Black Hawks on rough learning curve

The youthful Houlton-Hodgdon Black Hawks opened their season with games against two of the top teams in the league last week. The season opener was last Friday against Eastern Maine B champion Brewer and then the team traveled to Orono on Monday for a match against Old Town.
    The season opener found the Black Hawks facing an experienced and veteran laden Brewer team that featured eight seniors. The Black Hawks fell, 12-3.
Just 39 seconds into the game, the Black Hawks took a quick lead as Sam Fitzpatrick scored, assisted by Brandon Malone. Brewer quickly regained their composure and struck for four goals to take a 4-1 lead into the locker room after one period of play.
The second period saw the Black Hawks pull to within one when Brandon Ward hit for an unassisted tally at the 12:25 mark. Brewer answered with six goals to take control of the game with a 10-2 lead after two periods of play.
The third period saw a much closer game, as Brewer hit for two goals and the Black Hawks countered with another tally by Ward, assisted by Fitzpatrick. Chase Brewer and Hugh Farrar combined in the net to make 30 saves on 42 shots.
On Monday night, the Black Hawks traveled to Orono to take on a good Old Town squad, according to Black Hawks coach Joel Trickey. This game was much closer, with the Black Hawks on the short end of a 4-2 score.
The Black Hawks found themselves behind 3-0 with five minutes to play in the second, but Alex Donovan drove hard to the net and scored a goal off a rebound to pull within two going into the third period. The assist on the goal went to defenseman Jimmy Fitzpatrick.
Old Town regained the three-goal lead, but the Black Hawks once again came back with a goal by S. Fitzpatrick with just under a minute to play, the assist went to Gage Hunt.
“We pulled our goaltender and pressured the Coyotes for the final minute,” said Trickey. But, the Black Hawks couldn’t quite find the net. Goalie Payton Porter stopped 40 shots and the Black Hawks put 36 shots on the Coyote netminders.
“We ended up playing two of the top teams in Eastern Class B in our first two games and our inexperience showed,” explained Trickey. “Due to unforeseen circumstances, we ended up having only four players with any game experience on the team this year, and it was a tough lesson for our new players.”
The Black Hawks had no practice between the two games, which Trickey said, “made it hard for the kids to make adjustments,” which were needed against Old Town.
“We’re very encouraged with the play of this team so far,” said Trickey. “While they still are adjusting to the pace of play in high school, they are working extremely hard in practice and learning what it takes to compete here. I’m seeing vast improvement in everyone and it will just be a matter of time before we’re competitive with everyone in the league.”