Canadians take pair from ’Hawks

The Fort Frances Canadians ended 2006 on a roll, sweeping the Grand Rapids Jr. Gold Thunderhawks in a home-and-home series over the weekend.
The Midget ‘AA’ squad shot out of the gates Friday night at the Ice for Kids Arena, controlling every aspect of the game en route to an easy 7-1 victory.
The Thunderhawks made several roster moves prior to the re-match the next day in Grand Rapids, but the end result ultimately was the same as the visiting Canadians escaped with a hard-fought 3-2 win.
Despite the wins, Canadians’ head coach Dave Egan wasn’t entirely satisfied with his team’s play.
“I thought in some aspects we were a little sluggish, it being holiday time,” he remarked. “We had a nice little break, but we want to get back to where we were before Christmas.
“Overall, though, I think we did all right and the boys are raring to go on the tournament trail again,” Egan added.
The Canadians see their next action tomorrow (Jan. 4) when they face the Thunderhawks for the third time in less than a week at the Ice for Kids Arena.
The puck is scheduled to drop at 6:15 p.m.
The team then will re-new the longstanding Fort Frances-International Falls rivalry when they take on the Broncos over there this coming Monday (Jan. 8) at 7:30 p.m.
The Canadians certainly showed few signs of holiday rust here Friday night, scoring five times in the opening period against the visiting Thunderhawks.
Captain George Ossachuk fired the first salvo in the offensive barrage, banking a wrist shot in off the far post moments after taking a drop pass from Dayton Brown deep in Grand Rapids’ zone.
Logan Allen picked up the second assist.
Jared Baker added to the Canadians’ lead less than two minutes later following a scramble in front of the ’Hawks net. Baker calmly collected the loose puck and slid a shot along the ice that eluded goalie Tim Pollard.
Baker’s linemates, Tyler Harris and Brant Witherspoon, were credited with the assists.
The Canadians found themselves up 3-0 just past the midway point of the period when Ryan Shortreed got in on the scoring act.
Matt Beck won the draw in Grand Rapids’ zone and passed it back to Josh Scott, who let fly a shot from the point. Scott’s blast partially was blocked but the puck found its way onto Shortreed’s stick, who wasted little time converting the scoring opportunity.
Baker almost had his second of the game shortly afterwards when he was sent in on a break-away by Witherspoon.
Pollard stopped Baker’s attempt, but could not re-position himself in time to keep Harris from poking home the rebound and making it 4-0 in favour of the Canadians.
Fort Frances continued to pour on the pressure in the dying moments of the period.
Baker once again led the charge as he took a pass from Allen and proceeded to dance around first the ’Hawks defender and then Pollard en route to the goal that had eluded him earlier.
The visitors put forth a more inspired effort following the intermission, holding the Canadians’ attack at bay for most of the second period.
However, a defensive lapse by Grand Rapids allowed Brown and Kyle Herr to gain the offensive zone on a two-on-one break in the waning moments of the period.
Brown drew the defender and the goalie to him before sending a pass to Herr, who converted the opportunity with ease for the Canadians’ sixth goal.
With the game well in hand heading into the final period, the only question of any consequence left to be answered was whether Canadians’ goalie Joe Bodnar would be able to preserve the shutout.
But Thunderhawks’ forward Erik Hovet ruined what was otherwise a perfect evening for Bodnar and the Canadians midway through the period when he beat the goalie with a strong individual effort.
Ashe Woolsey added a late power-play marker, assisted by Brandon Legarie and Justin Scott, to seal the Canadians’ 7-1 victory.
In the back half of the home-and-home series on Saturday, Harris scored while on the power play after receiving a pass from Josh Scott and then Irv Lockman added an unassisted tally as the Canadians jumped out to an early 2-0 lead.
After a scoreless second, the Thunderhawks tied the score 2-2 courtesy of a pair of late third-period goals.
But any hopes of the ’Hawks completing the comeback were dashed with only 1:39 to go when Ossachuk scored unassisted to restore the lead and eventually give the Canadians the narrow 3-2 win.