Mar 13, 2016 | Craig McLaren | 726 views
15-14-1...Final 4 Here we Come
At the start of this season one would have to wonder where the HAWKS would have finished in the league. Some may have guessed or hoped for the top half of tier 2 and many of us would have considered that a successful season. I have to ask though...did anyone think these HAWKS would be on their way to the final 4, in the tier 1 loop??!!!
When asked the same question head coach Craig McLaren indicated he had some goals set prior to the start of the season but even he will admit that the HAWKS have surpassed his expectation. "As a coach I set up a bit of a yearly plan and I set goals, realistic goals, for our team. My goal, long term, was to finish in the top half of the standings this season. That said, about 10 games into the season or so that goal changed. I saw something much different in our boys this year. They have a fire in their eyes and they won't quit. Sure they have had bad games but overall they have played pretty consistently all season."
Boy have they ever!! The HAWKS lost a hard fought, chippy battle at the hands of the Burlington Bulldogs on Saturday, only to bounce back with a well deserved tie on Sunday against the visiting Waterloo Wolves Black team. "Ya know we only picked up 1 point in a possible 4 this weekend but on Saturday I thought we deserved much better" indicated assistant coach Neil Fewster. "We played a big, tough, dirty hockey team from Burlington and I thought we took it to them. They had a few chances and they buried them and we just couldn't make the most of ours. Now is when burying those chances really counts. Next week when we play Waterloo we have to take advantage of every opportunity. We have to play desperate. We may only get a handful of chances to score and we need to make the most of them. I am so happy to see how far these kids have come but Craig and I know that when they decide to play HAWKS hockey and their backs are against the walls they will be tough to beat!"
When pushed for an assessment of the Burlington game coach McLaren didn't have much to say. "The game is over, we move on. I was happy with our play and intensity. I was upset there wasn't as many calls in our favour - but I was more upset about some of the behind the play, dirty tactics with the sticks but it is what it is. I had the opportunity to voice my opinion with the referee and we move on. I can go as crazy as I want on the bench but all that's going to do is get me is kicked out and that's not acceptable. There's no point screaming at a ref as he isn't going to change his mind and depending on how I react to way the game is called his calls may actually go even further against us. Anyways, that game is behind us. We played very well today and our focus now turns to next week. Our game plan? HAWKS hockey, a fast start right off the bat and wave after wave of HAWKS. What the boys didn't realize and actually what I learned today is that the winner of our series and the winner of the Burlington/Waterloo Black series both automatically go to provincials! Now...did you ever think these kids had a shot at Tier 1 provincials at the start of the season? I'll be honest, I didn't. That said, over the course of the season I grew to believe in these kids and all of us on staff feel we have a legitimate
shot...in order to achieve, YA GOTTA BELIEVE!!"
Well folks the playoff schedule has been set. Game 1 and 3 in Waterloo go Friday and Monday while games 2 and 4 are in Cambridge on Sunday and Tuesday...first to 4 points! It's going to be intense folks and I know for certain the HAWKS faithful will be LOUD!!! There's nothing better than playoff hockey folks and it's even better to be a part of it! Let's go HAWKS!!
(HSN from the HAWKS' Nest)
HAWKS' Chirps
- Ok so now let me get this straight...first we hear that parent rep Big John Hanko wear's his wife's Kim's socks to bed and now we hear that manager Peter Kowalewski loves to wear his wife Beth's sweaters to keep warm? Seriously?? What's up with that??
- Apparently there's a VERY good dessert place in Burlington and the cheesecake is soooo big that body builder Nelson Pimentel needed two hands to lift it! According to one smiley # 17 on the HAWKS he also indicated that the body builder had no problems finishing every last bite!
- Great gesture by Connie and Sean Francoz to bring the HAWKS donuts to celebrate a successful Tier 1 playoff and making the final 4! Thanks!!
- Jo-Ann Hammer was fit to be tied today!! Initially it was thought that she was stressed since Hammer Time was between the pipes but turns out she found out that her "big guy" was tossing nail clippings behind the couch again!!
- That white van in the parking lot...there a party goin on back there??