HOULTON, Maine — The Houlton-Hodgdon-Southern Aroostook-Katahdin hockey team has experienced its fair share of ups and downs over the last three games, with two losses and one victory during a busy holiday vacation.
The Black Hawks (4-2) fell 4-2 to Messalonskee Monday, beat Lawrence/Skowhegan 7-2 Dec. 31 and lost a tough 5-4 overtime contest to Hampden Academy Dec. 28.
“We took to the road to play Hampden in Brewer Wednesday, Dec. 28, and it was a great game,” coach Tony Marino said. “The Black Hawks fought hard, but they came up short in OT, losing 5-4.”
The matchup started off with a bang as Black Hawk Nick Delucca found the back of the net 19 seconds into the game with assists from Brandon Dunn and Josh Malone. Hampden Academy scored the next two goals to take a 2-1 lead at the end of the first period.
In the second period, the Black Hawks tied the game with another goal by Nick Delucca, assisted by Josh Malone. Once again Hampden answered that with another goal to reclaim the lead, 3-2 at the end of the second period.
The scoring heated up in the third period, as the Black Hawks were able to tie the game on a goal by Brandon Dunn assisted by Delucca. The team then took the lead with an unassisted goal by Josh Malone. Hampden answered to tie the game at 3-3 with a little over 3 minutes left in the game.
The Black Hawks fought hard, but with a penalty in the final two minutes of the game, the squad was short-handed. Hampden pulled their goalie, giving the Broncos a 6-on-4 advantage, but the Black Hawk defense held strong to force overtime. In the extra period, Hampden Academy scored the game-winner.
Ian Neureuther was in net for the Black Hawks and stopped 34 of 39 shots.
The Black Hawks were home on Saturday and were able to clinch one to rally after their loss with Hampden as the team hosted the Lawrence/Skowhegan Bandits.
“This was an all Black Hawks game,” coach Marino said. “We scored three unanswered goals in the first period and never looked back.”
Delucca scored the first goal on an assist by Gavin Vining. Defenseman Drew Marino scored two goals (one unassisted and one with assists from Abe Loom and Garret Perkins.)
In the second period Delucca scored, with assists from Malone and Brandon Dunn to give the team a 4-0 lead.
The final period was much more eventful with three Black Hawk goals by the Black Hawks and two from the Bandits. Malone found the back of the net less than a minute into the period, assisted by Dunn and Loom. A few seconds later AJ Henderson scored off an assist from Vining.
Lawrence was finally able to get on the board with 5 minutes left in the game.
Black Hawk forward Henderson answered with another goal for the day, again assisted by Vining and Lorom. The Bandits scored again, late in the game, but the Black Hawks came out on top with a 7-2 win.
Nate Lilley was in goal most of the game and had seven saves while Seth Rand finished the game with two saves. The Black Hawks had 50 shots on net.
The winter break did not end well for the Black Hawks as the team traveled to the Ice Vault in Augusta on Monday to play Messalonskee, suffering a 4-2 loss.
“Let’s just say they were not on their game in this one,” coach Marino said.
Malone scored a goal, while Dunn notched an assist. The second Black Hawk goal was not reported.
