Hi Hawks,
I wanted to take a day or so and let the dust settle after the tournament, providing time to gather my thoughts. And providing you time to gather yours.
Hawks, you should be very, very proud of your accomplishments. I am! Your other coaches are very proud of you also. You’ve come so far in such a short period of time, marching all the way to the semi-finals!
I also wonder if I made a strategic error in the way we prepared to play the Ravens. I suspect I underestimated their abilities. Perhaps we should have gone with four-deep in our zone from the start, rather than starting with three-deep. As I’ve said, there’s ample opportunity to learn in each and every defeat. I’m doing my best to do so.
That said, we can’t take anything away from the Ravens. They played a fantastic game, and they deserve our full respect and congratulations!
And congratulations to the tournament champions, the Falcons, who defeated the Ravens 3-2 in the final on Sunday evening. The final four teams all deserved the championship, and all deserve our respect. Both semi-finals were one goal games, as was the final.
Congratulations to SWO also, for running a fantastic tournament. Great job gents!
Hawks, I want you to know that it continues to be an incredible honour and privilege to go into battle with each and every one of you. There’s not a single player in the league that I would add to our team. I’m very happy with our line-up, and I’m glad I’m your head coach.
Individually...
Aaron – I’ve never seen anyone display more desire, heart or commitment. Keep leading!
Braden – You’re a team leader that does all a goalie should do, which is give your team a chance to win. We thank you!
Bradley – You have all the skills required to elevate the play of each of your teammates. Keep feeding those perfect passes!
Daniel – You play an incredibly strong positional game, always found exactly where you should be. Keep up the great work!
Devin – Your strength and tenacity down low in the opposition zone is very important to our team. Keep pressing harder and harder!
Jordan F. – Your defensive prowess combined with your point shots and rushes make you a two-way threat. Keep pumping them in!
Jordan S. – Your commitment to our team, in regular play and when handling special assignments, is second to none. Keep leading Jordan!
Kyle – We’ve missed you a few times, and our offensive threat has been weakened because you didn’t provide your added punch and presence. Be there!
Mackenzie – Your quick hands and feet have kept the ball in the opposition zone time and time again, and no one works harder than you. You’re an inspiration!
Mitchell N. – You also play a very strong positional game and have great sense of where to be on the floor. Keep playing smart ball hockey Mitchell!
Mitchell J. – Your speed is an incredible asset on defence, allowing us to press a little more than we could otherwise, knowing you’ll get back in time. Keep it up!
Nathan – You have fantastic hands and very strong ball (aka “puck”) sense, leading to scoring opportunities. Keep going!
Russell – You’ve really raised your game lately, playing some great games, and helping your team have more fun. Keep working hard Russell!
Tyler M. – You work very hard on your wing, and always seem to know your job, whether we’re playing three- or four-deep. Keep playing strong!
Tyler C. – What you give up in size you make up for in determination, especially when you make sure you’re in a strong position against the opposition players. Keep it going Tyler!
Zach – A few games ago you moved to our blue line, bringing us great strength both in their zone and down low in ours. Keep clearing that ball!
And as a team...
We’re so much more than the sum of our parts! We ARE the strongest team in this league. Do you BELIEVE?
"Commitment to the team - there is no such thing as in-between, you are either in or out." -Pat Riley
"Good teams become great ones when the members trust each other enough to surrender the ‘me’ for the ‘we.’" -Phil Jackson
Now we start preparing for Friday night, to do battle with Harriers. The times is now!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
It’s Our Time Hawks!
I’ve just been preparing for the semi-final. I can’t wait. Heading to the rink now.
Here’s our updated schedule and results so far.
Friday – 9:00pm – Moses Springer – Owls 0 vs Hawks 0
Saturday 12:00pm – Albert McCormick – Hawks 3 vs Osprey 0
Playoff round:
Quarter Finals – Sunday – 12:00pm – Albert McCormick – Hawks 1 vs Vultures 0 (shoot out)
Semi Finals – Sunday – 3:00pm – Albert McCormick – Hawks _ vs Ravens _
Trillium-Hawks Cup Finals – Sunday 7:45pm – Albert McCormick – Hawks _ vs ??? _
Go Hawks!!!
Here’s our updated schedule and results so far.
