Hockey Hawks drop OT thriller
Jamie Lambier

The Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks men's hockey team met the Windsor Lancers on Saturday night in front of a packed house at the Waterloo Rec Complex. The Hawks were coming off an exciting 6-5 win over the Western Mustangs, and were looking to close some ground between themselves and the first place Lancers.

Unfortunately for the Hawks, a quick two goal lead was erased in the second period, and the Lancers eventually scored an overtime marker to defeat Laurier 3-2.

"In the second period, we really needed to keep it going and build on the 2-0 lead," commented Hawk head coach Tony Martindale. The Hawks exploded in the first period with two quick goals and looked well on their way to upsetting the number one team in the OUA. Trevor White found a wide open Mark Dinelely in front of the net to snap in the first goal during a power-play at 2:48 of the first period.

In another first period defensive breakdown by the Lancers, Larry Paleczny followed Martin Kerns to the net to pound home the rebound at 11:05. The first period, dominated by the Hawks dripped of play-off hockey intensity. Mike Little took to the body and pounded on what seemed to be a lethargic Windsor squad.

The intensity that marked the first period was lost somewhere in the shuffle and the Golden Hawks seemed content to settle in and sit on a two-goal lead-something not to be done with a team that is fourth in the OUA in goals for. Both teams seemed content to pace each other for much of the final two periods.

"In the second period, our shifts were just too long," commented Hawk head coach Tony Martindale.

With the bench farther away in the second period, the Hawks found themselves making mistakes at the end of shifts, at least one of which resulted directly in a Lancer goal.

A wrap around goal by Windsor early in the second period brought the Lancers within a goal. In what had to be the brightest light in an otherwise lack-lustre game for the Hawks, goaltender Darryl Whyte was outstanding in keeping the Golden Hawks close to the persistent Lancer squad.

Whyte saw more rubber than the Trans-Canada highway being outshot 46-21 by the end of the second period. Whyte has more than filled the shoes of absentee Frank Ivankovic who has been in Slovakia representing Croatia in the World University Games.

Kevin Hansen tied the game with a breakaway goal at 15:20 of the third period after a great feed from Lancer winger Kevin Pucovsky.

Whyte displayed flashes of brilliance turning away a late effort by the Lancers to finish the game and send it into over-time.

The Golden Hawks, well-versed in over-time hockey with four ties this season, were unable to stop the quick Lancer transitional game and just minutes into overtime, the Lancers scored on a rebound to put 'er in the books.

"There was a missed assignment, and we ended up with a four on three situation," explained Martindale, who said while he was dissapointed with the result of the contest, he thought the team played reasonably well.

The Golden Hawks are on the road against Ryerson on Thursday and Mid-West division leader Brock on Saturday. With only seven games left until the playoffs, and threeway tie for a play-off berth in the Far-West Division, every game is pivotal for the Golden Hawks who are in position to make a run for the OUA championship.

"We feel we must win five of seven games to make the playoffs," noted Martindale, who looks forward to the return of foreward Jeff Ambrosio, defensemen Bob Mquat, and goaltender Frank Ivankovich to the lineup on Thursday.

"We've been going with five defensemen, and it will be good to get another one back and shorten up some shifts," said Martindale, who added that Ambrosio's return will give the Hawks some scoring punch that has been somewhat lacking as of late. In terms of goaltending, Whyte's stellar play in Ivankovich's absence has raised some questions as to who will start for the Hawks come crunch time.

"We will probably alternate goaltenders and see who is hot going into the playoffs," commented Martindale, who has asked his players to step it up in practice and demonstrate the intensity that will be required to get to and succeed in the playoffs.

"We're entering the fourth segment of our season. Our goal is to play with determination and build some momentum to carry into the playoffs," added Martindale, who's team will be back in action at the Waterloo Recreation Complex on Thursday, February 11 against the York Yeomen, game time 7:30pm.

met the Windsor Lancers on Saturday night in front of a packed house at the Waterloo Rec Complex. The Hawks were coming off an exciting 6-5 win over the Western Mustangs, and were looking to close some ground between themselves and the first place Lancers.

Unfortunately for the Hawks, a quick two goal lead was erased in the second period, and the Windsor eventually scored an overtime marker to defeat Laurier 3-2.

"In the second period, we really needed to keep it going and build on the 2-0 lead," commented Hawk head coach Tony Martindale. The Hawks exploded in the first period with two quick goals and looked well on their way to upsetting the number one team in the OUA. Trevor White found a wide open Mark Dinelely in front of the net who was all alone to snap in the first goal during a power-play at 2:48 of the first period.

In another first period defensive breakdown by the Lancers, Larry Paleczny followed Martin Kerns to the net to pound home the rebound at 11:05. The first period, dominated by the Hawks dripped of play-off hockey intensity. Mike Little took to the body and pounded on what seemed to be a lethargic Windsor squad.

The intensity that marked the first period was lost somewhere in the shuffle and the Golden Hawks seemed content to settle in and sit on a two-goal lead-something not to be done with a team that is fourth in the OUA in goals for. Both teams seemed content to pace each other for much of the final two periods.

"In the second period, our shifts were just too long," commented Hawk head coach Tony Martindale. With the bench farther away in the second period, the Hawks found themselves making mistakes at the end of shifts, at least one of which resulted directly in a Lancer goal.

A wrap around goal by Windsor early in the second period brought the Lancers within a goal. In what had to be the brightest light in an otherwise lack-luster game for the Hawks, goaltender Darryl Whyte was outstanding in keeping the Golden Hawks close to the persistent Lancer squad.

Whyte saw more rubber than the Trans-Canada highway being outshot 46-21 by the end of the second period. Whyte has more than filled the shoes of absentee Frank Ivankovic who has been in Slovakia representing Croatia in the World University Games.

Kevin Hansen tied the game with a breakaway goal at 15:20 of the third period after a great feed from Lancer winger Kevin Pucovsky. Whyte displayed flashes of brilliance turning away a late effort by the Lancers to put the game away sending the game into over-time.

The Golden Hawks, well-versed in over-time hockey with four ties this season, were unable to stop the quick Lancer transitional game and just minutes into overtime, the Lancers scored on a rebound to send the game into the books.

"There was a missed assignment, and we ended up with a four on three situation," explained Martindale, who said while he was dissapointed with the result of the contest, he thought the team played reasonably well.

The Golden Hawks are on the road against Ryerson on Thursday and Mid-West division leader Brock on Saturday. With only seven games left until playoffs, and threeway tie for a play-off position in the Far-West Division, every game is pivotal for the Golden Hawks who are the position to make a run for the OUA championship.

"We feel we must win five of seven games to make the playoffs," noted Martindale, who looks foreward to the return of foreward Jeff Ambrosio, defensemen Bob Mquat, and goaltender Frank Ivankovich to the lineup on Thursday.

"We've been going with five defensemen, and it will be good to get another one back and shorten up some shifts," said Martindale, who added the Ambrosio's return will give the Hawks some scoring punch that has been somewhat lacking as of late. In terms of goaltending, Whyte's stellar play in Ivankovich's absence has raised some questions as to who will start for the Hawks come crunch time.

"We will probably alternate goaltenders and see who is hot going into the playoffs," commented Martindale, who has asked his players to step it up in practice and demonstrate the intensity that will be required to get to and suceed in the playoffs.

"We're entering the fourth segment of our season. Our goal is to play with determination and build some momentum to carry into the playoffs," added Martindale, who's team will be back in action at the Waterloo Recreation Complex on Thursday, February 11 against the York Yeomen, game time 7:30pm.