Sheridan Hawks Junior Hockey Team Drop Both Games At Great Falls; Return Home To Face Bozeman

The Sheridan Hawks Junior Hockey Team is still in first place in the NA3HL Frontier Division, however their lead on that spot shrunk some this past weekend.

The team dropped both games at Great Falls, who now trail Sheridan in the standings by 5 points, and Helena is only 6 points back in 3rd place, with 12 games remaining in the regular season.

Head Coach J.J. Santagata says the Hawks were completely outworked this past weekend.

“Our attention to detail, just all weekend was absolute poor. There’s absolutely no excuses for what happened this weekend, it’s just a matter of looking in the mirror and taking ownership and it’s guys that have to take accountability for things that they’re doing wrong and stop pointing fingers. Just attention to detail was actually horrible, I mean we let up 3 goals in the first 10 minutes of both games. We let up 4 goals and 2 of those goals came off of shifts after we just let up a goal and we talk about it all year, so just attention to detail, urgency, was absolutely horrible.”

Sheridan returns home this weekend for a 2-game series vs. Bozeman, who is tied for 4th in the standings, thus the Icedogs are on the playoff bubble.

Coach Santagata says if the Hawks want to maintain their hold on first place, the team better remember how to play like a first place team and do it.

“We want to be where we are, and we’re just wasting time right now. We have absolutely zero time to waste and urgency needs to be through the roof. There’s a ton of teams that are just breathing down our throat, breathing down our neck right now, and if we give them the opportunity to get in punching distance, they’re going to take it, so the message is to be urgent, attention to detail and we have no time to waste.”

The puck drops on Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm.

Weekend Recap: (Courtesy: Sheridan Hawks)

On Friday the Sheridan Hawks traveled to the Great Falls Americans for a weekend match up between the first and second place teams in the Frontier Division, but the Hawks couldn’t grab a win. 

The Americans would get the scoring started just a minute into the game, and would add another later in the 1st period for the Americans to take a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.

The Hawks would not respond until eight minutes left in the second on a goal by new addition Jake Vukich, assisted by Caden Gleason and Jeff Slivon.

With just forty-nine seconds left in the frame Great Falls netted another to regain their two goal lead, and head into the last period 3-1.

In the third, Great Falls would tack on a powerplay goal to make the lead 4-1 and garner the W.

Saturday night, the Hawks started off with a lot more energy, controlling the puck and out shooting the Americans through out the first period but just couldn’t get on the board before Great Falls would get the scoring started half way through the first frame.

Just two minutes later would tally another for the Americans, extending the lead to 2-0.

The Hawks responded a few minutes later on a goal by Anthony Launderville to cut the lead 2-1.

In the second, the Hawks and Americans would trade off goals with two apiece.

The Americans would take a 4-3 lead into the final frame.

In the third, the Americans found the back of the net twice extend their lead to 6-3.

The Hawks would push hard in the final minutes where they would tally two goals in the last three minutes, but it would not prove to be enough.

The Hawks fell short, despite outshooting the Americans 50-24 and the Americans skate away with a 6-5 win and a weekend sweep. 

The Hawks are back on home ice this weekend as they host the Bozeman Icedogs and celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence!

The Hawks invite their fans to come join the team to recognize American values, honor all those who have made this nation great and promote this legacy for future generations!

The team will mark this historic milestone with a special America 250 jersey that reflects the strength, heritage, and spirit of our great nation. 

These game worn semiquincentennial jerseys will be up for auction starting on Friday morning through Sunday night. 

The auction will be held online at www.32auctions.com/hawksamerica250.