Horton, Central Kings, Avon View at top of boys’ hockey standings

The Avon View Avalanche know they’ll have to give it their all if they hope to finish the season in first place in the standings.

In the Valley High School Hockey League’s boys’ eastern division, Avon View is currently sitting in third place, with 15 points, behind the Horton Griffins and Central Kings Gators, which both have 19 points. The Northeast Kings Titans (14 points) and Park View Panthers (13 points) are also jockeying for a spot in the top three. The West Kings Wolverines (10 points) and Forest Heights Falcons (no points) are in sixth and seventh place, respectively.

Avon View started 2020 off with one win and one loss.

The boys lost a close match to the Gators 6-4 on Jan. 3. The Gators staked a 3-1 lead after the first, with Braden Cotton (shorthanded), Ryan Millet and Keegan Cook (on the power-play) scoring. Dylan Shanks was Avon View’s lone goal scorer that period and was unassisted.

Avon View dominated in the second, with Jack Gordon scoring

twice and Owen Stockdale scoring once. The Gators’ Sam Martin also added a goal during the second period. Heading into the third, the teams were tied 4-4.

Martin struck again for Central Kings as did Will Churchill to secure the Valley victory.

Avon View rebounded in a big way on Jan. 4 when they recorded a 7-2 victory over the visiting Yarmouth Vikings. Gavin Sheehy and Matt Benedict scored for the Avalanche in the first to put them up 2-1. The Vikings’ lone goal was scored by Max Nickerson, who was unassisted.

Avon View’s Ryan Peach and Blake Rogers added to the team’s lead in the second, making the score 4-2. Isaac Moore scored for the Vikings.

The Avalanche skated away with the victory by scoring three unanswered goals in the third. Sam Miller scored twice, once on the power-play, and Stockdale added the other goal.

Liam MacRae was sharp in nets for Avon View while Tyson Peters was tagged with the loss for the Vikings.

Avon View were not scheduled for action Jan. 10-11.

They have road games planned for Jan. 17-18, the first being against the Barrington

Barons, and the second being against the Park view Panthers.

They will then host the Horton Griffins at 6:40 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Hants Exhibition Arena in Windsor. The Northeast Kings Titans will visit Windsor Jan. 31 for a game at 7:30 p.m.

JIM IVEY PHOTOS Blake Rogers fires off a shot at close range in the second period, scoring for Avon View.

Owen Stockdale scored in both games he played in Windsor over the Jan. 3-4 weekend.

Avon View’s Owen Stockdale, No. 21, fights for control of the puck as Yarmouth players surround him. Stockdale is the Avalanche’s leading scorer, having scored 15 goals and provided 17 assists as of press time.