Northern Hawks remain winless at nationals

The Northern Hawks fell to 0-2-1 at the Keystone Cup Western Canadian Jr. B Championship in Sherwood Park, Alta., after dropping a 6-2 decision to the Pilot Butte Storm Friday evening.

Special teams proved to be part of the Hawks’ undoing allowing four power play goals to the Saskatchewan Jr. B champions.

The Storm jumped out to a 3-0 lead after one period of play including man advantage markers from Reid Howe and Dillon Marcotte. Branden Sentes had the other in the frame.

The Hawks would get back into the contest striking twice before the second stanza was three minutes old courtesy of a Sean Cunninghame shorthanded effort 26 seconds in as well as an even strength goal from Nathan Spina at 2:37.

Pilot Butte would tack on two tallies before the session was out however as Howe completed a hat-trick.

Mitchell McNish would round out the scoring late in the third as he fired the Storm’s fourth power play goal of the evening.

Pilot Butte blasted 50 shots on Jordan George who made 44 stops in defeat for the Hawks.

Mark Smith only had to make 17 saves in picking up the win.

The Hawks wrap-up round-robin play Saturday with a pair of contests as they take on the Peninsula Panthers of B.C. and the Alberta Jr. B champion Blackfalds Wranglers. Game times are 10:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. EDT respectively.