In a series between two teams that could not be more equal,
The Collingwood Blackhawks 1 won the deciding game three by a score of 4-3 that literally came right down to the buzzer....oh what we wouldn't do for an extra .5 seconds
Congratulations to the deserving Champions coached by Sean C and an exceptional group of young men and one special lady who,along with our outstanding lads, represented this league in the finest fashion
Game 1- March 22/15 -Eddie Bush Arena-Collingwood
It had been three years since stepping foot in old Eddie,back when our Atom LL1 were playing Collingwood on our way to becoming the C Champions that season
I love this old barn with all its character...the smells and sights flood the memory banks instantly
The large hanging central clock,the BIG step onto the ice,the cool old coloured folding seats bring back childhood memories of the Dunlop Arena in Barrie
We knew going into this series the task that lied ahead...nothing was going to come easy
Opening faceoff saw C1 charge out of the gate in typical high flying fashion...game on
The first period was a feeling out process with lots of scattered play in the neutral zone...opposition rushes quickly snuffed out by each team's formidable defense
Zero's after 1
Second saw us starting to break into Collingwood's zone more frequently as Coach Ian and I implored the team from the get go.
There is no sense hiding our strategy now.
All season we had focussed on skills,skills,skills(as per Hockey Canada guidelines) with less emphasis on strategy..our team was well equipped to win most nights by out skating and passing the opposition
Something I believe this team does as well or better than any team we have faced.
But as the playoffs wore on we realized we had to teach different concepts to adapt to the best team's strengths
The stretch pass, gaining center ice for dump and chase and mostly not trying to force the puck inside these LONG C1 sticks turning the puck over but to play a possession game by blowing by wide with speed where numerous options open up once acquiring the opposition's D zone.
It was this period that things started to click and began a long run where I believe we outchanced C1 each period there on.
There was only a couple of problems with this strategy however
One;
Collingwood collapses and protects the key scoring areas so very well...experts at getting to loose pucks first,taking away passing lanes and the odd time when that broke down there was Jayla... who worked her way into our heads series long
Secondly...we haven't witnessed a team so dangerous on the counterpunch
One little error and whamo...they are off to the races with speed to burn and a collection of the best snipers in this league. While never verified with Coach Sean that this was their strategy it seemed to me that C1 was confident to play a 2-2-1 and force turnovers in the neutral zone after acquiring a lead.
Their D also held their own blueline strongly with support which causes offsides and more turnovers.
All the more reason to dump and attack en masse.
These two factors combined to keep us off balance throughout the series and despite controlling most of the action in period two,C1 struck first on an in close high rebound that #2 Elijah pounced on flipping alley oop style over Justin
Shortly thereafter the ever dangerous #12 Jacob ripped one home with a helper from #5 Hayden
2-0 after two and we told our team to buckle down and stick with the plan.
Third saw us shooting pucks from all over on Jayla as we really pressed the action.
I began to think the disc and her glove were magnetized as every shot seemed to find it's way into her trapper.
Hayden drilled a colossal point shot. Pick.
Flash rushed and deked his way to freedom ripping it glove side. Pick
Harry,who can shoot the puck with anybody in this league and then some, was the FIRST to really test her BLOCKER side...something we had been imploring our mostly righty forwards to pump, slide and rip.
But our big man lefty stepped in and drilled a devastating wrister from @ 35 feet and she cooly caught it with a BACKHAND grab
Jaw Dropping..and thus began her mind control over our players
C1 capitalized once again on a rare miscue and Alex wristed an unassisted marker for a big 3-0 lead
Aidan though would have nothing of it
He had been all over the ice,up down leading forechecks and backchecks with boundless energy
He also had take instruction to heart by gaining the zone with his zero to top end speed in the blink of an eye as often as possible
With six to go Roadrunner blew by the D blueline in,was paced and then pulled up with a spinorama to Owen out front who slickly redirected the hard pass into the cage.
Sweet relief...finally
Fabulous play and exactly what we had been chalking as the best method to beat this impenetrable D and G
We began to pour it on and felt like we could actually make the late comeback,but a sketchy late penalty to Harry snuffed out our hopes
Captain Harry plays the game hard and often is responsible for the penalties he takes, but he also gets many "big man penalties" too where he simply takes away skating lanes and smaller players run into him and its no contest
This seemed to be one of those to me, but we have seen it season long
I must say that if Harry truly had a mean streak,then he could really hurt kids out there.
He would also see much pine if that were true as well
Although we have had convos about bumping with chest,not shoulder, I am proud to say our Captain is the gentlest of giants off ice.
I remember one game mid season where Harry exploded a slapper from the blueline that the excellent female Elmvale goalie caught but the power of his shot ripped right through her glove and scored. The pain of the impact left her in tears...and our Captain ,instead of celebrating his goal,skated directly to her and.... "apologized".
Such is an insight into the mind of our Captain Harry.
A quiet gentleman of the highest order and best
leader a coach could ever hope for.
The old center clock ticked down and The Blackhawks rushed their goalie to celebrate their early series lead
Our boys were disappointed but immediately began to discuss how to beat these guys next time in the D room post game.
We were bowed and bloodied....but far from done
Game 1 Final
Blackhawks 3 Thunder 1
Game 2- March 23/15- Guthrie Arena-Oro
So we had practiced on Saturday before the first game spending half of it working with the forwards on pump fakes to drop the goalie and ripping shots high blocker,then in close high flips after rebounds for on the shots on goal we were desperately asking for more of
We knew that creating different looks and confusion would help us score more goals by driving the net and taking away the goalie's eyes with screens
Easy to draw and practice without Collingwood's big D breathing down your neck every play though.
