When Truro Bearcats rookie Cole Hawes told me about wanting to improve as a hockey player I listened closely.
"I especially have to work on my skating, my speed and hustle," the 16-year-old Sheet Harbour native said.
As we talked further, the noticeably accurate shooter and fine stickhandler shared how he had developed a passion for hockey early in life.
"I traveled from my home in Sheet Harbour to Musquodoboit Harbour to play atom," he said. "My older brother Tyler, my role model, definitely helped my interest in hockey grow."
The next two seasons saw Hawes play peewee AAA for the Eastern Shore Mariners.
"Around this time my mother (Carlotta) was diagnosed with MS and I moved away from home to keep playing top-calibre hockey," he said. "During the next number of seasons I changed residences each year."
Three seasons in bantam AAA included playing two years with the Eastern Shore Mariners and one with the East Hants Penguins in 2007-08. Last year, while a member of the Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League's Dartmouth Subways, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound forward caught the eye of Shawinigan Cataractes scouts. Hawes began this season playing for Shawinigan in the QMJHL.
"I wasn't getting much ice time and I joined the Truro Bearcats the latter part of September," Hawes recalled. "Since the day I walked into the Truro dressing room the guys treated me like I had been here all along. I'm enjoying playing with the Bearcats, we're doing well as a team and it's really nice to be with a league contender.
"I thought we came up with a clutch win last Saturday against Amherst. Our guys showed that we can battle back. We'll have to come a little more ready for two big games this weekend when we're in Woodstock (Friday) and back home against Summerside (tonight). Getting up and being ready for those two teams won't be a problem."
Cole's brother Tyler, a former Team Canada softball player, plays university hockey with the Saint Mary's Huskies. Cole, who is in Grade 11 at Cobequid Educational Centre, also played several years as an outfielder in softball.
oooo
Last Saturday night's winning goal by Dana Fraser against the Amherst Ramblers had many of us rubbing our eyes in disbelief while asking for a replay.
Truro Bearcats fans were thrilled as Fraser picked up the puck near his own blueline during the dying seconds of the third period with the game tied. After turning several Ramblers inside out, he made his way to the Amherst net and, in beautiful fashion, tucked the puck behind baffled netminder Jonathan Waye.
After loud cheering and clapping had subsided, some descriptions of the amazing winning goal were captured.
Game Announcer Danny Carter: "Dana made some fancy moves at the Amherst blueline. The way he twisted his body and the way he beat their defenceman stands out to me. I'm not sure if he went behind his own back with the puck, kicked it from his skate to his stick or what. He may have somehow put the puck through his own legs to his stick, it was just an unbelievable goal."
Truro coach Shawn Evans: "That was the nicest goal that I've seen in quite a while ... I know I'm bias but Dana Fraser is the best hockey player in the league."
Bearcats teammate Cole Hawes described the goal this way: "Dana carried the puck all the way down from our blue-line. What hands and what moves. He protected the puck and he even put the puck through his own legs to his stick on the play. Dana is the most talented player in junior A by far, that was the most amazing individual goal that I've ever seen."
Josh Boulton's Brookfield Elks turned in an impressive effort Tuesday at the Don Henderson Memorial Sportsplex in Brookfield. Jimmy Scullion's second goal of the game, with defenceman Shea Brennan drawing an assist at the 11:10 mark of the third period, proved to be the winner in a 4-3 cliffhanger victory over the Sackville Blazers.
The team's hard working captain, Ike Burgess, also lit the red light, as did smooth playmaker Josh Taylor.
Every member of the home squad deserved to take a bow after this one. Combining with Sunday's road victory against Pictou County, the back-to-back wins are quite a boost to the club in their bid to improve in the standings.
Landon Crowe was solid in goal to preserve the win Tuesday and also standing out was the play of Brennan, Catlin Staples and Mitch Budden on defence. Talented 16-year-old rookie rearguard Lucas Dawe continues to improve every game and Avery Withrow and Justin Smith did a fine job firing up a determined group of Elks forwards.
Next Tuesday the East Hants Penguins will visit Brookfield at 7.30 p.m.
Lyle Carter is a Brookfield resident and former pro hockey player
