By Keith Krauskopf
HAGERSVILLE—On Thursday, February 13, 2025 the Hawks travelled to Dundas to take on the Blues. This was an important game for the Hawks to win, as they were fighting for home ice advantage in the first round of playoffs against Glanbrook.
Both teams came out fast and hard. Hawk Jarett Moriarity opened the scoring just three minutes in on the powerplay with a great shot from the faceoff circle assisted by Marcus Lazarevic. Then, with just 50 seconds left in the period, Trent Chute snuck the puck past the Blues net minder with Damon Decaire and Luke Leblanc assisting.
Leblanc put the puck in with Lazarevic assisting early in the second. Dundas got on the scoreboard at the 12:07 mark on the powerplay and then again just 27 seconds later, bringing them within one.
At the 8:49 mark of the third Moriarity scored with assists to Averee Sault and Zack Demille. Late in the period, the Blues pulled their goalie and Lazarevic put one in the empty net. The Hawks didn’t let up and with just 8 seconds left Hawk Brendan Sullivan added the sixth goal of the night unassisted. Final score Hawks 6 Blues 2.
The Streetsville Derbys made the trek to Hagersville on February 15. Streetsville opened the scoring 13 minutes into the first and kept the Hawks off the scoreboard.
The Hawks found their footing in the second as Chute scored a shorthanded goal two minutes in with Lazarevic assisting. Streetsville responded, but then the Hawks scored three unanswered goals from Bevan Aitchison, Lazarevic, and Leblanc.
Streetsville struck first in the third period. Sault extended the lead again with Moriarity assisting. Streetsville came within one again at the 18:51 mark. They pulled the goalie for the extra attacker with just 25 seconds left but with no further goals the game ended Hawks 5 Derbys 4. Player of the game went to Brendan Sullivan.
On Family Day the Hawks travelled to Streetsville for the final regular season game, needing a win to clinch fourth. The Hawks were ready to play. Dylan Wardell opened the scoring getting his 50th point of the season at the 5:41 mark assisted by Decaire. Cole Jennings scored at the 12:27 mark with assists to Moriarity and Carson Trevisani. Streetsville scored just 32 seconds later, but then just 37 seconds later Lazarevic answered back with Wardell and Decaire assisting. Sullivan finished the first period scoring in the final minute with Sault assisting.
The second period saw a lot of end-to-end hockey. Moriarity scored halfway through assisted by Sault. About 37 seconds later Sault put the puck in the net assisted by Moriarity and Sullivan, and shortly after Sullivan scored his second of the afternoon shorthanded, assisted by Trevisani. Streetsville got a powerplay goal, sending the boys into the third up 7-2.
The Hawks came out in the third period ready to finish what they started. Less than two minutes in Chute scored with Wardell and Trevisani assisting. Moriarity rounded out the scoring with a shorthanded goal, assist going to Wardell. Final score, Hawks 9 Derbys 2.
This clinches fourth spot for the Hawks and they started the first round of playoffs on Wednesday, February 19 in Glanbrook. The next two games will be in the Hawks’ Nest on Saturday, February 22 at 7:30 p.m. and then Tuesday, February 25 at 8:30 p.m.
