EXETER – With a pair of weekend losses just behind the Exeter Hawks and playoffs looming, head coach Steve Bedard is seeking a more vigorous effort from the first tick of the clock to the last.

"(We) need to play with more intensity for a full 60 minutes," he said in an interview Monday.

The Hawks are coming off a pair of 4-3 road losses to two wildly different teams, the third-place Thamesford Trojans and the fifth-place North Middlesex Stars.
Thamesford is the SOJHL's defending champion and has been near the top of conference standings all season long.

North Middlesex has eight wins in 27 tries and has been near the bottom most of the season.

"This weekend we gave up way too many odd-man rushes and our best effort in both games only happened when we were trailing," Bedard said.

"Individual scoring's great, but if we're giving up too many scoring chances because we're forgetting about the team, that's where the problem is," he said.
"We've got to start focusing more on team strategies, and just in general play as a team better."

He added the Hawks need to start coming out of the gate with the same desperate attitude they have when they're trailing.

"The real season starts now," Bedard said. "You can play as good as you want or as good as we have been playing up till now, but that doesn't win you a championship.

"The way we play from now till April is what matters. I think this time of year (we) need to come out to the rink focused and prepared to play a full 60 minutes of hockey."

Hawks (3) vs. Thamesford (4)

The Hawks struck first against Thamesford, thanks to a shorthanded goal from Tim Burtch 4:52 into the first period.

Thamesford bounced back with goals from Jake Hunter and Ethan Doan, and led 2-1 at the break.

Exeter's Kyle Craner scored the only goal of the second period, but Travis Parkin scored on a powerplay 58 seconds into the third to make it 4-3 Thamesford.
Hawks defenceman Matthew Ross tied the game 6:55 into the third, and neither team scored in overtime.

Thamesford scored three goals in the ensuing shootout while Exeter scored two.
Aaron Bedard went the distance in goal for Exeter, making 40 saves. Thamesford goalie Chris Walker had 36 saves in the win.

Hawks (3) vs. North Middlesex (4)

Craner opened the scoring Saturday at North Middlesex, finding the net with 4:40 left in the first period.

Stars player Brodie Balcom tied the game with 3:01 left in the second period and teammates Mike Sharpe and Mac Beaton answered with goals early in the third.
Exeter forward Josh Brideau stormed back with two goals – one shorthanded and another on a powerplay – to tie the game.

A goal from Chris Wilson with 23 seconds left in the third period gave North Middlesex the win.

Exeter goaltender Jake Partridge made 34 saves in the loss, while Bobby Raine and Justin Leitch split duties for North Middlesex, combining for 31 saves.

Up next

The Hawks return to action Friday with a rematch at home against North Middlesex, then face Lucan on the road Saturday night.

"It's time for the team to step up and bring a never-quit attitude, and (be) willing to get better and to learn that losing without effort is not acceptable," Bedard said.

"There has to be effort in our losses. Each player has to start taking ownership of their play to make our team successful, and then we should be fine from there, hopefully.

"I think it's just that little bump in the road we've got here, and sometimes it's better now than late January, and hopefully we can bounce into the next weekend with a couple of big wins."

Friday's game is set for an 8 p.m. start at the South Huron Recreation Centre.