Hal High opens inaugural season in Kawartha Girls Hockey League

Girls drop season opener 5-0 

and guys crunch Adam Scott 10-1

By Terrance Gavan

Both Hal High hockey teams hit the old Buckhorn Trail to Peterborough on Tuesday.

   Tuesday’s tilt marked the Hawks women’s inaugural game in Kawartha schoolgirl hockey.

   Exciting news for the Red Hawk girls, who have been waiting for this seminal moment after participating as a club team for the past six years.

   This year Hal High Principal Dan Marsden and teacher Bruce Griffith, along with local coach Vince Duchene all deserve kudos for following through on the dream. Big props to all involved in the developmental process as well.

   Big learning curve in store for the girls, indicated by the 5-0 loss in their debut against Holy Cross Crusaders.

   Marsden, contacted by phone on Tuesday evening, said it’s a respectable start for the Hawks, who have a young team with a good blend of talent.

   “We were behind 1-0 after one period and we trailed 2-0 after two,” said Marsden. “Our goaltender played really well and we have a broad range of talented girls who are learning to skate as a team right now. We’re looking forward to our home opener on Wednesday afternoon.”

   The girls played that opener at 2 pm on Wednesday against Adam Scott. Results and photos of that big event will be in next week’s Voice.

   For now, says Marsden, it’s a matter of learning how to skate and compete as a unit.

   That other Hawks hockey team – get used to it - pushed their seasonal tally to 3-0 with a convincing 10-1 win over Adam Scott Lions.

   Coach Ron Yake says that the boys dominated at both ends. Rookie goaltender Andrew Elia got credit for the win, but Yake says that when the game was in hand midway through the third the coaches let another young rookie pop some minutes between the pipes.

   “We had an opportunity to give Brayden Frost (Grade 9) some minutes late in the game,” says Yake. “Adam Scott just couldn’t match up with our depth, and I think their goaltending was maybe not at the high school level.”

   Ashton Hailey, Aaron Hillier, and Mark Vasey scored a pair of goals apiece, while Keaton Gadway, Jordan Howe, Drew Paul and Scotty Griffith tallied singles.