There was plenty that Coach Bruce Hokanson has liked about the Jamestown Raiders through the first three weeks of their hockey season.
''Our effort has been very good,'' he said. ''We're difficult to play against from the standpoint we're 'on' the other team. We stick-check like mad and we body-check. All those aspects, so far, have been strong.
''But we haven't played well offensively.''
Article Photos
Jamestown Raiders coach Bruce Hokanson talks to Anthony Tomassi on the bench during Thursday’s night’s Lakeshore Hockey League game against Fort LeBouef.
P-J photo by Scott Kindberg
That all changed Thursday night.
Bill Krywy scored four goals and added three assists, linemate Collin Abbott collected two goals and had three assists and Danny Farrell turned in easily his best game between the pipes as the Raiders routed Fort LeBoeuf, 7-1, in a Lakeshore Hockey League game at the Jamestown Savings Bank Arena.
''By far, this was the best game we've had this year,'' said Hokanson, who saw his team improve to 1-3 in the league and 4-4 overall. ''We've had good starts just about every game, but in the (Lakeshore) league we've had trouble finishing it.''
There were no such issues last night.
Krywy scored the first goal on a power play 2 minutes in, assisted by Abbott and Jake Andriaccio, and by the end of the period he had found the back of the net two more times, staking Jamestown to a 3-0 lead.
That was all Farrell would need as he stopped 19 of 20 shots, including a penalty shot, on the way to his first win of the young season.
''It's been a speed issue as much as anything,'' Hokanson said of Farrell, ''(but) he did look great. He was twice the player today than he has been. He rose to the occasion.''
So, too, did the rest of the team.
The Raiders, who lost to Fort LeBoeuf, 5-2, on Sunday in Erie, received a goal from Bryce Raymond, two assists from Rick Hasselman, and one assist apiece from Justin Andriaccio and David Lobb. Combined with strong defensive efforts from Lobb, Jake Andriaccio and Erik Daugharthy, Hokanson had plenty to be pleased about.
''We've had trouble passing the puck,'' Hokanson said. ''There have been too many individuals and not enough team, but we seemed to cross that bridge today.''
Krywy was the beneficiary as he tallied the Raiders' first four goals.
Krywy's line - he was joined by Abbott and Hasselman - accounted for six goals and eight assists. By the end of the second period, Jamestown led, 5-0, leaving little doubt about the outcome.
''We needed to not only play well, but we also needed to do that in front of (Farrell),'' Hokanson said. ''The first thing I said (before the game) was, 'What are going to do if they score five goals?' The first answer was, 'Score six.'
''We were on the right page starting off.''
NOTES: The Raiders held a whopping 43-20 edge in shots on goal and won 30 of 47 faceoffs. ... Gib Stuart and Dylan Ferrara left the game early with injuries. ... Hokanson praised the efforts of Lobb and Daugharthy on the back line. ''They had their best games,'' he said. ''There was a lot of improvement tonight.'' ... Fort LeBoeuf avoided the shutout with a goal with 3:12 remaining. ... Jamestown returns to action at 7 tonight when it entertains Akron in a Western New York High School Hockey Large Division game at the JSBA.