Sports

Golden Hawks losing streak hits four in a row

January 12, 2016   ·   0 Comments

By Jake Courtepatte
The dawn of a new year has the Caledon Golden Hawks looking nervously over their shoulders.
Perhaps tiring from a long, challenging climb up the Georgian Mid-Ontario Hockey League standings, the junior C club has lost each of their last four games in regulation, going back almost one month.
Fresh off losses to close rivals the Midland Flyers and Schomberg Cougars, it was the Alliston Hornets that played the role of Scrooge for the Hawks just two days after Christmas, sending 52 shots toward the Caledon goal in a 4-2 win.
Alliston, far and away the top team in the nine-team league, went up 3-0 late in the second period. Christian Mariconda tallied a marker in the dying seconds of the period for the Hawks, leaving Caledon down by two heading to the final frame.
The teams split the third 1-1, including a power-play goal from Nicholas McNutt.
Hosting Midland in Caledon East last Sunday, Caledon was looking to bridge the gap between the team they had closed in on early December, when they were tied for third in league standings.
Midland’s special teams were the deciding factor in a 5-2 Flyer win, as they sent two short-handed goals and one on the power play past Caledon goaltender Sam Procopio.
On a positive note, it was a night to remember for 17-year old defenceman Matthew Pyz. The ex-Georgetown Raider scored both his first and second goals in a Hawk uniform, in his seventh game with the team.
Pyz, a native of Mississauga, also had an assist during that period.
The four-game losing streak is the team’s second-worst of the season, behind only their 0-7 debut in September and October. Since that point, they put up the second best record in the league behind the Hornets, at 16-5-2.
A significant portion of the Golden Hawks’ offence is reliant on the top line of Daniel Cafagna, McNutt and Mariconda, who were held to just four points in total over the last two losses.
Ryan Mouser, also heavily relied on for offence with eight goals and 16 assists through 31 games this year, spent 14 minutes of the Midland game in the penalty box.
With only three weeks remaining in the regular season, the streak has set the Hawks back significantly. The Flyers are now a full six points up in the third spot, while Caledon’s 14-17-1 record has them in fourth place.
If the streak continues, it could spell some bad times ahead for the Hawks: only four points separate fourth from the eighth-place Penetang Kings.
Two final meetings of the season are on the schedule for the Hawks, hosting the last-place Orillia Terriers (9-22-1) in a rare Friday home game at Caledon East. They meet the Erin Shamrocks (12-18-3) on the road one last time Sunday. The Shamrocks sit just two points back of Caledon.
Puck drop Friday is set for 8:30p.m.
For stats, schedules, and more information, visit www.jrcgoldenhawks.pointstreaksites.com

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