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Klomp explodes for five points to lead Golden Hawks to victory

November 15, 2014   ·   0 Comments

By Jake Courtpatte
There has been a hole lately in the defence of the Junior C Caledon Golden Hawks, one they have found difficult to fill with offensive production.
After being dismantled at home by the Stayner Siskins last Sunday, the Hawks looked to turn their luck around on the road Friday against the Alliston Hornets.
Unfortunately, they came in against a hot Hornets team, having won five in a row to move atop the GMOHL standings.
The Golden Hawks, meanwhile, were riding a three-game losing streak.
Despite a slow start, the Hornets opened the scoring with three quick goals late in the first period to take a sizable lead into intermission.
A powerplay goal by James Pitsadiotis early in the second cut the lead to two, but that would be as close as the Hawks would come.
Christian Bonaldi would add another marker in the third for the Hawks, no match for the Hornets four. The final score was 8-2 for the Hornets.
The Huntsville Otters were at Caledon East for the first time this season Sunday, with the Hawks desperate to spark some offensive flair.
They entered the game without forward Adam Breen, who was given a game misconduct for abuse of officials late in the Friday loss.
The first period was a flurry of shots from every angle by both teams, with Steven Klomp opening the scoring for the home team less than five minutes in.
Christian Mariconda, in his first game in a Golden Hawk uniform, earned an assist on the goal.
They ran into some penalty trouble shortly after, when Steve Zeppieri was sent off on a double minor for spearing and Ben Ardis picked up a kneeing minor two minutes later.
Goaltender Sam Procopio was a brick wall, killing off the double minor with the help of a solid box defense.
Unfortunately they could not hold on forever, giving up a goal on the penalty kill with Ardis still in the box.
The next period and a half was all Hawks. Zeppieri redeemed himself with his second goal of the season late in the first, with Klomp and Mariconda both earning their second point of the contest.
Two minutes later, Daniel Cafagna put the Hawks up 3-1.
In the second, the trio of Klomp, Mariconda and Cafagna could do no wrong as they combined for two more goals and three more assists to give the Hawks a 6-2 lead.
Up by four, the team seemed to devolve into a trap defense, not forcing the play as they had been earlier in the game.
Huntsville rallied for four unanswered goals in the second and third, tying the game with the majority of the third period left to play.
The reality check once again sparked the offense, as midway through the frame Cafagna took passes from Klomp and Bonaldi to put the Hawks up by one once again.
A late empty net marker from Zeppieri sealed the 8-6 win.
Klomp almost doubled his offensive production for the year in one game, as his two goals and three assists brought his season stats to eleven points in 10 games.
Cafagna’s two goals and two assists were a welcome addition, having gone pointless in the past three games.
Procopio was a force for the Golden Hawks, allowing only one goal on seven powerplay chances for the Otters. He faced 40 shots in the game.
The schedule doesn’t get any easier for the Hawks, facing two higher-ranked teams this week in both the Fergus Devils and Orillia Terriers Friday and Sunday respectively. The team will have the chance to earn points in front of their home fans both nights.
For stats, schedules, and more information, visit www.juniorcgoldenhawks.pointstreaksites.com

Sam Procopio slides over to make a stop in Sunday’s 8-6 victory over the Huntsville Otters.

         

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