Minor bantam AA Hawks champions of West Ferris Early Bird

The Caledon minor bantam AA Hawks captured the West Ferris Early Bird Tournament, despite battling penalties and injuries.

The Caledon Hawks minor bantam AA hockey club traveled to North Bay the weekend of Oct. 27-30, for an unforgettable weekend of hockey. This group of 14 intensely determined young men overcame momentous odds, battling through injury, an exorbitant number of

unfortunate penalties and, at times, utter exhaustion to bring home the coveted trophy in the West Ferris Early Bird Tournament.

Winning both their first game against the North Bay home team and their second against an Ottawa team, the Hawks suffered their only defeat in the series at the hands of the Whitby Wild Cats who managed to take the boys from Caledon 3-1.

Moving on to the semifinals, the Hawks were not only forced to take on Whitby for the second time but they had to do so with only 12 players, having lost one defenceman to injury and a forward to a game suspension.

Undaunted the Hawks battled on, summoning enough strength to defeat Whitby and moving on to the finals.

Penalized once again with two suspensions, the Hawks faced an almost impossible final game against the intact Gloucester BlackHawks. Bruised and

exhausted the Hawks played an incredible game of grit and determination, somehow managing to find the strength to wring a 2-1 victory from what seemed

certain defeat. Congratulations to this amazing hockey club who beat the odds to win gold at the West Ferris Early Bird Tournament.