The Valley West Hawks had a perfect start to the B.C. Hockey Major Midget League season (MML), winning twice in a two-game series on the road against the Thompson Blazers.
Playing in Chase, the Hawks won 6-4 Saturday night, and 4-3 Sunday afternoon. Valley West was one of four teams in the 11-team league to win twice on the first weekend of play. They share first place with the Vancouver Giants, North Island Silvertips and Cariboo Cougars.
Jakub Stukel of Cloverdale led the Hawks attack Saturday with three goals, notching a pair in the first period to give the visitors a 2-0 lead, then adding the game-winning goal five minutes into the final frame. Paul Savage and Matt Bradley of Surrey, and Langley’s Josh Pollock, also scored for the Hawks.
The Blazers got the first goal in Sunday’s game, but Darien Craighead of Surrey tied the game on the powerplay before the first intermission. The teams traded goals again in the second period, with Matthew Cox of White Rock scoring for Valley West while shorthanded.
Bradley and Stukel put the Hawks up 4-2 in the third period. The Blazers scored with 18 seconds play to get to within one goal.
The Hawks will host the Prince George-based Cougars next weekend at the George Preston Recreation Centre in Langley. Game times are 6:30 p.m. Saturday, and 10:30 a.m. Sunday.