Icehawks let Royals back into it late; add P.A. born scorer

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With their two straight home losses this week, the Icehawks’ home-and-away record looks quite wonky. They’re 1-5-1 at home and are being outscored 23-35, but on the road is a much different story. They’re 4-1, outscoring their opposition 21-16.

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“We’re in every game, but unfortunately our home record is really terrible compared to our road one,” said Dryka. “I don’t know if they’re just nervous or what, but lately the heart wasn’t there.”

Although most teams will dread having to play four games in a row, it may be just what the doctor ordered for the Icehawks.

They’ll play their next four games on the road, Nov. 11 against the Tri-Town Thunder, Nov. 14 against Fort Knox, Nov. 15 against the Ochapowace Thunder and Nov. 18 against the Delisle Chiefs.

The next home game for the Icehawks will be on Nov. 20 against the Traveland Storm from Pilot Butte.

Scoring summary

After giving up the first goal to Royals forward Marcus Tipewan three minutes in, the Icehawks scored three consecutive goals to end the first period with a 3-1 advantage. Brendon Boyer, Kent Hanson and Zach Hurd all found the back of the net for the homeside.

“The first shot went in and then our guys tightened up a little bit and our offence started clicking,” said Dryka. “In the first, we started to win the puck, head-manning it and shooting the puck. When you shoot the puck, things happen.”

For Hanson, the 17-year-old Prince Albert product, it was his first Junior B goal in his first career Junior B game. Hanson played his first four games with the La Ronge Ice Wolves to start the year but has since joined the Icehawks and will finish the year with them.

Last year with the Prince Albert Dmyterko Ent. Raiders, Hanson was tied for the Centre Four Midget AA Hockey League with 36 goals and was second with 64 points in 31 games. He also appeared in six games Midget AAA games with the Prince Albert Mintos last season, scoring a goal and four points.

“Hanson is an offensive guy, we know he has good hands and he knows what to do with the puck,” said Dryka. “It was his first game, he hasn’t had a practice with us. Things look bright for him here and we’re happy to have him as an Icehawk.”

After the Icehawks turned the puck over while trying a breakout on the boards early in the second period, the Royals countered quickly with a near-side wrister from Kihisis Derocher to make it a 3-2 game.

Icehawks captain Jack Green restored his team’s two goal advantage with a near-drop snipe on the power play. Green is really starting to come alive for the Icehawks. He had a monster four-goal, six-point night on Sunday in an 8-6 loss to the Regina Silver Foxes. He has now extended his point streak to eight games with 10 goals and 18 points.

Boyer ended the game with a goal and three assists, after his one-goal, six-point night on Sunday. He now has an eight game, 21 point streak intact.

The Royals got their four unanswered goals to put the Icehawks away late, off the sticks off Tanner Webb, David Yuzyk and Mitchell Herbert. Brett Armstrong added the empty net goal with 52 seconds left in the game.

jdandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea