Bantam AA Wild Wing Hawks gaining momentum

The Caledon bantam AA Hawks are flexing some muscle at the right time.

Ringing in the new year with back-to-back shutouts, then posting a 3-1 victory for their fifth win in a row since Dec. 20, this team has been gaining momentum since their big tournament victory in Michigan.

With only a minor setback at the Silver Sticks competition in Brampton over the Christmas break, the regular season play has turned out to be exciting, and rewarding all around. The tournament had the squad up against some very stiff competition; Toronto Royals (who went on to win this their third tournament in a row), Whitby Wildcats and finally Mississauga Braves. Although they did not advance, the competition and games played gave the players some excellent ice time, and some very valuable lessons to be carried on into the new year.

With the playoffs looming just around the corner, players and coaches are turning up the heat. The level of play has been cranked up a notch and it's blatantly obvious these guys are out to make a statement.

Since the Dec. 20 game against Flamborough, they have only let in one goal in 13 periods of hockey, going 150 minutes in a row without letting the opposition score. Some tremendous goalie standoffs, excellent defensive play, and an average of three goals for per game all add up to a great lead-in to the OMHA playoffs.

Goalie Jonathan Gargaro started his mates off in the new year by flashing some leather at every opportunity possible only to go down with a freak tweak of his knee. Matt Koster backed up the superb play by offering up a glove that couldn't be beat. Since then, Koster has displayed a superior blend of netminding and stamina starting every game, and will until Jonathan returns to play. It's nice to know you've got the kind of skills in net that this team does.

Offensively, the attack has been balanced, scoring coming from just about everywhere, every line, defence included. It's a coach's dream if you can keep the team focussed, and the play at the consistent level that has been seen. It's true that practise makes perfect, repetition can be boring, but the results speak for themselves. With four games left in the regular season, peaking at this time is crucial. Starting to flex muscles is a boost in every sense of the imagination; for the players who know they can and have beaten every team in the division, to the coaches who manage to get all they can out of the players, to the parents who give so much of themselves to see the success. Momentum at this time of year is crucial, and these guys have got it.