Hawks’ offence struggles in losses to Terriers and Otters

October 31, 2016 · 0 Comments

By Jake Courtepatte
Fourteen games into the PJHL season, and the Caledon Golden Hawks are still looking to leave their home ice with a win.
A three-game homestand came to an end Sunday evening at Caledon East, culminating in a 3-0 loss to the Huntsville Otters. The Golden Hawks sent 31 pucks at the Huntsville net to no avail.
A lack of scoring has been a trend for the 2016-17 Hawks, who have outshot their opponents in three of the last four games. The shutout was preceded by a 4-1 loss to the lowly Orillia Terriers Friday night, a game in which Caledon led the shot total 30-24.
It was Caledon that saw the first quality scoring opportunity of the game, with Ryan Mouser crashing the net late in the first period. A collapse towards the net caused a three-on-one break for the Terriers, leaving Caledon goaltender Andrew Ireland no chance on a bar-down one timer to make it 1-0 Orillia.
They added three more unanswered goals in the second period, one of which came in a short-handed situation. Once again, Caledon was caught off guard defensively, leading to an odd man rush in which Jake Shaw kept the puck and went five-hole on Ireland.
The dagger fourth goal came with just seconds remaining in the frame, a flukey goal off a giveaway in front of the Caledon net that Ireland never saw.
The Terriers took a shutout into the midway point of the third period, before Matt Magliozzi broke the goose egg. On the penalty kill with Kevin Pleasance in the box, Magliozzi caught the Terriers defence off guard with his sixth goal of the year.
Ireland stopped 20 shots in the contest.
Scoring at just more than a two goal-per-game pace, the Hawks sit dead last in scoring in the PJHL’s Carruthers division, formerly the Georgian Mid-Ontario Hockey League.
The lack of scoring has contributed to an overall record of 1-13-0, including seven losses and zero wins at Caledon East. Caledon’s only win of the season came in the season opener in Schomberg, riding a thirteen-game losing streak since that day in mid-September.
They currently sit six points back of the Schomberg Cougars for last place in the eight team division, and will have an opportunity to close that gap when they visit the Cougars at the Trisan Centre tonight (Thursday).
The Alliston Hornets, the overwhelming favourites to win the division prior to the season, have tallied more than six goals-per-game to bring their record to 12-0-0.
Sunday’s weekly home game features the Hawks hosting the Stayner Siskins (10-2-0). Puck drop is set for 6:30 p.m. at Caledon East.
For stats, schedules, and more information, visit www.jrcgoldenhawks.pointstreaksites.com