Black Hawk Brings 2005 to an End

Travis Triplett

1/19/2006 - The Black Hawk Ice Hawks saw the best and worst of the holiday season in more ways than one. While they were able to prevail against Battalion 3-2, they found the Demons to be nothing but a grinch as they lost in a shootout 6-5. It may be only halfway into the season, but it isn’t too late to begin thinking about the playoffs and the tight race that Black Hawk hockey finds itself in.

  The Battalion was Black Hawk’s first opponent in the cold month of December. Although the Ice Hawks punished the opposing net with shots, they had to rally to defeat a team that is quickly establishing itself as one of the most hated in the city of Black Hawk.

  “They have no respect for anybody,” said Garrett Ladd. “They are one of the dirtiest teams we have played in a long time.”

  Ladd, normally known for handing out justice with his trusty elbow, would score the first goal of the game, but for two periods that would be the only tally for the Ice Hawks. Although for forty minutes they had a 30-8 margin on shots, Battalion would make theirs count as Jeremy Radtke scored both goals. While they dominated on the ice, Black Hawk had to play catch-up hockey in the third.

  “I just told everyone to keep attacking,” said Jeremy Neal.

  The Ice Hawks kept shooting, and Neal would finally find the back of the net to tie the game. Hunter Lavigne would score the game-winner just minutes later, and would find that Battalion was not in the holiday spirit. After scoring, Lavigne took a stick to the face and was later found planted into the boards courtesy of a cheap shot by an opposing player. The deplorable play would cause Lavigne to shove back in retaliation and the referees quickly broke up the tussle. Lavigne received a minor for roughing and the guilty player earned a game misconduct.

  Batallion’s dirty tricks are starting to wear thin on the Ice Hawks and their fans. The locker room had a hostile atmosphere after the game.

  “This is ridiculous,” said Ladd. “We are sick and tired of the chippy play. Everyone has to get up and go to work tomorrow, and we don’t want to see anyone get hurt.”

  “They want to win at any cost, and that is sad to see,” added Lavigne.

Black Hawk Closes 2005 in Defeat

  The Black Hawk Ice Hawks had the Demons on the ropes as they jumped out to a 5-1 lead, but they could not finish their opponents off. A four-goal rally and a lone tally in the shootout left Black Hawk out in the cold as they lost 6-5.

  Aside from a Ladd penalty, nothing happened until the second, and the Ice Hawks found the back of the net four times in the second and once in the third. Ryan Gan scored a hat trick, Neal continued his point streak, and Mike Schaller scored his first goal as an Ice Hawk. Up by four goals, the Ice Hawks seemed to have the game well in hand.

  But the Demons made a push of their own. It all started with the Demons' Jason Hart getting under the skin of the mountain redshirts and drawing penalties. The momentum shifted in the opponent’s direction as the Demons lit the lamp. What started as an attempt to salvage pride turned into a complete meltdown for the Ice Hawks as the Demons scored four unanswered goals of their own to tie the game and force a shoot-out. While the Ice Hawks got blanked, Chris Lannon would tally the only goal in the fifth round to send Black Hawk home for the holidays with a loss. The one point earned for the tie truly felt like kissing one’s sister under the mistletoe.

  “We had them, but we totally blew it,” said Dave Patterson.

  “It’s sad, we have been so good at avoiding penalties all year,” said Jeff Moeller.

  Come on out and watch your team! It’s exciting, fun, and free! Send us an email for more information. Icehawks@hotmail.com. HAPPY NEW YEAR!