Hawks soaring above competition

Charleswood

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This article was published 13/11/2024 (557 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

While it is early days yet, the Charleswood Hawks are soaring to lofty heights.

A quarter of the way through the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League’s 45-game 2024-25 regular season, the Hawks were 10-1-1 at press time, good for 21 points and tied for first place in the 10-team loop. The Hawks goals against average of 2.25 was best in the league, and the team was also scoring at the second-best rate of 4.08 goals per game after 12 games.

“Every year you come in with aspirations to get that opportunity (to compete for a championship),” said Hawks head coach Dillon Smith. “Last couple of years we’ve been knocking on the door, but falling a bit short. But with the start we’ve had, we’ve caught some other teams off guard with how hard we work and how much we want it.”

That’s all well and good, but Smith and the rest of the Hawks know there’s still plenty of hockey left before playoffs.

“We try to take things weekend to weekend but early on, as a coaching staff, we really wanted to focus on what we need to do,” said Smith, who is in his first year as bench boss after a few years as an assistant coach. “We’ve identified our strengths, and wanted to focus on that in practice and transition that to games. Full props, they’ve excelled in those areas.”

Special teams is one area that could see improvement, Smith said. While the Hawks power play was running at nearly 19 per cent, or third best, its penalty kill was only clicking at 81.1 per cent, seventh in the league.

“Every coach will say you want to clean up the D-zone as quick as you can in the year,” Smith added. “Especially with younger guys, there will be mistakes. We’re hoping to work from the net out, all five guys on the ice, and making sure you’re doing that consistently.”

This year’s Hawks roster includes nine rookies, four of whom are defencemen, though some have only seen limited ice-time so far this season.

“We knew we were going to try to do a couple things different this year,” said Smith, who played for Charleswood for parts of five seasons after finishing his high school career at Oak Park. “We have a strong group of 18 year olds. Our makeup is we have some very elite 20 and 21 year olds, mixed with some real competitive and hungry 18 year olds who want to learn. This is a good mix.”

Alternate captain Matt Carlson was leading the team in scoring at press time, with eight goals and 11 assists in 11 games.

“(He) is one of the most intense guys, on and off the ice, that I’ve ever met,” Smith said of the 21-year-old forward. “He’s a big gamer, leads by example.”

Captain and fellow 21-year-old Lucas Van Norman, a defenceman, may not show up as much on the scoresheet, with only one goal and three assists through 12 games, but he does everything right in the coach’s eyes.

“He’s been with us four years, a tremendous leader,” Smith said. “He holds himself accountable, which other guys feed off of. On the flipside, if guys are struggling, he’s the first to go over and see if they’re alright and build them up.”

With over 30 games remaining, including games against Fort Garry/Fort Rouge Twins on Nov. 8 and the Stonewall Jets on Nov. 10 (results not available at press time), Smith hopes the Hawks can remain atop the league, not least for fans of local grassroots hockey.

“I grew up watching hockey in Charleswood, when the (NHL) Jets weren’t around,” Smith said, adding the team recently helped out with the annual Rob West Fall Classic Tournament. “This past Friday, we had all our ‘digger award’ winner come to the game, so it was a real nice evening for families in Charleswood. It’s great to see the work our players are putting in outside of the rink coming back.”

For complete results, schedule, and more, visit mmjhl.ca