River Hawks Double Up Hampton, 4-2

by Jonathan Weaver

The Armstrong River Hawks have gained seven out of a possible eight points in the Class AA standings during the last four games – including during a 4-2 victory on home ice against division-foe Hampton.

“Very fast-paced game - one of the fastest games we had this year,” Coach Doug Anthony said. “I thought the boys stuck to the game plan.”

Team Captain Christian Miller scored the first goal for either team with Armstrong’s first official shot of the game - about 20 seconds into a first-period power play opportunity.

Armstrong’s defense held that lead for about 20 minutes with consistent puck possession before Hampton scored in the second period. But, Miller untied the game with his Class AA-leading 31st goal about a minute before the end of the second period.

An initial pad save by Armstrong Goaltender Tyler Smouse – whom Coach Anthony called the player of the game - squirted into the net to tie the game 2-2 early in the third period, but Armstrong withstood the pressure to crumble and scored twice in the final five minutes - Josh Oliver wristed a slapshot and Luke Gross added an empty net goal with about a second remaining - to seal the victory, 4-2.

“(Smouse) didn’t hang his head after (the game-tying goal) – he held it for a second or two and then went back in there and battled,” Coach Anthony said. “He’s getting better, and the team’s starting to play for each other.

“If we keep building momentum and working all of our systems, this will be a playoff team.”

Miller added an assist on Oliver’s goal to give him a three-point night, but he credited Oliver and Gross with the win. The win gives Armstrong two more points, but Hampton remains in second place and two points ahead of Armstrong due to an extra victory.

Miller said the goal is to keep up the momentum and lead the Eastern Conference. Armstrong plays current division-leader Shaler (only three points ahead in the standings) twice to end the regular season.

“It was definitely a good game for us in the standings, and a good push for us to get to first place,” Miller said.

Gross also had three points during the game in the way of a goal and two assists and Oliver a goal and assist.

Despite the final score, Hampton Head Coach Matt Ranallo was proud his team held Armstrong snipers to only 18 shots during the game.

“It was a tough loss – we gave it everything we got and put a lot of pucks on net. (Armstrong’s) a high-powered team,” Ranallo said. “We wanted to make sure we were really funneling the puck to the net.

“We enjoy these games – everybody gets up for them.”

That included Hampton’s Will Maguire, who scored the two goals for the Talons.

“We had all these chances – we just couldn’t finish them,” Maguire said. “We have to put this game past us – we know we played well, but just didn’t get the bounces we thought we should’ve got. We’re just going to push this in the back of our heads and move forward.”

Armstrong plays against Plum at the Belmont Complex at 7PM Thursday, January 26 during Senior Night.