Friday – 9:00pm – Moses Springer – Owls 0 vs Hawks 0
Saturday 12:00pm – Albert McCormick – Hawks 3 vs Osprey 0
Playoff round:
Quarter Finals – Sunday – 12:00pm – Albert McCormick – Hawks 1 vs Vultures 0 (shoot out)
Semi Finals – Sunday – 3:00pm – Albert McCormick – Hawks _ vs Ravens _
Trillium-Hawks Cup Finals – Sunday 7:45pm – Albert McCormick – Hawks _ vs ??? _
Go Hawks!!!
Calling You Out!
We’ve heard from two Hawks: Mac and Braden.
(Mac wrote in the middle of the night ... but we won’t ask too many questions about that...)
What about the rest of you Hawks! Do you want to win this thing? Do you BELIEVE we will win this thing?
Every great sports team that ever existed...
Every great individual athlete that ever succeeded...
Every incredible inventor through history...
Every great leader, philosopher, and politician....
Every great artist, singer, band, song writer, painter and sculpture...
They all had one undeniable truth in common:
They had NO idea how they were going to accomplish their individual goal or dream.
But each one BELIEVED absolutely that somehow he/she/they would most definitely, eventually, accomplish and achieve their goal!
Hawks, you have to BELIEVE! This tournament, the Trillium-Hawks Cup, is OURS! Let’s take that which is rightfully OURS!
We’ll see you by 11:30am at Albert McCormick!
Coach Steve
(Mac wrote in the middle of the night ... but we won’t ask too many questions about that...)
What about the rest of you Hawks! Do you want to win this thing? Do you BELIEVE we will win this thing?
Every great sports team that ever existed...
Every great individual athlete that ever succeeded...
Every incredible inventor through history...
Every great leader, philosopher, and politician....
Every great artist, singer, band, song writer, painter and sculpture...
They all had one undeniable truth in common:
They had NO idea how they were going to accomplish their individual goal or dream.
But each one BELIEVED absolutely that somehow he/she/they would most definitely, eventually, accomplish and achieve their goal!
Hawks, you have to BELIEVE! This tournament, the Trillium-Hawks Cup, is OURS! Let’s take that which is rightfully OURS!
We’ll see you by 11:30am at Albert McCormick!
Coach Steve
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Believe!
Go Hawks!
According to the Trillium Cup website, we play the Vultures at 12:00pm (noon) at Albert McCormick.
Let’s win this thing! I love it! We can’t wait to tangle with the Vultures!
Here’s our updated schedule and results.
Friday – 9:00pm – Moses Springer – Owls 0 vs Hawks 0
Saturday 12:00pm – Albert McCormick – Hawks 3 vs Osprey 0
Playoff round:
Quarter Finals – Sunday – 12:00pm – Albert McCormick – Hawks _ vs Vultures _
Semi Finals – Sunday – 3:00pm – Albert McCormick – Hawks _ vs ??? _
Trillium-Hawks Cup Finals – Sunday 7:45pm – Albert McCormick – Hawks _ vs ??? _
Hawks, you’ve played two fantastic games in this tournament. And our games last weekend, against the Falcons and Osprey were equally impressive.
Hawks, you should be very proud of your accomplishments, very satisfied with how far you’ve come, both individually, and as team, in such a short time.
Your coaches will have a look at what the Vultures have done thus far, both in the regular season and in the tournament, and we’ll put a strategy in place. They won their first game of the tournament but then lost their second.
We coaches have absolute confidence in your ability to execute our team strategy to perfection!
Remember Hawks, “you must believe to achieve!”
According to the Trillium Cup website, we play the Vultures at 12:00pm (noon) at Albert McCormick.
Let’s win this thing! I love it! We can’t wait to tangle with the Vultures!
Here’s our updated schedule and results.
Friday – 9:00pm – Moses Springer – Owls 0 vs Hawks 0
Saturday 12:00pm – Albert McCormick – Hawks 3 vs Osprey 0
Playoff round:
Quarter Finals – Sunday – 12:00pm – Albert McCormick – Hawks _ vs Vultures _
Semi Finals – Sunday – 3:00pm – Albert McCormick – Hawks _ vs ??? _
Trillium-Hawks Cup Finals – Sunday 7:45pm – Albert McCormick – Hawks _ vs ??? _
Hawks, you’ve played two fantastic games in this tournament. And our games last weekend, against the Falcons and Osprey were equally impressive.
