BLACKBURN Hawks took giant strides to getting their season back on track, despite a mixed weekend of league and cup action on the ice.

After a string of successive defeats, Hawks recorded their biggest victory of the season so far, thrashing Kingston Jets 8-1 in the English Cup, before being narrowly edged out in Sunday’s league trip to Sheffield.

The cup was a welcome distraction for the Hawks, who have experienced a rough ride in recent weeks.

Eager to erase the memories of last month's league defeat against the Jets, Hawks turned on the style in what was by far their finest performance of the season to date.

Virtually a fully fit squad took to the ice, backed by new netminder Matthew Michie behind them.

The first period started at break-neck speed. Michie was called into action on several occasions in the opening few minutes, but was equal to the challenge.

His confidence between the pipes served to settle the rest of the side, who soon started to create chances.

And the deadlock was broken by Hawks captain Michael Brunton, who was first to react to Richard Bentham’s slapshot, which came back off the keeper.

The second period saw the visitors increase the intensity of their play and it wasn't long before they were able to double their lead.

Ollie Lomax skated from behind his own goal, before laying the puck out to David Miekle, who had time to hit a full-blooded shot through the helpless keeper.

The game was over as a contest just before the halfway point, when Chris Arnone’s slapshot was re-directed by the stick of Miekle and Tim McKay found Wayne Slater, who rounded the keeper for number four.

The start of the final 20 minutes saw Kingston once again on the offensive, but Michie was warming to the challenge of keeping a clean sheet and it was the Hawks who added to their tally.

Rick Bentham slid the puck between the goalie’s pads for 5-0 and within a minute, Adam Leaver received a pass from Michael Brunton, before finishing well inside the near post.

Meikle turned provider for goal number seven, cutting the puck back for Tim McKay to tap home, and with just over six minutes remaining, the Hawks allowed Adam Baxendale to have a little ice time in goal, with MVP Michie receiving a standing ovation.

As the full-time hooter approached, Chad Briggs combined well with Brunton for the eighth, before the Jets ended the Hawks’ hopes of a shutout with a consolation in the final few moments of the game.

And buoyed by the big win, Hawks travelled to Sheffield for Sunday’s league clash against the Scimitars.

Hawks had suffered a demoralising 9-0 defeat in their previous encounter with the Yorkshire side this season, but a much-improved performance was in the offing on this occasion.

And after weathering an early Sheffield storm, Hawks took an unlikely lead when Bentham picked out McKay, who found a gap through the netminder’s pads.

It was an advantage that didn’t last long however, as Michie made several saves, but was unable to prevent a rebound being tipped over his pads.

Hawks had numerous opportunities to regain the lead in a goalless second period and they were made to pay for those missed chances, as Sheffield scored twice in the closing stages to seal the win.

Hawks have now gone eight league games without a win, but there were plenty of positives for general manager Andy Slater to take into Sunday’s game against Nottingham.