Although they weren’t playing in their own rink, Tuesday’s third game in the Saskatchewan Prairie Hockey League final felt like a home contest for the Hafford Hawks.
With warmer temperatures affecting the natural ice surface in Hafford, the Hawks played host to the Meota Combines at the Battleford Arena, which is the home rink for the Battleford Beaver Blues.
“Even though it’s not Hafford, this rink is like a second home for us,” Hawks forward Brandon Lesko said.
“We always seem to have a lot of success here and we wanted to capitalize on that tonight.”
Lesko, who joined his hometown team this season following two campaigns with the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Flin Flon Bombers, was the difference maker Tuesday as he scored with 8:45 left on the clock in the third period to give the Hawks a 4-3 win.
“It wasn’t our best effort compared to the first two games of the final, but we were able to find a way,” Lesko said.
Ryan Schaefer led the way on offence for the Hawks with a pair of goals, while Kyle Rathgeber also found the back of the net.
Brody Tatchell, Daxen Collins and David Greyeyes all scored for the Combines in the loss.
With the victory, the Hawks now hold a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-five final.
They can clinch their first SPHL title since 2015 on Sunday as they’ll visit the Combines at the Civic Centre for a 5 p.m. battle.
“We have two cracks at winning the league now, but we want to get it done as quickly as possible,” Lesko said.
“If we can come out strong like we did in the first two games, I think we have a good shot at it.”
The date, time and location for the fifth game in the series, if needed, has yet to be finalized.
Prior to the clash with the Combines Sunday, the Hawks will look to keep their provincial hopes alive as they will take on the Drake Canucks in the second game of their Senior C semifinal series.
After the Canucks won the first game of the best-of-three series in Hafford Thursday by a score of 5-2, the Hawks will have a chance to tie things up on Friday in Drake.
If the Hawks win that game, a third and deciding contest is currently slated to take place in Hafford Saturday night.
Awaiting the victor will be the winner of the other semifinal between the Eatonia Huskies and the Theodore Buffalos.
