WALKERTON – It was a busy weekend for the Walkerton Hawks, with two home games and one away, none of which produced the results the Hawks wanted.
Friday night’s game in front of an arena filled with hometown fans saw the Hawks lose 5-2 to Hanover. The Hawks had plenty of scoring chances and played hard, but to no avail.
The Barons scored twice in less than a minute midway through the first period – Owen Torrie from Trent Verbeek and Kyle Detweiler, and Bryan Richardson from Mitch Kaufman.
The second period saw the Hawks kill a penalty, however Hanover wasn’t able to do the same a couple of minutes later when the Barons got into a bit of penalty trouble. The Hawks closed the gap a bit with a goal by Trevor Fischer from Keegan Fischer and Jamie Damignani. Hanover came back less than two minutes later with a goal by Dylan Richardson from Jonah White and Ryan Goetz, and scored twice more before the end of the period, Detweiler unassisted and Drayton Howell from White and Goetz.
Walkerton scored the only goal of the third period, again on the powerplay – Keegan Fischer from Kyle Durrer – to end the game at 5-2 in favour of the Barons.
On Saturday, Dec. 11 in Kincardine, Walkerton was able to push the game into overtime, when the Bulldogs scored to win the game.
Walkerton came out strong in the first period with goals by Connor Borth from Austin Brown and Damignani, and Caleb Morrison from Spencer Maddock and Owen Troyer.
Kincardine picked up the pace in the second period and tied the score with goals by Jordan Beisel from Austin Waite on the power play, and Steven Grant from Joseph Pringle and Jordan Moulton shorthanded.
After a scoreless third period, hopeful Walkerton fans who travelled west on Highway 9 for the game saw their hopes dashed when Parker Miller scored from Gavin Downs a minute-and-a-half into overtime.
Back in Walkerton on Sunday, the Wingham Ironmen claimed an 8-3 victory over the Hawks.
The game got off to an exciting start when Wingham scored 13 seconds in – Ethan Scrimgeour from Nate Bloemberg and Austin McKeachnie. Then it was back and forth with a pair of powerplay goals, first by the Hawks – Troyer unassisted and then Wingham, Kyle Stanbury from Matt Tolton and Dana Smith. The Hawks tied the score with a goal by Borth from Damignani and Brayden Fischer. Wingham regained the lead on a goal by Tanner Reid from Evan Visser.
In the second period it was all Wingham – a pair of powerplay goals by Jonah Burley, the first assisted by Stanbury and Trevor Klee, and the second by Stanbury and Visser, and a goal by McKeachnie from Chris Adlys.
The third period was more like the first – back and forth. Wingham scored – Stanbury from Payten Wheeler – then Walkerton on the powerplay – Damignani from Durrer and Trevor Fischer, – then back to Wingham – Austin Becker unassisted – to make it 8-3 for the Ironmen.
This coming weekend, the Hawks play two games – Friday night at home against Mitchell, 8:20 p.m., and Saturday in Goderich at 7:30 p.m.
Fans should be advised that COVID-19 rules still apply regarding proof of vaccination, listing names and phone numbers for contact tracing, and distancing.
