Caledon major bantam Select Hawks bring BYHA title to Bolton

The Caledon major bantam Select Hawks capped an outstanding season recently by bringing the BYHA championship trophy to Bolton.

The Hawks triumphed over the Brampton Battalion Bombers 4-3 to take the season. And what a season it was!

The Hawks' record speaks for itself, with a regular season record of 18-2-0, and an undefeated playoff round of 7-0. Along with their many tournaments and exhibition games, the team racked a very impressive 44- 7-3 record, with Joseph Viola recording seven shutouts and Torrey Glendinning four.

Championship game day saw the team get together for a pre-game meal at coach Joe Maiolino's home before heading off to Memorial Arena in Brampton. The dressing room was unusually somber, as each player prepared himself for the coming game in his own special way. This was "the big one" and everyone was on edge.

Both teams started the game as if they were skating on glass, with neither side taking any offensive chances and both hoping not to make any defensive mistakes.

The Hawks were first to find their groove when Captain Harry Gaebler took control of the puck in his own zone. Picking up speed, he weaved his way down the ice and into Bomber territory. Justin Lollino saw that Gaebler was on the move and chased after him, heading for the slot. His efforts were rewarded when Gaebler's centering pass found the tape. Lollino's goal seemed to clear the cobwebs for both teams, as the Bombers quickly came back to tie the game before the end of the first period.

The Bombers jumped ahead on some sloppy play early in the second period to go up 2-1, slipping the puck past netminder Glendinning. For the next five minutes, the Bombers seemed to have the momentum in their favour. However, halfway through the period, Gaebler again found himself with the puck and room to skate. Catching Brampton on a line change, he threaded his way up the ice and cranked a bullet from just inside the blue line, that found the mesh and put his team back in the game. Again the period ended in a draw.

The third period seemed like a repeat of the second, as the Bombers again took an early lead on some casual performance by the Hawks forwards. For the second time, the Hawks were fighting to get back in the game. Aquick shuffling of the lines seemed to ignite a spark, because the next line of Kyle Sammut, Warren Stroud and Robert Keszeg bulldozed their way into Bomber held territory. Their tenacious forechecking caught the Bombers flat-footed and the rapid fire passing paid off when Sammut drilled home the rubber to even the score. The Hawk fire began to burn. The defensive core of Anthony Gasbarre, Zachary Moszynski, Vincent Minicucci and Christopher Rotondo, along with Gaebler, closed the blue line to oncoming traffic. James Harkins, Christian Bonaldi and Vincent Maiolino, the offensive power of the last few games, began to display their passing magic and took it to the Bombers, keeping them back on their heels. Just when it looked like the game was going into overtime, the fleet footed trio of Michael Bellisario, Andrew Fellin and Gaebler took charge. Picking up a loose puck at centre ice, Gaebler caught Fellin streaking down the far side with a cross ice pass. Fellin, with a full head of steam, barreled down the boards and into the corner with the Bombers in pursuit. Fellin's plan was to use Damian Commisso to draw as many Bombers into the corner as he could, leaving Bellisario out front all alone. Bellisario took Fellin's centering pass and brutely pounded the puck until the red light went on with 46.1 seconds left on the clock. The Bombers pulled their goalie, but to no avail as the Hawks took the game 4-3.

The boys would like to thank their fans, parents and coaches for a great season. A special thanks goes out to the following sponsors that made this great year possible (in no particular order): Intelight Sport, Dynamic Flooring Concepts Ltd., Patrick Fahn Arch, Solness Inc., Toronto Disposal Services Ltd., Damar Mechanical Ltd., Babbco Office Services Ltd., Builder's Supplies Ltd., Envirowall Partition Systems Ltd., World Wide Electric Inc., Cooksville Interiors (Mississauga) Ltd., Fusiontech, Skyview Lanes, Cable Control Systems Inc., Litewave Communications Inc., Trinity Communications Services Ltd, Routes Car and Truck Rental, Zoom Rent a Car, Brampton Auto Mall, 409 Collision, Flash Auto Glass, Queensway Collision, Tamana Holdings Korn Auto Parts, Magnet Signs (Brampton), Best Choice Express and Delivery Ltd., Vending Products of Canada Ltd., KMA Construction Consultants and Associated Inc., Bilt-Rite Disposal Equipment Ltd., Rotondo and Associates, Wright International Aircraft Maintenance Services Inc., Ontario Acoustic Supply, Sky Kitchen, Metro Mechanical, Avenue Sheet Metal Inc., Canadian Flooring Contractors Ltd., Eagle Contracting, Motor Home Travel Canada Inc., MP Financial Services, Panson Electrical Services Ltd., Let's Decorate, Sccco Steel Ltd., Horizon Concrete Forming Ltd., Schomberg Sheet Metal Ltd., Albion Auto Sales and Service, Caledon Trophy, Basecrete Inc., MVP Custom Contracting, Canawood Products Inc., Artemis Studio, Venice Construction, Adyrom Construction, OEM Sports, AMLC Equipment, United Lumber, Gaebler Home Improvements, Frontier Flooring Inc., Wild Wing Bolton Inc., Auto Block Auto Repair inc.