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Sunday, November 22, 2009 Caledon, ON: - As with many other Caledon teams, the Atom A’s had been plagued with illness over the last few weeks. So a getaway to Detroit, to participate in the Motown Cup along with some memorable events planned, seemed like just the right thing to rejuvenate team spirit.
That night some of the team would venture out to witness one of the great College Hockey rivalry’s in the NCAA, Michigan vs. Michigan State. The kids were treated to fantastic hockey, Marching Band music and crowd chants that would make the kids hysterical at the student body antics and watching the Hamster run at intermission was definitely a highlight of the night. The kids were also able to watch home town product Brandon Burlon from Nobleton skate up and down the ice for the Wolverines but unfortunately they would end up losing 3-2 to the visiting Michigan State. The next morning the kids were treated to a full tour of the Michigan University Hockey program and got to see and ask many questions about playing for a Division 1 school in the USA. They got treated to a tour of the training facilities, the NHL style dressing room and where the players get to dorm and relax during the year. It was a tour to remember but the days action was just beginning! That afternoon in game two the Hawks would face the Kensington Valley Rebels. The gritty American team from Cleveland dominated the game from puck drop. Quickly moving the puck and out skating the Hawks, the Rebels proved to be the dominant team allowing the Hawks very few shots on net. A 5-0 loss would leave head coach Dave Eccleston and his assistants John Miceli and Brad Halls with the difficult task of keeping the team focussed and confident. After an evening out in hockey town and watching the Detroit Red Wings annihilate the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, the team was eager and ready to play in game three. Motor City Chiefs, a local team from the Michigan area, would quickly go up 2-0 after the first period. But a quick pass from Ryan Eccleston would allow captain Matthew Impey to score and make it a 2-1. Then on the powerplay, Impey and Buth would find Halls in the slot to tie up the game. Finally Buth would put the team ahead 3-2 but a win was not meant to be. Hawks tied 3-3 and fortunately it was enough to advance to the finals. With only a few hours to rest the Hawks knew they would once again be facing the KV Rebels for the championship, but this time the Hawks would give the Americans a battle they would never forget. Clearly the strongest team in the division, the Rebels were 13 goals for and only 1 goal against going into the finals. The Hawks knew they had to come out and play three strong periods of hockey. The Rebels quickly took a 2-0 lead after the first, but the Hawk’s shear determination along with their desire to win would ultimately prevail. Line mates Impey and Buth would tie the game in the second to put the Hawks back in the game. Stunning opponents in the third was Andrew Rybka’s tape to tape pass to Daniel Stephen who then sent a rocketing snap shot past the Rebel netminder, putting the Hawks ahead 3-2. Hawks would take a late penalty and one minute left in the game, the Rebels would call timeout, pull their goalie and playing 6 on 4 they tied the game sending the teams into overtime. Running on fumes Nicolas Eck, Daniel Lapiccerella, Robinson and Rybka would anchor the Hawk’s defence ensuring a scoreless five minutes of overtime. A shootout would determine who would be victorious. The pressure now fell to the first 5 shooters, Conner Miceli, Impey, Buth, Halls, Eccleston along with goalie Wilkie. KV Rebels decide to shoot first leaving the Hawks with last shot. Hawks would get there first goal on there second shooter as Impey picked the short side on the KV Rebels goalie. Then Hawks Goalie Wilkie would stand on his head until the KV Rebels final shooter would tie the game up, leaving the shootout knotted at 1. Eccleston would be the final shooter of the 5 and with everyone standing breathless would move in on the Cleveland Goalie and head fake a backhand right off the post to win the championship. Hawks shock their opponents to capture the Motown Cup with a 5-4 victory. Eccleston is named game MVP for his outstanding play.
PHOTO: The Champion Caledon Hawks. Team Includes: Conner Miceli, John Miceli [AC], Matthew Impey, Tyler Halls, William Robinson, Dave Eccleston [HC], Connor Hardy, Dave Dexter [T], Jake Buth, Ryan Eccleston, Colin Wilkie [M]. Gregory Weir, Daniel Lapiccirella, Daniel Stephen, Nicolas Eck. Kennedy Lisso, John Gadomski, Aidan Wilkie, Andrew Rybka The Hawkstone Hawks would like to dedicate their gold medal victory to team trainer Dave Dexter and team mate Andrew Dexter. They would also like to thank sponsors Pizzaville and Aqua Blue Salon N’ Spa. © 2010 Ontario Minor Hockey Association. All rights reserved. |
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A once in a lifetime thrill would see the Hawks playing game one at Joe Louis Arena, home to the Detroit Red Wings. Playing beneath the Stanley Cup banners the Hawks would start out the tournament against the Sault Ste. Marie Rotary. Tyler Halls’ would get the Hawks started with a beautiful one timer, on a feed from Connor Hardy, putting the Hawks on the scoreboard first. Gregory Weir would then bury a goal set up from Kennedy Lisso and finally Jake Buth’s third period goal on a pinch from William Robinson would allow the Hawks to defeat the SOO 3-0. Goalies John Gadomski and Aidan Wilkie would share the shutout.