Lawson Liboiron-Minifie scored twice, including the opening goal on this play, for the Northumberland Nighthawks during an 8-3 win over the Ajax Knights in OMHA Lakeshore League U12 action Friday night at the Cobourg Community Centre.
Jack Beebe scored his first goal for the Northumberland Nighthawks U12 AA team during Friday night’s 8-3 win over the Ajax Knights at the Cobourg Community Centre.
By Jeff Gard/Today’s Northumberland
The Northumberland U12 Nighthawks opened their Ontario Minor Hockey Association Lakeshore League ‘AA’ regular season with an 8-3 win over the Ajax Knights on Friday evening at the Cobourg Community Centre.
It was a long time coming for the players who haven’t played a regular season game since early 2020.
“I know they were really excited, we (coaches) were too,” said head coach Mike Smith, who along with assistant coach Matt Hunt previously played junior C hockey for the Port Hope Panthers. “I could hardly sleep last night so I can’t even imagine what that was like for the kids.”
Northumberland led 2-0 after the first period and 3-2 after two before pulling away in the third.
Lawson Liboiron-Minifie, who opened the scoring for the Nighthawks, and Simon Fisher both scored twice in the win. Fisher had the other first-period goal and along with his third-period tally also earned an assist for a three-point night.
Brady Shepherd, Jack Beebe, Riley Press and Kaiden Woodman, with an empty-netter at the end, also scored for Northumberland. Goaltender Merrick Linn was strong in net with key saves to help backstop the Nighthawks to victory.
Post-game, Beebe was the first recipient of the team’s WWE wrestling championship style belt as recognition for being their player of the game. Beebe has made the jump to the AA level after previously playing for AE Nighthawks teams.
“He worked hard on both sides of the puck. It was great to see and paid off with a goal,” Smith said. “I’m very excited for him. He made the step up and he’s doing great.”
Team members for the Nighthawks U12 team are: goaltender Merrick Linn and and William Smyth along with Simon Fisher, Samuel Clarke, Lawson Liboiron-Minifie, Landon Lafontaine, Spencer Harold, Cohen Stewart, Kylan Jones, Landyn Walsh, Riley Press, Jack Beebe, Carter Armstrong, Jack Barratt, Kaiden Woodman, Brady Shepherd and Liam Garrard.
“It’s a great group of kids,” Smith said. “There’s a lot of skill, a lot of talent. We’re very excited and we expect big things this year. A lot of work in practices and it paid off today.”
The U12 Nighthawks head to Ajax on Saturday for a rematch against the Knights. Their next home game is next Friday, Oct. 22. Game time is 6:30 p.m. at the CCC.
