ATHABASCA – Penalty trouble in the last half of the second period led to defeat for Athabasca’s U15-1 Hawks Sunday, but the team is maintaining a record above .500 and currently occupies third in the Northern Alberta Interlock Hockey League Tier 2 standings.
It was a 4-2 loss for the Hawks, who came out flying at the Athabasca Regional Multiplex to take on the Fort McMurray Jr. Oil Barons in front of a lively home crowd Jan. 16. Keegan Miller notched an early goal 20 seconds into the game with assists from Kaiden Wood and Alfie Wigham and the Hawks maintained their lead until late into the period, hitting the dressing room with a 1-1 tie heading into the second.
The Oil Barons took the lead in the second, but the Hawks responded with a goal from Lebron Jendruck to square it at 2-2 a couple minutes later. The visitors however, were able to net two more on a double minor kneeing penalty with six minutes remaining in the period. From there the Barons were able to run the clock down in the third period to secure the win.
Jendruck leads the team in scoring so far this season, posting seven goals and four assists in 15 games.
Rayce Dierker also has 11 points with four goals and seven assists, while Kaiden Wood rounds out the team’s top three scorers with two goals and seven assists.
The loss leaves the U15-1 team with a 7-6-2 record, which is good enough for 16 points and third place in the tier behind Camrose with 19 points and Edson with 24 points. The Hawks will be in Fort McMurray for two games next weekend. The U15-2 Hawks were also in action in Maskwacis Saturday, but scores were unavailable as of press time.
In other Athabasca Minor Hockey action last weekend, the U11-1 Hawks had a decisive 8-3 victory on the road against Fox Creek Sunday, putting them securely in the middle of the Tier 3 pack of 11 teams with an 8-7-1 record. The U11-2 Hawks dropped an 8-1 tilt in Mayerthorpe Sunday, leaving them in third in the Northern Division of Tier 5 with a 5-10-2 record for the season.
The U13-2 Hawks dropped a 6-2 decision to Slave Lake at home on Saturday, then had a 6-4 loss against CR Sunday at the Multiplex. That leaves the team with a 3-9-3 record, which is good enough for third in Tier 6. The U13-1 Hawks also played in Maskwacis Sunday, but results were not available. The Tier 3 team has a 2-5-5 record on the year, putting them at ninth out of 10 teams.
The U18-1 Hawks took on the Westlock Warriors Friday night, falling 5-3 to the Tier 2 team from down the highway. The Tier 1 Hawks are third of three in the tier with a 5-7-2 record, behind the second place Barrhead Bombers and the team from La Crete. The Hawks will host the Battle River Knights Jan. 22 at 6 p.m.
The U18-2 Hawks were also in action Saturday against Westlock at the Rotary Spirit Centre, taking a tough 6-3 loss. The team’s 3-12-1 record is good enough for first in Tier 5, ahead of Wetaskiwin and Hinton, but they also play against 14 other Tier 4 teams. The team will lace up against Wabasca on the road Saturday.
