home February 19th against rival Sudbury.