Golden Hawks on four-game losing streak

October 2, 2016 · 0 Comments

By Jake Courtepatte
It has been a slow start to the junior C season for the Caledon Golden Hawks, but there is solace in that they are not alone.
After jumping out the gate to a 1-0 start to the 2015-16 season with a win over the Schomberg Cougars, Caledon has lost four games in a row, one of four teams in their division without multiple wins after week two.
They stood little chance against the perennial powerhouse Alliston Hornets at the raucous New Tec Rec Friday, facing an Alliston team with a handful of key returning players from their stellar 2015-16 campaign.
Ryan Young, who put up close to a point-per-game effort with the junior A Newmarket Hurricanes last season, scored two quick goals for the Hornets just two minutes into the game.
Caledon captain Nicholas McNutt countered at just past the midway mark of the first period, though Alliston regained a two-goal lead before intermission.
From there, it was all Alliston, forcing rookie goaltender Andrew Ireland to stand on his head and make an incredible 32 saves in the second period while allowing only one goal on the power play with six seconds remaining.
With the pressure continuing into the third, Alliston notched three more goals to one Caledon goal from vet Ryan Mouser. The final score at the buzzer was 7-2.
There were 150 fans who made the trip to Caledon East Sunday night to see the Hawks host the Huntsville Otters in their first meeting of the year. It was the Hawks who got on the board first, thanks to Josh Hachey notching his first junior C goal.
The two squads traded goals until the final five minutes of the second period, when Huntsville exploded for three unanswered before the end of the period.
McNutt brought the score to 5-3 early in the third, but it would be as close as they would get.
Two weeks into the inaugural Provincial Junior Hockey League season, the Hawks sit in the basement of the Carruthers division (formerly the GMOHL) with two points through five games. Their 1-4-0 record matches that of both the Schomberg Cougars and Orillia Terriers, while the Penetang Kings have also secured only one win albeit in only three games played.
In what should come as no surprise to those versed in GMOHL history, the Hornets are the early leaders in the eight-team division. The reigning GMOHL champions have given up only seven goals en route to a 4-0 start to the season.
A pair of games are on the docket for the Hawks this weekend, first visiting the Terriers Saturday night. The weekly Sunday home game features the Hawks hosting the Kings, with an incentive to move up the standings ladder with a win in either game.
Puck drop Sunday is at 6:30 p.m. at Caledon East arena.
For stats, schedules, and more information, visit www.jrcgoldenhawks.pointstreaksites.com

Golden Hawks’ captain Nicholas McNutt scored his fourth goal of the year in Caledon’s 5-3 loss to the Huntsville Otters in Caledon East Sunday.
Photo by Jake Courtepatte