The Hawks returned after the holidays to play a home and home series with the Hanover Barons and a New Year’s Eve match-up with the Mount Forest Patriots.
The Hawks line-up was hurting last Wednesday, with top forward Drew Davidson out, along with Adam Alexander due to injuries. The scoreboard showed it, with a 6-1 loss.
The lone goal was scored by Mike Bujold.
Walkerton’s Jeff Flagler made 29 saves in the loss. Hanover goaltender Mitch Campbell made 31 saves for the win.
Friday’s game saw the Hawks regroup, getting Alexander back, but losing veteran defenceman Jordan Turcotte to the injury bug.
It was in the second period when ex-Baron Haden Campbell notched the first goal for Walkerton on a pass from Alexander and Eric Lekun to make it 2-1.  Hanover’s Justin Graham, widened the margin to 3-1 several minutes later on a set up by Josh Steffler and Tyson Soers. Brad Humberstone, made a statement, ripping a slapshot from the point into the top corner to make the game 3-2.
Baron Jacob Brown scored to end the second and then again to start the third making it 5-2 for Hanover.
Lekun went on an end-to-end rush slipping by several Baron defenders before roofing the puck over Hanover netminder Campbell. That would be as close as they got as Hanover added another insurance marker to complete the second victory against the Hawks 6-3.
The team was plagued by penalty troubles, with 12 infractions, resulting in 32 minutes in penalties.
The Hawks bounced back on Saturday after their short losing streak, and defeated the Patriots in a back and forth game by a score of 6-5.
The game was a hard fought battle that resulted in six lead changes.
Jay Thomson started the scoring near the end of the first on the powerplay on a pass from Tanner Mighton. Mount Forest answered two mintues later tying the game after one period.
At the start of the second, the Patriots took advantage on the power play and made it 2-1. However, while still down a skater, Hawk Adam Alexander found the back of the net, notching a shorthanded marker, tying the game again. Andy Mitchell followed suit 15 minutes into the second on a pass from winger Lekun. Mount Forest tied it again as they scored two goals in less than two minutes. Haden Campbell put a halt to the Baron’s threat as he scored with two minutes left making it a 4-4 tie entering the third period.
It appeared as though overtime would be forced after a goal by Austin Russell and then another Mount Forest goal tied it at fives, however with three minutes remaining Flagler set the puck up for Alexander who moved it to his centre Mitchell who broke across the Mount Forest blue line and picked the top corner of the net, off the cross bar and down and in.
Walkerton will meet Mount Forest again tonight (Jan. 4) at 8:30 p.m. in Walkerton. Saturday, the Hawks have will be in Wingham for a game against the  Ironmen for a 7:30 p.m. start.