Brockville Braves Lost 2-1 to Hawkesbury on Friday Night in the CCHL

Brockville – Our group of long-toothed fans who stand at the west end, were initially thinking we need to win every game 7-6 or some other high-scoring affair. As Bobby (long-time Braves trainer) used to say, it doesn’t matter what the score is as long as we get more goals than the other team, we win.

We certainly couldn’t fault the goaltending (Nate was outstanding and worthy of a star), and a D-Man, Will Brauer (1 – 3 -4), scored our only goal. It wasn’t due to lack of effort, though, at least from our perspective. The Braves did everything but score a ton of goals. Hunter Robitaille (1-3-4) had a couple of great chances, but the darn puck just would not get past Ruddy in the Hawks’ net.

Once again, Aidan Carolan (0-3-3) was a threat every time he stepped on the ice, but he is not being rewarded for his efforts; the puck just wouldn’t go in. Carter Cuglietta is looking better every game. He and Cohen Gill saw plenty of ice time, and in key times, PK and PP. In fact, Gill almost scored from an impossible angle, but Ruddy reached out and caught the puck.

In fairness, I have to point out, the red-hot Peter Legostaev (5-2-7) (5 goals in 3 games) didn’t dress for the 2nd game in a row due to an injury. And promising rookie, Drake Sled (1-3-4) (4-game point streak) also out with an injury. The team was missing a couple of defensive stalwarts, Rhett Colson (o-2-2) and Zack Naish. Due to suspensions after that post-game melee in Pembroke last Sunday.

I guess I can slip in a bit about the recent trades. Ryan McNally (3-7-10) lengthened his point-scoring streak (5 games) and continued his super-charged whirling dervish routine (no connection to new forward Dryden Dirvish). Once he was held/hooked and then tripped as he blew past the front of the Hawks’ net, but alas, no call. Furthermore, he lost his “dynamic duo” partner, Vital Dinis (3-5-8), in a trade with the Hawks. I guess I can’t label them, in a positive manner, as “Peck’s Bad Boys”. Along with Vital, the Hawks received Taige Soneji. In return, the Braves received two 20-year-olds, D-Man Antoine D’Arcy (0-1-1) ( Longueuil, QC) and Jack Lowry (0-1-1) ( Trenton, ON).

Game Summary:

1st Period-1, Hawkesbury, Genest 1 (Dinis, Lavallee), 7:18 (PP). Penalties-Dervish Bro (too many men), 5:24; Whitelaw Haw (cross-checking), 12:44; Cantelon Haw (grabbing face mask, grabbing face mask), 14:18; Carolan Bro (grabbing face mask, grabbing face mask), 14:18.

2nd Period-2, Hawkesbury, Jette 1 (Genest, Dinis), 2:09. 3, Brockville, Brauer 1 (McNally, Robitaille), 15:03. Penalties-Jette Haw (slashing), 2:29; Gill Bro (too many men), 3:36; McNally Bro (cross checking), 12:31; served by Feldman Haw (too many men), 18:38.

3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Lauzon Haw (roughing), 9:14; McNally Bro (roughing), 9:14.

Shots on Goal-Hawkesbury 16-13-4-33. Brockville 7-9-8-24.
Power Play Opportunities-Hawkesbury 1 / 2; Brockville 0 / 3.
Goalies-Hawkesbury, Ruddy 2-3-0-0 (24 shots-23 saves). Brockville, Galbraith 2-2-0-0 (33 shots-31 saves).