Minor atom Blackhawks extend unbeaten streak

The Blackhawks were ready for action in the game against the Lightning recently.

The Caledon Blackhawks minor atom selects have been playing their best hockey of the year, and have also been looking to continue the trend.

In order to do that, they first had to deal with the league-leading Brampton Snipers Dec. 1. The last time they met it ended in a 1-1 tie.

The game began where the previous one left off; very closely fought. The first period was highlighted by strong defence and goaltending led by the play of Nelson Learn and Steven Nelson and ended in a 0-0 tie.

The second period remained scoreless until the mid-point, when the Snipers netted the game's first goal on a rebound. The period continued back and forth, with the Blackhawks' Hudson James having a couple of scoring chances, but not being able to capitalize on them. The Blackhawks entered the final period knowing they were playing well and could have been ahead instead of down one, had a couple of bounces gone their way.

The Blackhawks pressed the Snipers right from the start of the period, and their hard work paid off. They scored with a little more than a minute gone in the frame when Luke Caleca slipped in from the point to receive Zachary Infusini's pass and fired a shot past the Snipers' goaltender. With the game tied 1-1, the Blackhawks continued to pressure the Snipers, but were turned away time and time again. The Snipers attempts to break the tie were met by a Blackhawk defensive wall, with any shots that made it through being turned away by Russ McCanna. The game ended with the same result as their last meeting, a 1-1 tie.

The coach's pick for player of the game was Nelson Learn.

Last Sunday, the Blackhawks met the Caledon Lightning for the third time this year, with the Lightning looking to avenge their recent loss to their cross-town rivals.

The Lightning came out flying, with Thomas Steller taking the puck from the opening face-off, down the ice, catching the Blackhawks off guard and scoring, unassisted, in the first six seconds.

It looked like the beginning of what the Lightning were hoping for, a win over the Blackhawks, but the Blackhawks had other plans. They settled down after the quick goal and got back to their game plan. As the period wore on, the Blackhawks pressed more and more, until they finally broke through, with just a little more than two minutes left in the period. Caleca fired a shot from the point into the top corner, past the Lightning netminder, with John Sopinka and Steve Luongo drawing the assists. That got the team going, as they turned it up a notch and pressured them again and again. With just less than a minute left in the period, Gavin Stone stopped a clearing attempt by the Lightning, firing the puck back in to the zone, which eventually found its way to the stick of Infusini, who scored with just 37 seconds left on the clock. Christopher Cola, along with Stone, got the helpers on the play.

The second period continued to be back and forth, with the game progressing as in the first period, with the Blackhawks holding the upper hand. Just past the mid-point, the Blackhawks added the insurance goal they needed, with David Ryan providing the hard work to score. With a 3-1 lead entering the third period, the Blackhawks knew they had to continue to hustle and work hard to keep the Lightning from getting back into the game.

Aside from a couple of prime Lightning scoring opportunities, which goaltender Nelson thwarted, the Blackhawks played strong in both ends of the ice, with Michael Upshall showing the way. The game ended 3-1 and for the Blackhawks. It meant a weekend of one win and a tie, and a four-game unbeaten streak for the first time this year.

The coach's pick for player of the game was Luke Caleca.

The Blackhawks would like to thank the Lightning supporters and everyone that participated in the team's 50/50 draw, with the proceeds from this and all December's draws going to a local family charity to assist in making someone's Christmas a little more jolly.

The Caledon Blackhawks would like to send a special thank you to the following player sponsors: Stephen Ryan - Spectrum Realty, All Metal Fabricating, Payworks Payroll Services, Black & McDonald.