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Skyhawks win 6-4 over Eskimos

The North Bay Skyhawks scored five unanswered goals en route to a 6-4 victory in front of a loud crowd at Memorial Gardens Friday night. The win gives the Skyhawks a 2-1 series advantage over the Abitibi Eskimos in the best of seven Eastern Final.
The North Bay Skyhawks scored five unanswered goals en route to a 6-4 victory in front of a loud crowd at Memorial Gardens Friday night.

The win gives the Skyhawks a 2-1 series advantage over the Abitibi Eskimos in the best of seven Eastern Final.

In the comfort of their own home the Skyhawks were able to use five different scorers to win in a building they seem to shine in.

“It’s a bigger rink and were a very good skating team,” said Coach Randy Edmonds.

“It gives us more room to move around and after giving up one goal, then getting two our confidence built and are power play worked tonight with extra room.”

With a clean sheet of ice, Abitibi’s Kevin Kozlowski picked up a loose puck in the slot and fluttered a shot under goaltender Mike Lalande’s paddle for the lead.

The Eskimos marker seemed to fire up the home team leading the Skyhawks to a flurry of offensive chances at the other end. Abitibi’s goaltender Chris Keller seemed to handle the pressure of his first start in the series, making a number of key saves early on. Skyhawks Jon Ryan would finally solve Keller on the power play with a rocket from the point that brought the teams to a 1-1 draw after one.

With the Skyhawks a man down, prospect Yves Bastien grabbed a loose puck in the offensive zone and displayed some creative stick handling skills before sliding the puck between the legs of goaltender Keller.

The goal led the frustrated Eskimos club to the penalty box enough times for the Skyhawks to take a commanding lead and not look back.

With leading scorer Tyler Perry back on the ice after sitting ten minutes in the box for a head shot, Marc-Andre Rizk would officially open the flood gates for the Hawks. The goal came on the 5-3 for the locals that saw goaltender Keller peppered before Rizk snuck back door to receive a tape to tape pass from Josh Merson.

The Eskimos continued their penalty problems giving Merson room on the power play to walk in and snipe a shot high glove side for the two goal lead. The Skyhawks continued the pressure five on five and Perry would light the lamp for his ninth goal of the playoffs.

Perry’s goal would turn out to be the all important fifth and deciding goal.

With the Eskimos getting calls going their way and two Hawks in the box, Luc Champagne banged in the loose puck after Lalande had blanked Eskimos shooters from close range. Adam Chircoski would use the Eskimos momentum and bring his team to within two before the second ended.

Just a 1:32 into the third Jacie Gagne got the Skyhawk fans worried with a power play goal that brought the Eskimos closer to a heroic comeback. However, the Skyhawks would answer back five minutes later on a power play goal of their own. Rizk collected his second of the night with the power play tally and sent the Eskimos packing.

In the final minute Dustin McCrank and Brain Nault decided to do a little dancing before the night was over. McCrank got the best of Nault landing a knockout punch that sent Nault to the surface.

The Skyhawks will travel Sunday night and look for a win on the road in Abitibi’s barn. A win will mean a chance for the Skyhawks to clinch the East Final in the Gateway City Tuesday night.

Game Notes - Mike Lalande looked great between the pipes again making 26 stops for the win. Rizk (3rd Star) recorded two goals and both Merson (1st Star) and Perry had a goal and two assists. The Skyhawks and Eskimos were even in shots on goal both firing 30 shots on net. The game was broadcasted live on TVCogeco cable 12, with play-by-play done by Skyhawks trainer Gerry Liscumb and color commentary by Dan Pedneaud.

Game Summary

First Period
1. AB: Kevin Kozlowski (Adam Chircoski, Kurtis Camirand) 00:46 FG
2. NB: Jon Ryan (David Frawley, Josh Merson) 09:12 PP

Penalties: Michel Champagne AB (CC) 04:08; Dan Dube AB (HKG) 07:57; Corey Santamaria AB (RO) 13:39; Chris Pontes NB (RO) 13:39; Matt Collins NB (RO) 15:22; Tyler Perry NB (M71) 16:21; Yves Bernard AB (RO) 17:39; Marc-Andre Rizk NB (RO) 17:39;
Second Period
3. NB: Yves Bastien (David Cappadocia, Quinn Waller) 03:56 SH
4. NB: Marc-Andre Rizk (Tyler Perry, Josh Merson) 09:37 PP
5. NB: Josh Merson (David Cappadocia, Brett Venasse) 11:11 PP
6. NB: Tyler Perry (Dustin McCrank, David Frawley) 12:45 GW
7. AB: Luc Champagne (Kurtis Camirand, Adam Chircoski) 14:30 PP
8. AB: Adam Chircoski (Nick Torresan, Luc Champagne) 17:50

Penalties: Matt Collins NB (SL) 02:12; Jacie Gagne AB (RO) 05:47; Dustin McCrank NB (CC) 06:29; Kevin Kozlowski AB (HS) 06:48; Michel Champagne AB (CC) 08:29; Marc Bertrand AB (HS) 09:25; Alex Ward NB (INT) 13:20; Tyler Perry NB (SL) 14:12; Kurtis Camirand AB (FI) 15:42; Matt Collins NB (RO) 15:42; Matt Collins NB (FI) 15:42;
Third Period
9. AB: Jacie Gagne (Adam Chircoski) 01:32 PP
10. NB: Marc-Andre Rizk (Alex Ward, Josh Merson) 05:25 PP

Penalties: Tyler Perry NB (KNE) 00:25; Kevin Kozlowski AB (HKG) 03:20; Michel Charette AB (CC) 04:38; David Frawley NB (SL) 07:59; Quinn Waller NB (GM50) 10:52; Dan Dube AB (GM50) 15:26; Chase Gallacher NB (HO) 18:34; Brian Nault AB (FI) 19:58; Dustin McCrank NB (FI) 19:58;


Story by Todd Vandonk and game summary files from NOJHL.com

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Chris Dawson

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