Skyhawks Snag Series

Story by Todd Vandonk

The North Bay Skyhawks were able to top the Abitibi Eskimos 3-2 in Eastern Conference Final action Friday night. The Skyhawk’s victory clinches them a 4-2 series win, and earns them a trip to the NOJHL Championship. In the final they will face off against the Northern Michigan Black Bears.

Skyhawk’s Mark-Andre Rizk scored with 20 seconds left in the game to finish the relentless Eskimos post season run. Rizk’s goal came 25 seconds after Abitibi’s forward Yves Bernard tied the affair at 2-2, with Eskimos goalie Steve Hamel out of the net.

The clubs continued their stingy ways in the series and would skate to a scoreless first period. Abitibi’s forward Jessy Lebel started the scoring early in the second, giving the Eskimos the one goal lead. Skyhawks David Cappadocia replied later in the frame, tying the score, and setting up a bizarre third.

Skyhawks Ian Carlson gave the locals the lead midway through the third. The Skyhawks advantage would hold up until the lingering moments. With the extra man, Abitibi’s Yves Bernard found the mesh with 45 seconds left on the clock. The Skyhawks, not wanting overtime where they’ve dropped double overtime decisions on the road twice, came firing back and notched the winner with 20 seconds left. Marc-Andre Rizk was the hero scoring his sixth goal, in as many games. Coach Randy Edmonds explained how it felt, getting the monkey off their backs in Iroquois Falls

“It felt great to win the series in their rink,” said Coach Randy Edmonds. “We really showed what kind of hockey team we are, by beating them 4-2 in games. We lost only two games and both were in double overtime.

“The games in the playoffs are tight and the focus is to be stronger defensively, which we were. I think the key to our victory was our 5-5 play, along with a lot of different players scoring.

Mike Lalande played between the pipes for the Hawks, turning away 17 of 19 Abitibi shots to record the win. At the other end, Steve Hamel closed the door on 19 of 22 shots while suffering the loss. The game’s first star went to Yves Bastien, while Bernard and Carlson picked pickup second and third star honors.