The dreaded handshake line after Transcona defeated Charleswood 4-2 on Tuesday Night (P.Weissgaerber/Charleswoodhawks.org)

Being down 3 of your top forwards is never a good recipe going into an elimination game, but your Charleswood Hawks did just that and unfortunately came out on the wrong side of the equation with a 3-0 loss to the Transcona Railer Express on Tuesday night. Leading scorer Shane Kustra-Nelson, Reg Bowles, and J.P. Lovell all watched their teammates put in a spirited effort in Game 6 that just wasn’t quite enough to get past a well-rounded Transcona squad in this best of 7 MMJHL Semi-Final. The Express came out flying in the first with a total of 15 shots being fired at Ryan Hall who was largely successful at keeping the red and black in this one until late in the first when the Express struck. As he has numerous times this series Transcona’s Nico Gravel took the puck from his own goal line and penetrated the Hawks zone only to drop the puck back to defense partner Branden Storey who fired a shot on net that bounced to the right of Ryan Hall.  The beneficiary of the rebound was Cody Plett who made no mistake with it to give the Express a 1-0 lead going into the first intermission. Your Hawks did not disapoint folks as they came out flying in the second with numerous chances.  They were aided by 2 powerplays in the middle frame, but were unable to convert on either. The third saw more of the same effort with numerous rushes up ice by the Hawks Trevor Szyda who looked like a man on a mission on Tuesday night that came up empty. Midway through the third after a Charleswood Too Many Men on the ice call the Railer Express were able to notch the insurance marker when Jordan Weir struck on the powerplay. Despite another chance with the man advantage the Hawks came up empty after a Will Grouette charging call shortly after the Express goal. The Hawks continued to push the play to the bitter end and tempers flared late in this one as Noah Robidoux dropped the mitts with Branden Storey. The Express added a empty netter to give them a 3-0 lead with about a minute left to kill the hopes and dreams Charleswood Hawks fans everywhere.

With the win on Tuesday night Transcona wins the best of 7 MMJHL semi-final 4 games to 2 and earns the right to face the Raiders for the Jack McKenzie Trophy…Ben Wicha who spent the 2017-18 season with the Oak Park Raiders made his Charleswood Hawks debut on Tuesday night wearing #10 due in part to the aforementioned absences of Shane Kustra-Nelson, Reg Bowles, and J.P. Lovell…the MMJHL Final is scheduled to get underway on Sunday, April 8, 2018 at 2:15 pm over the Seven Oaks SportsPlex – this should be some great hockey folks that is well worth the price of admission…thanks to all of you for visiting us at charleswoodhawks.org this season so faithfully and just because the season is over it is not a good reason to not come and visit us every now and again…we hope to see you soon!