A second-period natural hat trick by rookie Jeff Hayes helped the Carleton Ravens men’s hockey team complete a four-goal comeback Oct. 16, as they defeated the Concordia Stingers 4-3 in their 2010-11 home opener at the Ice House.
Down 3-0 early in the second period, the Ravens fought back to tally four goals in 13 minutes, led by an exceptional individual effort by Hayes.
After centre Joey Manley opened the scoring for the Ravens, Hayes scored three consecutive second-period goals in the span of 4:33 to help Carleton pick up their second win of the season.
“It felt really good to put all those [goals] home,” Hayes said after the game. “It was nice to get that first one, and get the monkey off my back.”
Playing in his hometown, Hayes said it was nice to have some family and friends, including his parents and girlfriend, in the crowd to take in the victory.
Entering the game, the Stingers had scored 15 goals in their first two games, the highest average in the OUA.
After jumping out to a 3-0 start, it appeared it was going to be more of the same from the Stingers.
The Ravens, however, had something to say about that, as their power play began to capitalize and their defence stymied any other chance the Stingers mustered.
“We came out a little bit slow,” said Hayes, who previously played for the Ontario Hockey League’s Oshawa Generals and Guelph Storm.
“I think we were a bit nervous in front of the home crowd for the home opener, but after the first period, we got it going, got a couple power plays, potted a few goals, so it just started going from there.”
The Ravens’ power play went two for six on the night, with Hayes scoring both goals. Head coach Marty Johnston said he was impressed with the rookie centre’s showing.
“That’s why we got him here — to score goals,” Johnston said. “He came through in the clutch. In all three goals, he was right in the crease. If you want to get the glory, you’ve got to go to the dirty areas, and he did. He deserves it.”
Although Hayes stole the show against the Stingers, he was not the only rookie to deserve recognition.
First-year goalkeeper Taylor Lush was solid between the pipes for the Ravens. Lush entered the game 12 minutes into the first period, when veteran shot-stopper Ryan Dube left the game with a suspected lower body injury.
Lush stopped 12 of the 14 shots he faced on the night, earning his first career win as an OUA goalkeeper.
“Honestly, it’s a little surreal right now,” Lush said, grinning from ear to ear. “I’m still kind of soaking it in. I feel like it won’t hit me for a couple of days. The whole experience — getting the curtain call at the end of the game – that was probably the best moment I’ve ever had in my life, and especially in my hockey career.”
Although the Ravens came away with the victory, Johnston said his team must make some improvements to keep the momentum going.
“We have to be a little bit better defensively, in terms of our communication between our forwards and our defence,” he said. “The chemistry of the new guys and the old guys is still not quite there.”
Still, Hayes said the Ravens will be “hungry and ready to go” this weekend, when they host the OUA East fourth-place Queen’s Gaels and first-place Ryerson Rams.