The Hawkesbury Hawks began 2026 with a pair of wins for their fans.
The final three games on their December schedule for the 2025-2026 Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) saw the Hawks beat the Renfrew Wolves 4-2 December 17, then lose 4-2 at home to the Brockville Braves December 20. The Hawks fought hard in their final game of 2025 against the Smith Falls Bears December at the Rockland Arena during the annual CCHL showcase.
That game ended in a five-man shoot-out session with Vital Dinis getting a point for Hawkesbury but the Bears taking the win on goals by Carter Beauchesne and Caeden Hines for a 3-2 final score.
The first weekend of January saw the Hawks mark their start in the new year with two wins, starting with a 6-2 victory on home ice against the Nepean Raiders January 2 at the Robert Hartley Sports Complex.
First period saw no goals for either side. Vital Dinis launched Hawkesbury’s scoring run with a goal early in second period, assisted by Edward Downey and Albert Genest. The Raiders scored twice then to take the lead until late into the period when Downey tied up the score, with help from Ben Lacoste. Jeremy St. Louis broke the tie in Hawkesbury’s favour three minutes before the end of the period. Assisting him was Micheale Minchello.
A minute into third period, Matthew Itzkovitz extended the Hawks’ lead, with help from Genest and Carter Graves. Five minutes later Graves pushed the Hawks further ahead on the scoreboard, with assists from Downey and Dinis. Minchello scored the final goal on an empty Raiders net in the last two minutes of the game. Helping him on the point were Itzkovitz and Danny Kananga.
Sunday in Renfrew, the Hawks beat the Wolves 7-4 even though Renfrew took the lead with two goals in first period. Minchello put Hawkesbury on the scoreboard in the latter half of the period, assisted by Dinis.
Second period saw the Hawks push aside the Wolves with five goals to Renfrew’s one.
Scoring for the Hawks were Dinis, from Itzkovitz and Tyler Walsh, and Dinis again, alone with a short-handed goal. Mathis-Quy Lavallée added to Hawkesbury’s score at the period mid-point, with assists from Parker Burns and Colton Sarrazin. Edward Downey added a point about 30 seconds later, with help from Dinis and Graves. About two minutes later Minchello scored his second goal of the game, assisted by St. Louis.
Third period saw Dinis finish a hat trick on an empty Renfrew net in the last three minutes of the game. Assisting him was Xavier Lacoste.
Hawkesbury hosts Pembroke Friday night at the Robert Hartley Sports Complex. Saturday the Hawks are in Ottawa to face the Junior Senators.
