Ottawa, Ontario – Friday night the Hawksbury Hawks host the Cornwall Colts in Game one of their Best of Seven Quarter Final Series. Listed are the scheduled times and places for the series.
Game 1, Friday Mar 16 – Robert Hartley Sports Complex: 7:30
Game 2, Sunday Mar 18 – Ed Lumley Arena: 2:30
Game 3, Monday Mar 19 – Robert Hartley Sports Complex: 7:30
Game 4, Thursday Mar 22 – Ed Lumley Arena: 7:30
Game 5, Friday Mar 23 – Robert Hartley Sports Complex: 7:30 (If ness.)
Game 6, Sunday Mar 25 – Ed Lumley Arena: 7:00 (If ness.)
Game 7, Tuesday Mar 27 – Robert Hartley Sports Complex: 7:30 (If ness.)
The last time these two teams met was back in the 2015 playoffs. Cornwall won that series 4-2 while being the 4th seed that year. Cornwall did lose to CP in the semifinals in 5 games in that year.
Last playoffs, Cornwall finished 2nd in the CCHL after finishing 9th in the 2016 season. They won their series against Smiths Falls but got swept in the semi finals by 3rd seed Ottawa Jr Senators.
Hawksbury was the 4th seed last season and had trouble against Kemptville. They lost in 6 games to be eliminated. They have now made the playoffs in the last four seasons. Hawks have had trouble in the quarter finals in four of their last five playoff appearances. The Hawks will need to find a way to stay positive against Cornwall.
Season Series:
Hawksbury Hawks 4, Cornwall Colts 1 – Fri Sept 8
Cornwall Colts 4, Hawksbury Hawks 1 – Thurs Oct 12
Hawksbury Hawks 2, Cornwall Colts 1 OT – Fri Nov 17
Cornwall Colts 4, Hawksbury Hawks 2 – Fri Dec 15
Hawksbury Hawks 4, Cornwall Colts 3 – Thurs Dec 21
Cornwall Colts 6, Hawksbury Hawks 3 – Mon Feb 19
Season series was tied at three wins a piece. Expect this series to be a close series.
Who to Watch
The Colts will have to watch out for David Jankowski, Chris Smith, Alec Beaudin-Tougas, and Kari Belec.
Beaudin-Tougas has developed very well in his final year of his hockey career. He was picked up nearing the end of October and has been tremendous this season with 20 goals, 23 assists and 43 points. He is a guy that can work the puck in the right side and create some amazing plays. He has lots of skating with speed and agility. He could potential be a playoff performer in the playoffs.
Jankowski and Smith have had chemistry since the start of their hockey career back in Stanstead College. Jankowski was the MVP of the league and took home four more awards during the regular season. Smith has been a terrific player on that top line since he came back with the Hawks. Jankowski can score from anywhere in the offensive zone. Once he enters the opposing blue line, he starts the cycle very well and can communicate with other players on the ice. He had 52 assists on the year and is a guy that can think pass first then shoot second. Smith can finish the play by putting the puck in the back of the net. He is a guy that can play very well on the wing and defensively.
Belec was acquired in a trade by Nepean sometime throughout the year. He is playmaker on the ice that can work the puck well. He had 19 goals, 24 assists, 43 points in his final year in the CCHL. As for Goaltending, they will look at Matt Petizian to be big in the series. He went 1-7 in his last 8 starts but it’s a new season and he will be key in the series. He finished off the year with 2.74 GAA, .921 SV% and 25-18-0 on the year.
The Hawks will need to look out for JD Pogue, Cameron Hebert, and Konnor MacCormick. MacCormck was one-point shy of 50 points on the year but ended his year with 49 points. He’s a guy to watch on the power play, collected 12 PP assists on the year while scoring 8 goals on the power play. He can move the puck and created some scoring chances to the net.
Pogue had 23 goals but had an injury during the year. He had some big nights in the season series against Hawksbury which one of the them came on a four-point night. He is a guy that has a good shot when he has some open space, he has some speed in his skating ability, and can set up players. He could be key in the series because of the success he had against the Hawks in regular season.
Hebert was traded in a three-team trade in the off season and it has worked well for Cornwall. He scored 16 goals, 27 assists, 43 points in his final year in the CCHL before he goes to Robert Morris next year. He always thinks pass first and is defensive. As for Goaltending, they will look to Goalie of the year Liam Lascelle. He had a 2.72 GAA plus .927 SV% with a 27-17-3 record on the year. Lascelle is very calm in his net, he makes big saves at the big times during a big game and has very good rebound control.
The Verdict:
It will be an even series. Whoever scores the first goal, 90% of the time they win that hockey. It will be key of who gets the first goals and getting control of the series. Hawkesbury offense needs to explode very early while for Cornwall they will need goaltending and defense to win the series.
The season series was tied but Cornwall can put of offensive pressure in the Hawks zone. Both teams need to stay out of the box, and Hawks goaltending struggled nearing the end of year and at this point if they want to move on, Petizian will need to be big.
By: Mason Detre, Communications Intern.
