Two games. Two wins. Optimism is high for the Red Hawks hockey team this season.

They just keep winning. Granted the team has not been challenged whether by Campbellford in its home opener on Thursday Nov. 22 or by its recent opponent the Knights of Norwood. It wasn’t even close. They made it look easy winning 7-1 on Monday Nov. 26 at the A.J. LaRue Arena in Haliburton.

Head coach Jason Morissette said his team played well in the win and are showing maturity.

Despite the easy win the team was willing to follow through with directions to work on improving play by executing defensive systems. It pleased Morissette who believes his team is motivated to be their best and succeed because they are seeing the “big picture.” Nobody on the team resorted to padding their stats against a team that was obviously outclassed.

It’s still early he said. The team can only get better as teammates are adjusting to one another. If they continue to play like a team with humility success will follow. On every goal there was an assist proof of the unselfish play.

Scoring was spread throughout the roster against the Knights.

There were five different scorers in the game including two with a pair.

Hawks forward Desi Davies scored the opener a little more than a minute into the game. Midway through the first Hawks forward Owen Gilbert added another for a 2-0 lead.

Even when the Knights Jack Wilson pounced on a rebound and scored beating Hawks goalie Ethan Glecoff to narrow the gap to 2-1 the Hawks showed little worry. They responded in the final seconds of the first with another goal. Gilbert scored again with what ended up being the eventual game-winner. Scoring also came from Hawks teammates Zach Morissette (two goals) Alex Little and captain Owen Smith. Assists were tallied by Dylan Keefer Little Nigel Smith (two) Benn MacNaull Joe Boice Nik Dollo and Smith. The win was earned by goalie Glecoff.

Morissette said the team is going with four defencemen because Hawks defenceman Braeden Vasey was out of the lineup. He may be back next week but wasn’t certain. As a result the team will lean on its foursome of Dollo Little and assistant captains Shawn Walker and Jacob Haedicke. They’re not on their own though as the team has “rover” players to play the blue line (or up front when needed). This includes MacNaull Lucas Haedicke and Keefer. The coach appreciates the versatility of his players.

The Hawks are taking advantage of a home heavy start to the season.

Four of the first five games are at home. The third game is against the Lindsay Collegiate Vocational Institute Spartans on Wednesday Dec. 5. It will be their toughest test this season and a great way to prepare them for the Saints of St. Peter Catholic Secondary School at the Kinsmen Arena the day after. The Saints like the Hawks are a perennial threat for the Kawartha crown. The Hawks play at home again just before the holiday break on Dec. 19 against TASS.

Morissette said the team striving to get better is important for these tougher teams such as Cobourg but also to advance deep into the post-season.

“It’s a great start” he said.