LAURIE WEIR
The Smiths Falls Bears needed solid defence Sunday afternoon, Jan. 26, to hold off a late charge from the Hawkesbury Hawks in Central Canada Hockey League action.
In front of just 128 fans, the Bears hung on for a 3-2 victory, moving into a tie with the Brockville Braves and Ottawa Junior Senators for the eighth and final playoff spot. All three teams have 39 points, four behind the seventh-place Kemptville 73’s.
The Bears scored once in each period before Hawkesbury could break through Ethan Morrow, who earned the win with 20 saves. Smiths Falls outshot the Hawks 42-22.
Cameron O’Connell opened the scoring on the power play at 12:41 of the first period, assisted by Quinn Booth and Marc-Antoine Riopel.
In the second period, Tyson Parker scored his 22nd goal of the season at 6:33, with Booth and Maxwell Richler picking up the assists.
In the third, just 2:23 in, Xavier Tessier netted the eventual game-winner, assisted by Caeden Heins and O’Connell.
Hawkesbury responded at 13:01, when Hutchinson Rose scored with help from Adam Racine and Fernand-Oliver Perron. Jackson Porco added another for the Hawks at 16:58, assisted by William Filteau.
O’Connell, Morrow, and Booth were named the game’s stars.
The Bears hit the road Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. game against Nepean before hosting Cornwall on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
