It wasn’t the start they had hoped for but the Huntsville Jr C Hawks showed moments of promise, before losing to the Barrie Bombers 9 -7, in front of a crowd of about 150 at the Jack Bionda arena.
The Hawks battled back to tie the game 6-6 but two penalties half way through the third period, proved to be the their undoing.
Huntsville led 2-1 after the first period but the Bombers came back to go in front 5-4 after 40 minutes.
Huntsville’s Josh Zantingh scored three goals while singles went to Sam Campbell, Jack Drinkwater, Caleb Creasor and Spencer Lavallee.
Barrie scored a power play goal and two more in just over four minutes and held on for the win. The Hawks pushed the attack in the final couple of minutes with goaltender Logan Matthews on the bench but couldn’t beat Barrie goalkeeper Brendin Ramsey. Matthews’ performance in the Huntsville goal earned him the team’s Ironman award for the night.
Coach Don Monahan said his team played well, just not good enough for the win.
A lot of our players don’t know one another at this point on the floor so it was a little scrambled at the beginning. But by the end of the game they were pulling it together. It was an exciting game to watch. My guys competed and that’s all I can ask.
Coach Don Monahan
“We fell down a couple of times defensively and that’s something we will correct with time. We fought through it and I thought we played a pretty stellar game.”
The Hawks now take to the road for three games. They play Sunday in Halton Hills, then Cornwall and Gloucester next weekend.
“”We’ll have some time to bond by next weekend, and I think they will buy into the system,” said Monahan. It’s one big family here. We try to convince them its all for one and that kind of mentality and I saw that on the floor. They stood up for each other at times and helped one another so I like what I see.”
The Barrie Bombers only won one game of sixteen played last year and Monahan says there is no question they are a better coached team this year.
“I know Luke Ringler,” he said. My son played for him and so did my trainer, He’s a great guy and he’ll have those guys running. We meet them four times. This was just the first game. “
The Hawks also hope to have another goaltender join them Monday in time for the upcoming road games. Evan Peltier of North Bay, who has played previously in Huntsville, has agreed to join the Hawks again.
“He’s quite a talent,” said Monahan. “And we’re looking forward to good things from him.”
Huntsville’s next home game is against the Clarington Shamrox May 18 at 8pm.
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