With nine wins in 10 games the Beaver Valley Nitehawks have indeed turned a mediocre season into one of promise.
Nowhere has the resurgent Nitehawks been more in evidence than the play of Dallas Calvin who has counted 13 of his 27 points in the last six games.
“I think that the whole team is playing well and it’s easy to feed off other guys when everyone is playing well,” said Calvin.
The 18-year-old Trail native’s surge also coincides with the pairing of Dan Holland on the wing and Connor Brown-Maloski up the middle.
“They’ve been a good combination,” said Nitehawk coach and GM Terry Jones. “Getting Danny (Holland) was a big thing, and getting Dallas healthy was a big thing. He wasn’t feeling very well . . . now he’s starting to feel good and you can tell.”
The trio combined for 10 points in the 8-1 win over Golden Rockets Sunday, some payback after enduring a 5-1 loss to the Rockets in Golden Nov. 23.
Both Holland and Calvin had four-point nights while Brown-Maloski had two helpers. In the last six games the line has counted 32 points, including 11 for Brown-Maloski and eight for Holland.
“We’re starting to work together pretty well, and moving the puck well,” said Calvin. “They are two really good players so its nice to play with them.”
Their wizardry was especially prevalent on the fourth Nitehawk goal when Brown-Maloski dished off to Holland who broke in with Calvin, turning the Rockets defence inside out with a back-and-forth-and-back-again passing play that Holland finished, bringing the crowd to its feet.
“Connor just came off the wall with the puck and passed it to him, and I called for it,” said Calvin. “Holland gave it to me and I guess I saw him open on the far side so I gave it right back to him.”
With the goalie already down and out, Holland squeezed the puck in on a tough angle for his first of two on the night.
The Hawks are just two points back of Castlegar for second spot and have cut the Nelson Leafs’ lead to just eight points.
Beaver Valley beat Castlegar on Friday night 5-3 and followed that up with a 5-1 win over Grand Forks.
Heading into the Christmas break Jones is very happy with the team’s play.
“I am thrilled with the spirit we have in the room, and the fact that guys are coming to work hard every day.”
The Nitehawks’ confidence level seems to grow with every game, with great puck support, responsible defensive play, and unparalleled work ethic the Hawks will definitely be in the mix if they can keep rolling in the New Year.
“Everbody is more into it, and emotionally pretty excited,” said Calvin. “It’s a good feeling going into games and coming out winning.”
The Nitehawks play their final game before the Christmas break on Wednesday night at the Beaver Valley Arena against the Spokane Braves.
Spokane is coming off a 5-4 overtime win against the Sicamous Eagles Saturday, bouncing back from a 7-0 loss to Revelstoke Grizzlies the previous night.
The last time the Hawks and Braves met, Beaver Valley came away with a 6-1 victory and are 2-0 against the Braves this season.
The puck drops at the Hawks Nest at 7 p.m. Wednesday.