EXETER – The Exeter Hawks have picked up eight of a possible 12 points thus far in January, gathering three last weekend with a 3-2 shootout loss to the Mt. Brydges Bulldogs Friday and a 4-3 win over the Port Stanley Sailors Sunday night.

It's been enough to keep Exeter atop Yeck Conferences standings but not by much, and head coach Steve Bedard is frustrated with the effort the team has put forward.
"Since we started January we haven't put in a full game yet," Bedard said Monday.

"They've all been one-goal games, and a couple we lost in a shootout. We just haven't put the effort to deserve the points we're getting.

"Teams are starting to come to play us, and they're just simply out-working us and this is something we need to change, and change soon."

Bedard added there's no excuse for getting out-worked.

"The only way we can change it is if we start stepping up performance, and everybody just want to win every battle, every shift," he said.

"I've said it time and time again. It sounds like a broken record. These guys just aren't quite getting it – that a hard-working team is a team that nobody wants to play against. We haven't been that hard-working team since January (started)."

The Hawks trailed 1-0 after the first period against Mt. Brydges, surrendering a goal to Spencer Wilson.

They brought more intensity to the second frame, tying the game on a Dylan Bedard slapshot.

Mt. Brydges made it 2-1 early in the third period with a goal from Connor Dunn, but the Hawks tied it again with a goal from Matt McLellan.

Neither team scored in overtime, and Wilson was the only player to score in the shootout, giving Mt. Brydges the win.

Sunday against Port Stanley, the Hawks led 2-0 after the first period thanks to powerplay goals from Matthew Ross and Kyle Craner.

Lucas Knight had two goals for Port Stanley in the second period, making it 2-2 after 40 minutes.

Sailors player Taylor Schram made it 3-2 with a goal early in the third, but the Hawks answered with goals from Dylan Bedard and McLellan, taking the win.

The Hawks tallied three goals in nine powerplays against Port Stanley, and coach Bedard said the team's powerplay has been working well – though it's not great yet.
"I'd like to get it around 25 per cent," he added. "It's sitting around 21 now."

Bedard said the Hawks have been allowing more goals lately in penalty kill situations, something he attributes to line changes.

"We're taking too long shifts on the penalty kill, and ... when we do change up, we seem to get caught into a transition situation where the guys are already on a back check and two new guys are coming on," he said.

"That's kind of hurting, so we've just got to work on our line changes on our (penalty kill), but as far as the (powerplay) goes, it's been doing very well."

The Hawks (23-4-4) sat first in the SOJHL's Yeck Conference at press time with 50 points, three ahead of second-place Thamesford.

Lambeth was third with 43 points, followed by Mt. Brydges (34), North Middlesex (21), Port Stanley (18) and Lucan (16).

The Hawks play Thamesford at home this coming Friday and face Lambeth on the road Sunday.

"We've got to approach that these two games are a battle for first place," Bedard said.

"We've got to take the approach that we've got to (get) four points this weekend, and the outcome of this weekend could display how you're going to finish – first, second or third."

Bedard added the Hawks will have to bring up the tempo.

"Every game from here on in, it's got to be like playoff hockey," he said. "We've got (five) big games left ... and right now we can't afford to give up points by not giving our best effort.

"We've got to at least let teams know that if they're going to come and beat us, they're going to have to work a lot harder than they have been."

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