Hockey Red Hawks snack on Griffins

Vasey pops two including the game winner

By Terrance Gavan

Mark Vasey, when he isn’t busy in the corners, or schmoozing pleasantries with opposing players, has a pretty deft touch around the net.

   Let’s just say that Vasey can be a royal pain in the butt for the opposition.

   He pops and pops off.

   Now understand, Vasey is no Sean Avery clone, he just likes to state his case unequivocally and without demur.   

   Red Hawks’ coaches Ron Yake and Bruce Griffith probably wish that Vasey would stick to the sniping and lower the level on the griping.

   But like the old song says, it may be a case of, “can’t have one without the other.”

   Quite simply, Vasey seems to produce best when he’s whirling around the ice surface like the Tasmanian Devil on Red Bull.

   Fans love it.

   Last Friday it was Vasey who got things going and then closed the door in the space of 63 seconds in a first period flurry that left the visiting Thomas A Stewart Griffins reeling.

   Vasey’s second goal was the eventual game winner in a 7-1 drubbing over the valiant but overmatched Griffins.

   The Hawks stretched their Kawartha West season record to 2-0 and they seem ready to continue to improve – if that’s possible – on their 12-0-1 record in league play last season.

   Keaton Gadway added two goals and an assist, Ian Bottum scored a pair, and Brett Yake led all scorers with a goal and three assists. Carson Roberts had two assists while Scott Griffith, Aaron Hillier, and newcomer Chad Larue added single helpers.

   The Hawks led 2-0 after one period and 4-0 after two.

   Zach Harrison had a shutout going until Tyler Lafonte broke that up with a goal early in the final frame.

   The convincing win managed in spite of a gaping deficiency in Red Hawk numbers.

   “We were short some skaters today, so I was impressed with how the guys played,” said coach Yake. “I think our skill outshone their skill this afternoon. We controlled the puck better than they did and we have a lot of speed up front.”

   Defensively the Hawks were missing Greg Clements and Zach Boice and up front forwards Brandon Yake and Jordan Howe were also MIA.

   “We brought Chris Hall up he had a good game,” said Yake, after the game. “He’s just in Grade 9 and he did a good job for us. We went with two lines plus one forward and those guys logged a lot of ice time; we tried to keep the shifts as short as possible.

   The coach praised Vasey’s work ethic and intelligence. “Mark is smart out there and knows what he’s doing,” said Yake. Special teams also played a pivotal role.

   “We worked on special teams a lot last year and we’re working hard on it again this year.”said Yake.  “If you can score on the power play 25 percent of the time it’s great, and I think we’re a little better than that this year.”

   Harrison made a pivotal stop in the dying seconds of the first frame after a defensive miscue led to a Griffin breakaway.

   “Zach made some nice stops and especially at the end of the first period when he stopped that breakaway chance,” said Yake. “It would have been a different game if they would have scored on that break.

   “Today was just a solid team effort and everyone worked hard and played together.”

   Hawks were on the road versus Adam Scott on Tuesday.