When Onondaga and Newtown get together, fans get ready for a great game. Friday night saw Newtown edge out the hometown Redhawks for a 10-9 win to secure first place for the 2013 Can-Am playoffs.
The Redhawks and Newtown were tied and were only separated by points for and against to see who would be crowned regular season champions. The first period showed how close the game would be throughout. While the rain poured outside, Newtown attackers rained down shots on Onondaga’s netminder Ross Bucktooth. Ross held the visitors to 4 tallies in the first period while AJ Bucktooth led a fast break and gave a beautiful feed to the Redhawk All-Star Brett Bucktooth to tie the game at 4 at the end of the first period.
The second period was a continuation of the first with no team able to build a lead. Goals by Redhawks Connor Lyons, AJ Bucktooth and veteran forward Neal Powless were quickly answered by the visitors. Neal and AJ teamed up for a beautiful goal where AJ gave Neal a no-look pass to set up a blast to give the Redhawks a 7-6 lead. The lead was short lived as a minute later Newtown ended the second period with a goal that many of the hometown fans thought was a crease violation.
The final period saw the visitors take a two goal lead halfway through the third period. With the game seemingly always tied or within one, a two goal lead seemed large. The Redhawks battled back to tie the game only to see the Golden Eagles score a fast break goal. The Redhawks had multiple fast break opportunities of their own only to be thwarted by the Newtown goalie.
Up next for the 2nd place Redhawks is the first round of playoffs beginning July 12th. Teams and times TBA.