Hawks, you should be very proud of your accomplishments, very satisfied with how far you’ve come, both individually, and as team, in such a short time.
Your coaches will have a look at what the Vultures have done thus far, both in the regular season and in the tournament, and we’ll put a strategy in place. They won their first game of the tournament but then lost their second.
We coaches have absolute confidence in your ability to execute our team strategy to perfection!
Remember Hawks, “you must believe to achieve!”
Day Two – Trillium-Hawks Cup Tournament
Go Hawks!!
Remember gentlemen, “Whether you think you can, or whether you think you can’t, you are right.” –Henry Ford
“You must believe to achieve!” –Coach Steve, 2009 Copyright!
Here’s our tournament schedule, updated, again.
Friday – 9:00pm – Moses Springer – Owls 0 vs Hawks 0
Saturday 12:00pm – Albert McCormick – Hawks _ vs Osprey _
Playoff round:
Quarter Finals – Sunday – 12:00pm – Albert McCormick/Moses Springer/St Jacobs – Hawks _ vs ??? _
Semi Finals – Sunday – 3:00pm – Albert McCormick – Hawks _ vs ??? _
Trillium-Hawks Cup Finals – Sunday 7:45pm – Albert McCormick – Hawks _ vs ??? _
GAME PREPARATION
Today we’ll play the Osprey much like we played the Falcons last Friday evening. Think four-deep in our zone and one winger high in their zone. This will allow us to battle hard down low in our zone and clear the ball immediately, as well as preventing any odd-man rushes out of their zone.
The Ospreys have a weak goalie, but they do know how to score some goals. Their goal scoring come from Joey (96), Isaac (2), and Dillon (28). We will keep an eye on these three. Joey (96) is their most prolific scorer.
We’ll start the game as noted above, four deep in our zone and one winger always high in their zone. That set-up may change as the game progresses. We’ll see.
That’s it for now Hawks! Make sure you come ready to play today! Believe first! Achieve second!
Coach Steve
Remember gentlemen, “Whether you think you can, or whether you think you can’t, you are right.” –Henry Ford
“You must believe to achieve!” –Coach Steve, 2009 Copyright!
Here’s our tournament schedule, updated, again.
Friday – 9:00pm – Moses Springer – Owls 0 vs Hawks 0
Saturday 12:00pm – Albert McCormick – Hawks _ vs Osprey _
Playoff round:
Quarter Finals – Sunday – 12:00pm – Albert McCormick/Moses Springer/St Jacobs – Hawks _ vs ??? _
Semi Finals – Sunday – 3:00pm – Albert McCormick – Hawks _ vs ??? _
Trillium-Hawks Cup Finals – Sunday 7:45pm – Albert McCormick – Hawks _ vs ??? _
GAME PREPARATION
Today we’ll play the Osprey much like we played the Falcons last Friday evening. Think four-deep in our zone and one winger high in their zone. This will allow us to battle hard down low in our zone and clear the ball immediately, as well as preventing any odd-man rushes out of their zone.
The Ospreys have a weak goalie, but they do know how to score some goals. Their goal scoring come from Joey (96), Isaac (2), and Dillon (28). We will keep an eye on these three. Joey (96) is their most prolific scorer.
We’ll start the game as noted above, four deep in our zone and one winger always high in their zone. That set-up may change as the game progresses. We’ll see.
That’s it for now Hawks! Make sure you come ready to play today! Believe first! Achieve second!
Coach Steve
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Trillium-Hawks Cup Tournament Preparation
Hi Hawks,
Here we are, one day from the beginning of the Trillium-Hawks Cup! Are we ready? Do we believe that we CAN win this thing?
Here’s our tournament schedule. You can also find it here on the Trillium-Hawks Cup website.
