Roth Hawks get chilly reception at tournament

Roth Diamond Tools minor bantam AE got started in 2007 with a warm-up tournament at NobleKing.

Jan. 5 saw the boys in action versus The Brampton A team. The Battalion got the first goal in the waning moments of the first period. In the second the Hawks knotted it up when J.T. Gore found the range assisted by Michael Magliocchi and Nolan Pearce. Following this the officiating became the issue and the Hawks killed penalties most of the game. Brampton notched two markers to take the affair 3-1. Player of the game for the Hawks was J.T. Gore.

Later in the day the Hawks had their work cut out for them against the powerful Woodstock Jr. Navy Vets. The Vets had won the Woodstock Silver Stick Qualifier and were tops in Ontario west. In the first the Hawks carried the play and saw Woodstock take numerous penalties. The Hawks got on the board at the mid-way point on an unassisted goal by Brandon Richard.

In the second the Hawks had the penalty trouble and surrendered two goals. The third saw end-to-end action but no goals and the game ended Woodstock 2, Caledon 1. Player of the game for Caledon was Brandon Richard.

Facing elimination the Hawks needed some help on Saturday and Brampton helped out beating Nobleking, leaving the Hawks faint hope.

The evening game was against the GTHL Humberview Huskies and our boys had to win by four or more goals to advance. Thirty seconds into the game Ryan Rausch set the tone one-timing a rebound for goal #1, assisted by Tyler Symonds. On the first shift of period 2, J.T. Gore found the range assisted by Cody Ruff. At 7:01 Christian Bonaldi potted the third goal assisted by Giancarlo Cianflocca. The second ended with the Hawks outshooting the Huskies 14-0 ahead 3-0 but still not in to the next round.

Two minutes into the third Cianflocca found the range with assist from Richard. With three minutes to go Richard broke the back of the Huskies with a nice goal assisted by Chris Scrivo. Shortly thereafter Scrivo found the net assisted by Cianflocca and Nolan Pearce. With two minutes remaining the CCM line finally clicked as Michael Magliocchi pounded one in off the feed from Cam Miller and Bonaldi. Finishing the scoring was Miller with the setup favour returned by Magliocchi. Nathan Cole recorded the shutout as Caledon reentered the tournament with a 8-0 win. Player of the game was Tyler Symonds.

Early Sunday morning and the stage was set for a dandy rematch of Caledon versus Woodstock. The confident Navy Vets took advantage of a few Hawks mistakes and took a two-goal lead mid-period and things looked bleak despite very even play.

Late in the first Cianflocca freed the puck up to Richard who shot low through the Woodstock tender to draw within one. Period two saw the Hawks tie it up at 7:40 when Gore found paydirt off the pass from James Harkins. On an undeserved power play the Vets pulled ahead with 33 seconds left in the 2nd.

The third period was perhaps the best hockey we have seen all season as the Hawks found top gear outshooting the Woodstock crew 9-2 and finding the equalizer at 6:22. Michael "Maggs" Magliochi notched the goal with help from James Harkins and Bonaldi.

Despite many Hawks chances and one goal that looked good but wasn't recognized the game ended 3-3 and overtime ensued. After five wild minutes nothing was settled and the game proceeded 5-on-5 then 4-on-4 until finally in was a 3- on-3 contest with the draw in the Woodstock end. Cianflocca won the draw to Symonds who blasted a shot within inches of the open right side and the ricochet allowed the Vets an odd man rush that they converted to the game winner.

The Caledon boys played perhaps the best game of the season and left the ice winners in the eyes of the loyal Caledon fans. Player of the game was "Maggs" Magliocchi.