Hard work pays off for the bantam AE Hawks

With 11 new players on the team the Caledon bantam AE SPM Tech Inc. Hawks have had a lot of work to do this year and with the unwavering support of head coach Elliot Forer, trainer Vince Crognale, assistants Ian Gordon and Alex Gunn, and manager Susan Batten, the team finished the regular season with an impressive 19 wins, 6 losses, and 3 ties.

In the opening playoff round the team was grouped with Orangeville, Milton, Georgetown, and Stoney Creek in a home-and-home round-robin format.

In the first playoff match against Orangeville Kirk Hartley opened the flood gates assisted by Matt Somers and followed by goals from Jonathan Batten (3), captain Nick Roberti (3), Somers (2), Hartley, Matt Forer, and Luke Koolman (2). Assists went to Somers (3), Lee Panchuk, Hartley (2), Michael Tarasco (2), Matt Forer, Blair Garrish, and Tyler Nutzenberger. Combined with Jamie Gordon's solid goaltending the boys easily took their opener 13-1.

The second game was a hard fought contest against a determined Milton squad. The boys were able to eke out a 2-2 tie on two goals by Batten with assists going to Michael Boldrin (2), Tarasco, and Roberti. Goalie Anthony Fera made a number of key saves to preserve the tie.

Next on the schedule was the first meeting of the season against Stoney Creek and the boys left no doubt who was in charge with a convincing 8-1 victory on goals by Batten, Panchuk (2), Boldrin, Somers, Hartley, Enzo Crognale, and Tarasco. Helpers went to Tarasco, Hartley, Somers, Panchuk, Roberti (2), Batten (2), and Koolman. Gordon turned in another strong performance missing the shutout by inches in the third.

Game 4 saw Fera notch the first shutout of the playoffs in a 7-0 victory against Orangeville. Scorers in this contest were Batten (3), Crognale, Michael Stobo, Hartley, and Boldrin. Credited with helpers were Boldrin (3), Tarasco (4), Stobo, Somers (2), Nick Dimaso, Nick Salem, Roberti, and Batten.

The first game against Georgetown was a hard fought contest which ended in a 3-3 tie. Goalie Gordon kept the boys in the game with a number of key saves. Snipers in this contest were Tarasco, Batten, and Boldrin helped out by Boldrin, Panchuk, Batten, and Nutzenberger.

The return match against Milton saw the boys catching their second wind. Goalie Fera stoned the opposition allowing only 1 goal in the game as goals were scored by Stobo, Somers, Crognale, Batten, and Boldrin assisted by Crognale, Stobo, Tarasco (2), and Batten.

In game 7 it was goalie Gordon's turn to notch a shutout against Stoney Creek with a solid performance between the pipes. With there backs well covered, goals were netted by Batten (2), Tarasco, and Somers assisted by Tarasco (2), Nutzenberger (2), Boldrin, and Salem.

In the return match against Georgetown and final game of the round robin the boys tied the Raiders 2-2 in a hard-fought contest. Snipers were Crognale and Salem with assists going to Crognale and Panchuk. Fera was solid between the pipes as the kids earned top honors in their group in round robin play.

The boys thank their sponsor SPM Tech Inc, coaching staff, and families for their support as they move on to the OMHA quarterfinals.