Round Robin round:
Friday – 9:00pm – Moses Springer – Owls _ vs Hawks _
Saturday 12:00pm – Albert McCormick – Hawks _ vs Osprey _
Playoff round:
Quarter Finals – Sunday – 12:00pm – Albert McCormick/Moses Springer/St Jacobs – Hawks _ vs ??? _
Semi Finals – Sunday – 3:00pm – Albert McCormick – Hawks _ vs ??? _
Trillium-Hawks Cup Finals – Sunday 7:45pm – Albert McCormick – Hawks _ vs ??? _
GAME PREPARATION
We played the Owls last Saturday, and we played them to perfection. We’ll put the same basic strategy in place again this Friday evening. And I’m certain the Hawks will execute that strategy with passion and commitment!
On Saturday we’ll play the Osprey much like we played the Falcons last Friday evening. Think four-deep in our zone and one winger high in their zone. This will allow us to battle hard down low in our zone and clear the ball immediately, as well as preventing any odd-man rushes out of their zone.
That’s it for now Hawks! Make sure you come ready to play this weekend.
And remember what Henry Ford said: “Whether you think you can, or whether you think you can’t, you are right.”
Here we are, one day from the beginning of the Trillium-Hawks Cup! Are we ready? Do we believe that we CAN win this thing?
Here’s our tournament schedule. You can also find it here on the Trillium-Hawks Cup website.
Round Robin round:
Friday – 9:00pm – Moses Springer – Owls _ vs Hawks _
Saturday 12:00pm – Albert McCormick – Hawks _ vs Osprey _
Playoff round:
Quarter Finals – Sunday – 12:00pm – Albert McCormick/Moses Springer/St Jacobs – Hawks _ vs ??? _
Semi Finals – Sunday – 3:00pm – Albert McCormick – Hawks _ vs ??? _
Trillium-Hawks Cup Finals – Sunday 7:45pm – Albert McCormick – Hawks _ vs ??? _
GAME PREPARATION
We played the Owls last Saturday, and we played them to perfection. We’ll put the same basic strategy in place again this Friday evening. And I’m certain the Hawks will execute that strategy with passion and commitment!
On Saturday we’ll play the Osprey much like we played the Falcons last Friday evening. Think four-deep in our zone and one winger high in their zone. This will allow us to battle hard down low in our zone and clear the ball immediately, as well as preventing any odd-man rushes out of their zone.
That’s it for now Hawks! Make sure you come ready to play this weekend.
And remember what Henry Ford said: “Whether you think you can, or whether you think you can’t, you are right.”
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Whether You Think You Can
Aaron, Mitchell, thank you for the great comments and contributions to our blog. I hope all Hawks will continue to tune in and contribute. We get very little time together pre- and post-game. That’s why your coaches have established this blog, to allow for more communication and team building.
Mitchell, you and Devin missed a fantastic game on Saturday. Your teammates performed to perfection. As Aaron mentioned, no space and no time. The Owls realized from the very first ball drop that they were in for a real battle!
Hawks, I would like you to think about two things as we head into the Trillium-Hawks Cup weekend:
First, think about the power of strategies and systems. Your coaches devised two very different strategies for the two games this past weekend, and you executed both to perfection. Friday we devised a very defensive approach, because we didn’t want to get into a scoring-fest with the Falcons. Saturday we put in place man-on-man coverage against the owls, along with a defensive (four-deep) posture in our zone. Think about it Hawks! When we combine a solid strategy with your strong execution and performance, we’re unstoppable!
And second, please consider this quote from Henry Ford: “Whether you think you can, or whether you think you can’t, you are right.” –Henry Ford. What was the founder of the Ford Motor Company suggesting? Comments please!
Coach Steve
Mitchell, you and Devin missed a fantastic game on Saturday. Your teammates performed to perfection. As Aaron mentioned, no space and no time. The Owls realized from the very first ball drop that they were in for a real battle!
Hawks, I would like you to think about two things as we head into the Trillium-Hawks Cup weekend:
First, think about the power of strategies and systems. Your coaches devised two very different strategies for the two games this past weekend, and you executed both to perfection. Friday we devised a very defensive approach, because we didn’t want to get into a scoring-fest with the Falcons. Saturday we put in place man-on-man coverage against the owls, along with a defensive (four-deep) posture in our zone. Think about it Hawks! When we combine a solid strategy with your strong execution and performance, we’re unstoppable!
And second, please consider this quote from Henry Ford: “Whether you think you can, or whether you think you can’t, you are right.” –Henry Ford. What was the founder of the Ford Motor Company suggesting? Comments please!
Coach Steve
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