Story By: Dante De Caria |
Hawkesbury, Ontario – The Ottawa Jr. Senators (4-5) defeated the Hawkesbury Hawks (6-2) on Friday night at the Robert Hartley Sports Complex.
The Jr. Senators got to a hot start, taking a 2-0 lead, scoring two goals 15 seconds apart in the first period.
Darcy Walsh scored his first of two on the night, taping in a Danny Pion pass from the left circle. Conor Smart then followed it up with his second goal in as many nights after he intercepted Shane McGrath’s pass and made no mistake on the breakaway.
Both teams exchanged goals in the second period. Owen Cole gave OJS the 4-1 lead with 6:53 left in the third. He took the puck away in the Hawks left corner and beat Matthew Petizian alone with his backhand.
Ottawa Jr. Senators Assistant Coach Ryan Garlock was happy that Smart and Cole capitalized on the Hawks mistakes.
“It speaks volumes to their quickness, their ability to get on pucks and close pucks.”
Hawkesbury made things interesting in the third period, scoring two goals in-between Kyle Jackson’s empty netter.
Garlock said he was not surprised to see Hawkesbury push Ottawa’s backs to the wall, late in the third period.
“They’re a good team and we knew they were not just going to sit on their heals and let us take it to them.”
Ottawa is now 4-3 when scoring first. Garlock says that getting off to an early 2-0 is what got the ball rolling.
“I think we were fortunate,” said Garlock. “I think we came out a little bit more hungry than they did. They got caught off guard in the first five minutes and we never looked back so getting that start was huge for us.”
Ottawa were out-shot 41-33 in the win and are now 2-2 when being out-shot by an opponent.
Darcy Walsh scored two goals in the win, Conor Smart finished with 1 G / 1 A and Francis Boisvert made 38 saves.
Ottawa’s next game is on Wednesday night when they host the Cornwall Colts.
