Skyhawks hammer Jr. Wolves

Story by Michelle Baril

The North Bay Skyhawks are a team of talent, perseverance, and class; they proved all three Sunday night in their 7-3 shellacking of the Sudbury Junior Wolves in NOJHL action.

After coming off a 4-2 loss versus the Soo Thunderbirds Friday night, the ‘Hawks came out hitting, skating, and creating chances. North Bay started the first period with 10 shots, four goals, and had Sudbury goaltender Joey Delwo replaced all before the Jr. Wolves registered a shot on ‘Hawks netminder Ian Wilson.

One minute into the contest, AJ Shiverdecker took a pass infront of the net from David Ciminelli and shot it by a screened Delwo to get the ‘Hawks on the board. Two minutes later on a 2-man advantage, Marcel Konopelky took a feed from powerhouse Trent Lizee and fired it from the point to make it 2-0. A mere 18 seconds later Dustin Fummerton, AJ Shiverdecker, and Jordan Carroll combined to extend the lead to three. The last red light Delwo would fall victim to came when North Bay’s Kody Carnevale stuffed a rebound through the five-hole.

Sudbury coach Dave Clancy tried to restore hope in his struggling squad when he gave John Hillier the nod, and he took Delwo’s place. He didn’t fair much better with Hillier. Joe Trotter handled a bouncing puck off a Carnevale rebound and banks it past Hillier. Carnevale would get his name on the score-sheet once again when he netted his second of the game.

“He’s a warrior and Carney plays a defensive role. He buried two well deserved goals,” said Skyhawks Head Coach Ian Swalucynski of the game’s first star, Kody Carnevale.

“I didn’t plan on getting too many this year. I’m not a goal scorer, but I’ll take them when I can get them,” Carnevale said.

Sitting comfortable with a six goal lead the ‘Hawks let up a bit and Sudbury got a taste of momentum. Wolves’ Matt Chuipka found himself in the middle of a sramble infront of the North Bay net and was able to poke the puck under Ian Wilson to put the Jr. Wolves on the board. Thirty-five seconds later Anthony Fey shot the puck past a sliding Skyhawks defender into the open net to give Sudbury their second goal of the game.

The second period was uneventful except for a Sudbury powerplay goal by Chris Pontes to bring the Jr. Wolves half way towards the dozen goals the ‘Hawks had racked up.

In the third the ‘Hawks were still playing a very disciplined game despite the chippy and dirty play of Sudbury. Chad Jones notched a powerplay goal midway through the third to make the score 7-3.

The classy Skyhawks bench didn’t get rattled with the unnecessary elbows and vast array of cheap shots; or even when a teammate’s stick left the ice during a stoppage in play, found itself in the Sudbury bench, and returned to the ice in two pieces with the Jr. Wolves howling. To them the 7-3 victory speaks for itself.

“We’re deep, we can match up with anyone. I’m not afraid to go line for line with any team,” Swalucynski said.