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Hornets move into second place after weekend wins

December 23, 2021   ·   0 Comments

It just keeps getting better and better for the Alliston Hornets as the season goes on.

After a rough start to the season, the squad has been improving and winning as they gel as a squad and get their systems in place.

The Hornets won back-to-back games over the weekend including a huge win over the Orillia Terriers on Orillia home ice on Saturday, December 18.

The Terriers have been a solid team this year who were in first place before dropping to second, and now fourth place.

Saturday’s game turned into a blow-out for the Hornets when they scored four goals in the first period.

They followed up with three more in the second before Orillia could get on the scoreboard with a single late in the frame.

Alliston’s Duncan Grube scored in the third to end the game 8-1 for Alliston.

The two points moved the Hornets up a notch in the standings to second place. With 32 points, they are now tied with the first place Stayner Siskins, although the Siskins have played only 19 games compared to 22 for the Alliston team.

For the regular Friday night game at the New Tecumseth Recreation Centre, the Hornets hosted the Midland Flyers.

It was a hot Midland goalie who stopped the Hornets from scoring. With five minutes left in the third period they had 50 shots on net but only three goals.

They went to work late int he game and scored three more in the space of three minutes to end the game 6-1.

Midland got the opening goal on the first shot on net. 

“We were definitely good off the hop,” said Hornets forward Mitchell Smilsky. “Their goalie was solid between the pipes, but we were able to out-man them and got a couple of powerplay chances and buried some early, it’s just unfortunate the very first shot they got the one goal. We kept the ball rolling after they got the lead.”

The Hornets dominated the entire game. During the first period, they spent very little time in their own end.

“|We kept working hard, and came out even faster after the first period, a dominated the offensive zone,” Mitchell said.

The squad knew they were facing a tough challenge heading up to Orillia then next night, but they were ready to work hard and leave the ice with the win.

“We have to make sure we play our game from the start of the first period and play our game all the way through,” Mitchell said. “We have to get rested tonight able be able to go up to Orillia and be ready to go.”

Friday’s second period goals came from Cole Turcotte, Ben Taylor, and Rhys Brown.

The final three in the third came from Nathan Smilsky, Mitchell Smilsky, and Duncan Grube.

Alliston’s Cole Turcotte has now moved to the top of the points list for the Hornets. He has recorded 20 goals and 15 assist after 22 games on the ice.

That’s it for Hornets hockey for 2021 as the PJHL takes a break for the holidays.

The Hornets will return to home ice at the NTRC on Sunday, January 2, when they will host the Orillia Terriers.

Game time is 6:30 p.m.

By Brian Lockhart
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

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