Hawkesbury, Ont. —
With just four players returning from last year’s fourth-place squad, the Hawkesbury Hawks will hope their team chemistry and new team identity develop fast.
Veteran head coach and general manager Rick Dorval has signed a number of intriguing prospects — most notably top-10 Cégep-league scorer Michael Marleau — to make up for a group of talented graduates.
Between the pipes, with Jacob Standen traded to Saskatchewan and Matthew Chan dealt to Nepean, Hawkesbury appears to be running with ’98-born Matthew Petizian.
HAWKESBURY HAWKS
2016-17: 36-24-2 (4th, first-round loss to Kemptville [4-2])
Key Losses: F Brett Everson (Utica College, NCAA-III), F Jonathan Cyr (Dalhousie, CIS), G Jacob Standen (Notre Dame, SJHL)
Key Additions: F Michael Marleau (Andre-Laurendeau, QCHL), F Tanner Tarbell (Stanstead, Prep), G Matthew Petizian (Northwood, Prep)
Style of Play: “We’re going to be a younger team with lots of energy and compete. Obviously, (veteran) David Jankowski will lead with his maturity and experience, (and) hopefully our team comes to skate every night. We still want to be a team that people don’t like to play against.”
Season Goal: “I’d like to be shooting for the world, but we are a younger team. We want to put pressure on some of those top teams in the league. Where we’ll finish will depend on how quick we come together and how our maturity grows throughout the year.”
Training Camp: “It was pretty positive. We played two games at home, two on the road; it was positive, but exhibition’s exhibition and the real season starts on Saturday. We’ll see how this young squad gels together.” — Head Coach/GM Rick Dorval
