Dolphins fall prey to hungry Hawks

"We weren't there in the first period and Exeter is a good team. They came hard and ready to play. We didn't do that," Dolphins' coach Chris Masse said.

"It's the ability to start the game on time. They're (players) at the age they should be able to motivate themselves. We try to do it as coaches, buy in to the systems and be ready to play. But at the end of the day, it comes down to the players doing what they have to do to be get ready at the start of the game."

Braeden McNaughton and Jaeden French scored first period goals gave the Hawks a 2-0 lead.

The deficit could have been greater if not for the Dolphins' penalty killers. The visitors spent the final two minutes of the opening frame with a two man advantage.

"Discipline plays a big factor. When we have momentum and we take a penalty it definitely sets us on our heels again. We have to one hundred percent be more disciplined," Masse said. "Our penalty kill hasn't been great. The last few games it has been better, but we don't want to be on the penalty kill. The best penalty kill is to not take a penalty."

The Dolphins had 18 minutes of penalties compared to the Hawks' six minutes.

Josh Short put the Dolphins on the board 72 seconds in to the second period with his 10th goal of the season.

The goal invited fans to throw stuffed animals on to the ice for the Dolphins' Teddy Bear Toss. Over 230 stuffed animals were collected, plus mitts, toques and scarves.

However, the Hawks' Carter Bowerman calmed the home crowd making the score 3-1 five minutes later.

Sam Dupuis netted his 17th goal of the season giving the Hawks a 4-1 lead in the opening minute of the third period. Nicholas Shearer scored late in the third for the Dolphins.

"We've been a team that has struggled to start and that hurts. The first goal is the biggest goal of the game," Dolphins' captain Braidon Duncan said. "It makes the game that much harder (when trailing) and you have battle 50 per cent harder than you would have."

The loss, combined with a Mt. Brydges win over Lucan on Sunday, drops the Dolphins down to third place in the Yeck Division, one point behind Mt. Brydges and five back of Exeter.

"None of us are really happy with second. We want to be back at the top," Duncan said. "Everybody has a role and everybody knows their role. Once guys start playing their role, playing our systems, it'll be good. It has to come sooner than later as we're pass the half way mark and we have to start getting some wins."

The Dolphins host North Middlesex, Friday, December 10, on Fill the Net night. The Dolphins, along with the West Oxford Inferno U15 girls, are collecting non-perishable food items for the local food bank.

"We have a talented group. We just need to get our level of compete back up," added Masse. Every (opponent) comes to compete and they are getting better. We need to match that and do one better."