WINDSOR, N.S. — The Avon View Avalanche's close loss to the Horton High Griffins proved one thing: they need to focus on being more consistent.
The Avalanche hosted the Griffins Dec. 9 in Windsor and lost 4-3.
“Our play was sporadic... it is impossible to play strong for five minutes and then be lackadaisical for the next five to six minutes because it will simply not work. A full 60 minutes is required,” said Mark Tye, the Avalanche's hockey coach.
The win for Horton improved their record to 8-0-0 on the season while the Avalanche's record fell to 6-5.
Saturday’s game started with Avalanche goaltender Joe MacDonald making a strong stick save on a shot by Hunter Woodland.
The game’s first goal was scored by Liam Parker, of the Avalanche, with a high shot taken from almost at the Horton blue line.
Horton then replied with a soft goal with only 2:58 remaining in the first period.
The Griffins went up 2-1 just 28 seconds into the middle period with Dean Vial scoring from close in on MacDonald.
Avon View attempted to bounce back but the Horton goaltender made what some would say was the save of the game.
The Avalanche at times struggled connecting with their passes but with 1:28 left in the second period, Hayden Burgess made a perfect pass to Ethan Salsman, who found the net to tie the game at 2-2. That tie lasted less than 40 seconds as the Griffins' KK Pardy scored.
Chris Landry put Horton up 4-2 less than four minutes into the final period.
The Avalanche played a strong five minutes as the game neared the end. Will Caines moved the Avalanche back to within a goal. While Avon View dominated in closing stages, they couldn't force the tie.
Tye said they will be ready for their next meeting with the Griffins.
“We have two more games with Horton this season and I do not consider them unbeatable and we will come very strong against them in those two games,” said Tye.
In previous play
Avon View doubled the Northeast Kings Titans 4-2 during Valley High School Hockey League action Dec. 8 in Canning.
The Avalanche were up 2-0 before the game was three minutes old as Jacob Caldwell and Will Caines scored 14 seconds apart.
Brendan Haughan scored for the Titans to pull his team to within a goal as the first period concluded. The Titans' Cole Phillips then tied the game 2:59 into the middle period. Bryce Dauphinee assisted on both Titan goals.
Caldwell, on the power-play, gave the Avalanche a 3-2 lead going into the final period.
With only 7:23 left in the game, Ryan Coleski notched the fourth Avalanche goal of the evening to salt the win away.
Northeast Kings bombed Middleton 11-2 on Dec. 9 to bring their record to 5-4-0. Parkview leads the eastern division with a 9-0-1 record for 19 points.
Upcoming games
The Avon View Avalanche will be playing in the annual Cook’s Dairy Cup Hockey Tournament in Yarmouth Dec. 14-17 before returning home for a Dec. 23 game against Parkview at 7 p.m.
