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'The Hawk' and the Rock

By Ontario Minor Hockey Association, 06/14/16, 3:00PM EDT

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A comeback story with a group that never left out its teammate

Don’t tell Colton Hawkins he can’t do something.

A determined eight-year old as there is, Colton is a shining example of dedication and perseverance on and off the ice.

“Once he sets his mind to something he will make it work and make it happen,” said his mother Liz.

Known as ‘The Hawk’ to his teammates, Colton had just finished tryouts with his St. Mary’s Rock Novice BB team. It was the beginning of September – a new school year brings on a whole new wave of emotions. Colton made the team already, he knew that before the final day of tryouts, and therefore didn’t have to attend that last training session.

In an instant Colton would lose half of his right leg, just below the kneecap in a farming accident.  

Unfortunately, that meant Colton’s hockey season was over. But he was still a part of the Rock, and they wouldn’t let him forget that.

Right away, his teammates kept him involved and offered their support.

“The coaching staff decided that they wanted to do something to show that the team was still thinking about Colton and that he was still on their minds,” said Liz.

The next time the Rock took the ice they had a sticker of a hawk on their helmets. On the side of their jerseys was a golden hawk patch. While Colton wasn’t physically on the ice, his teammates brought him there each time.

It was the end of November when Colton was fitted for his prosthetic leg. He told doctors that he’d be skating in a month. They said he’d barely be walking by then. On the one month anniversary of that appointment, Colton was on the ice practicing with his teammates.

“The prosthetic guy, he said I was abnormal, the speed that I was able to recover and walk and play hockey,” said Colton. “Most people right now would just be starting to walk.”

“Colton started skating with them, attending practices and stuff. Everybody just seemed to kind of pick up their game,” said his father Terry.

Of the four Hawkins children, Colton is the only boy. It was a sibling rivalry that helped spark his comeback.

“That motivation to keep up with his sisters again kind of got him up and going,” said Liz.

Playing with his siblings got Colton going, but it was hockey that helped him feel like a kid again. His father describes him as a Dennis the Menace type, ready to jump in any activity.

“You’re trying to keep a kid’s life, a kid’s life,” said Terry. “If he can’t run around and play then it’s not a normal life.”

“If he didn’t have hockey, I don’t know what would’ve happened,” said Liz. “It was something that brought him back to normal and that everything that happened to him was normal and he could be a normal kid again.”

The Rock swept their Playdowns finals matchup, earning #RedHats. Colton was there, joining the team in the post-game celebration and donning his own signature red hat. It was a symbol of victory, but held a special meaning to Colton and the Rock.

“Colton was really desperate to get out on the ice and all of that but he was just excited to be a part of everything with them all,” said Liz. “He was glad to be there to be able to cheer on his teammates.”

At the OMHA Annual General Meeting, Colton was brought on stage after his story was told. He admitted that he lost his red hat, but luckily for him there happened to be a pair of hockey legends ready to present him with a new one. Serge Savard and Ken Dryden of Team Canada 1972 gave Colton another red hat. We have a feeling he’ll hold on to this one more carefully.

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