Tinker Hawks fall to reigning champion Chesapeake

Published June 19, 2008
By John E. Banks
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- It may be hot out but The Boys of Winter returned to their familiar playground, the Arctic Edge Ice Arena in Edmond, as Division II play in the Oklahoma City Adult Hockey League's summer season began. The Tinker Hawks faced off against the reigning champions, Chesapeake, who came away with a lopsided 9-1 win.
   The pace was fast and furious from the outset of the first period. Chesapeake capitalized on several Hawks' turnovers and turned them into three quick goals.
   "We are a little rusty and it is showing in our play." said Nic Kuc, center for the Hawks.
   "Our positional play needs to improve for us to get back into the game," Hawks defenseman Guy Wisenbach said during the first period.
   The Hawks play in the second period started out much improved until Chesapeake scored another three goals to give them an even wider lead they would never surrender. The Hawks shot onto the scoreboard at the 13:23 mark in the period as Kuc intercepted an errant pass at center ice, skated in and fired a blistering wrist shot to the upper left corner of the Chesapeake net, for the Hawks' lone goal of the game.
   "Our lack of play and missing some of our key players made a definite impact on the outcome of the game. We can play better and we need to the next time we hit the ice," said Wisenbach.
   Chesapeake scored three more goals in the third period to round out the scoring and make the final score 9-1.
   "I really expected a lot closer game from Tinker," said Jim Reisch, Chesapeake left winger. "I know some of their key players were missing tonight. I expect the next time we play Tinker it will be a lot different game."