Caledon Cavalier atom AE Hawks head to OMHA final

Continuing an exciting year of great hockey, the Caledon atom AE Hawks have progressed to the OMHA finals against their old rivals, the Oakville Rangers.

In quarter-final action against the Flamborough Sabres, Zach Wilson opened the scoring with passes from Carter Ledson and Jake Stronach. This was followed by a second Caledon goal as Nicholas Amato found the net on another Stronach pass. Wilson also opened the scoring in the second again on passes form Ledson and Stronach. Wilson made it a hat trick as he scored from up-the-line puck movement from Jake Hurrell and Ledson. The Hawks ended the second leading 5-0 on a final goal by Kevin Pleasance from Mitchell Devins-Cann and Daniel Fusco. The Sabres scored twice in the third, but the Hawks held them off for a 5-2 victory. Ryan Thompson was strong in net.

The action moved to Flamborough for Game 2, with Koby Stronach in net, and the Hawks opened the scoring in the second as Nicholas Amato scored on the power play on passes from Quinn Richardson and Pleasance. Flamborough answered with two goals, one on the power play, and the period ended 2-1. Flamborough scored again in the third and Caledon answered back on a Ledson goal from Amato and Stronach. Sabres won 3-2 and the series was tied.

The action moved back to Caledon, and Amato and Richardson moved the puck back and forth to open the scoring on an Amato goal. The Sabres answered back on the power play, but once again however the Hawks moved as Amato scored his second on up-the-ice passes from Richardson and Steven Smythe. The Sabres took the lead again with an early second period goal, then Smythe scored on an Amato rebound and Daniel Fusco popped in Hawks' fourth goal on a pass from Wilson. The Hawks dominated the third with a Wilson goal from Stronach and a Stronach goal from a Sarah Power pass. Hawks won 6-3 with Koby Stronach gaining the win in net.

Game 4 was a fast and physical game in Flamborough as Richardson scored on an unassisted rush. Flamborough answered in the second, then Fusco and Ledson moved the puck around nicely behind the Sabres' net and then out to Francesco Lunardo for the Hawks' second goal. Flamborough scored twice in the third before Amato scored from Smythe. On to overtime, but the game ended 3-3.

Game 5 was back in Caledon, with Thompson in net. Smythe and Richardson set up Amato for a great Caledon goal in the first. Smythe scored short-handed in the second on passes from defencemen Hurrell and Conner Cantenaro. The Sabres found the back of the net in the third but the Hawks held on for a 2-1 victory and, on to the semifinals!

Whitby was up next as the Hawks faced the Wildcats on their home ice.

The game started slowly for the Hawks, and Whitby scored twice in the first. Whitby scored again in the second before Amato found the net for the Hawks on great passes from Cantenaro and Richardson. The loan goal in the third was a Richardson shot from Amato and Devins-Cann. Although the Hawks fought back, it was a 3-2 Wildcat win.

Game 2 in Caledon saw fast skating and no goals in the first before Richardson opened the scoring on passes from Devins-Cann and Amato. Whitby answered back on their power play before Fusco passed over to Tyler Buth and the Hawks took the lead.

The second period ended in a 2-2 tie. Whitby went ahead in the third but Amato tied it up to send the game to overtime. The game ended 3-3.

Caledon took control of the series in Game 3 with Koby Stronach in net.

During the first period, Amato scored on a Devins- Cann pass and Lunardo followed that up on Pleasance and Fusco passing. Caledon took a three-goal lead in the second as Smythe scored from Amato and Devins-Cann. Whitby answered back, then Amato scored again from Richardson and Smythe. Amato got the hat trick in the third on another great pass from Devins-Cann. Whitby got on the scoreboard again, but the Hawks sealed the 6-2 victory on the final goal of the game by Fusco from Lunardo and Pleasance.

Back to Caledon for Game 4 with a large hometown crowd and Ryan Thompson in net. There was no score in the first and then Richardson scored on an Amato pass. Smythe followed it up with a goal from Amato and then Richardson made it 3-0 on passes from linemates Smythe and Amato. The period ended on goal by Pleasance from Smythe. Whitby did get the puck between the pipes in the third, however Ledson made a great shot from Pleasance and Devins-Cann to end the game with a 5-1 Caledon victory.

By dog-sled during blizzard conditions, the Hawks headed to the shores of Lake Ontario to claim their semi-final series win. The traditional scoreless first was followed by an Amato goal early in the second on great up-the-line puck movement from Devins-Cann and Richardson. Whitby answered back, but Richardson found the topshelf unassisted and Caledon was ahead 2-1. As the third period matured, Stronach popped the puck in the net on a pass from Pleasance before Devins- Cann found the empty net and Caledon advanced with a 4-1 victory. Strong goaltending by Stronach and a solid team effort.

The Hawks have earned the right to face Oakville in the OMHA finals.