So first period saw C1 customarily charge hard out of the gate and had early opportunities that Justin was quick to turn back. We saw some end to end action and both tenders were solid
Mid first Alex hit Maxim in the high slot who quickly released a shot that somehow squeaked through Justin's paddle down.
No problem boys..."Grant Fuhr" I yelled and Justinator kept us in the game from this point on which was no easy task.
Once Oro found their legs they began to attack in waves and Jacob,Owen Aidan were following direction to drive wide and gain the zone. Sometimes we forgot to either pull up quickly at the hashers or power drive the net finding ourselves in the corner,but again this is also a credit to C1's impressively strong and fleet footed D.
1-0 after 1
Mid second I spoke with Ian whose difficult job is running our forwards and we decided to make a switch
Owen has played his absolute best hockey this season throughout the playoffs and on a team as deep as ours at center,had shown incredible determination, added to his most potent finish, in making the move to wing.
Few can rip the puck quick,high and hard like the Mighty O
Doogie has been season long one of our top C's game in and out. Two way consistency and playmaking has been his trademark to go with the slickest pair of hands and blinding top end speed.
But where lesser D's would succumb to his inside moves at the blueline
,C1 was proving near impossible to bust and I needed to find space on the wing for him to drive wide with speed and find the trailer for his head's up passing which is second to none.
I am not sure you understood this move Eric,but it's one Coach felt he had to make
Like many of our players who have sacrificed out of familiar position for the betterment of the TEAM all year.
Ty and Maguire switching F to D which paid dividends immediately...Ty who is one of our best passers and Magoo who was simply born to play D.
A natural....who the team badly missed in these playoffs
Benny learning to be a wing from D.... and nobody on this team is more courageous at creating havoc in the crease and finishing under duress than Big Ben.
Colt,who made the impressive switch to wing so I could role the four oldest veterans but subbed back in throughout the series to D to aid them in rest and didn't miss a beat. I attribute this to your hockey IQ and competiveness which is what makes you the exceptional player you are Colt 45.
So mid second Owen, playing C, led a rush down the middle and hit Doogie on the fly who tore up the wing lane, gaining zone and slid a sweet return pass back to the trailing O who destroyed a one timer bulging the twine and sent the crowd wild.
The sound of that Maple Leaf's goal horn/Let's Shake! was sweet music to our ears and special thanks must go to my daughter Carly who with Jo,Laura and Rhonda have made timekeeping fun. The "Here Comes the Thunder" and musical interludes were professionally done all year...even though I had to ask you to turn down the volume from time to time so Coach could be heard late game!
So on we pressed, tied at ones and come third period we could see Collingwood's shorter bench beginning to tire.
Their forwards were trying to bust our D,but the fearsome foursome held oh so strong
Frustration, much like we had felt trying to penetrate their defenses started to set in
Both teams had not faced such equally determined and skilled competition all season,and it appeared this game would come down to the fewest mistakes or who perhaps who could dig deep and WILL themselves to get the next goal.
The following play by play recap is courtesy of Katherine's video (which Cam will be auctioning off to Gerald :)
allowing me to accurately describe exactly what occurred in this most exciting 17minutes and 22 seconds of my hockey life.
An early PP was earned by quick zone ups and hard skating. It saw our boys move the puck so well,yet not be rewarded
Connor was rushing and hitting wingers on the fly,Doogie and Owen and Jacob played catch to find an open slot shot and hit the points where Hayden had two blasts partially gloved. We were all over them,but then a D to D was intercepted by Jacob V,who pushed it ahead so smartly to Carter M for a breakaway.
The dreaded counterpunch once again.
Hayden,he of Superman speed, ferociously tore up the ice trying to make up the lost ground...and DID!
Just as Carter tried to drive backhand for the crease sweep,Supes closed the lane with his big body getting stick on stick,and Justin calmly turned back the weakened attempt.
An unbelievable heart in throat moment; and ones that became countless in this series
Not long after Oro pressed deep in the C1 zone,but Maxim chipped a puck past Harry where Carter once again shot up ice on a breakaway. Harry,in a carbon copy of Hayden's effort,chased all the way back heroically back to make a diving stick on stick challenge that Justin grabbed and both boys crashed hard into the net and boards.
Just incredible effort in this most desperate of games from our Captain and entire team
Next line over the boards again controlled the O zone,using the points. Hayden and Connor wound up with consecutive wristers only to find first Maxim ,then #5 Hayden G oh so fearlessly dive and throw their entire bodies in front of the blasts, nullifying both. So much courage on this C1 team....just remarkable.
4 mins to go third,Big Ben,who had possibly his best game of the season in flying the wing with smart passes and winning so many puck battles, retrieved a puck from a corner forecheck scrum and passed to Owen who quickly found Jacob all alone in the slot.
Taz wasted no time releasing it and it hitting Jayla's stick and deflecting wide. Robbed again.
2 mins left,Flash wheels and finds Colt for a two line partial breakaway that Jackson quickly regained position and snuffed out with his long stick.
But we regain possession and Jacob trys a high glove backhand that Jayla just gets a piece of to send over the crossbar.
Ty chips the puck deep and goes flying into the zone on a forecheck vs Jackson"Chara" .....a battle of size mismatched #17's behind the net.They both bump and Ty falls into the net,but bounces up and battles his huge opponent likewise to the ice,more battle then doggedly pursuing him back up ice
Great courage son,and of all the smart passes and moments you have had this season,this may be my highlight for determination and courage in the most pressure packed of times.
.53 seconds to go and C1 calls a timeout
Coach underestimated Collingwood's desire to close this out...we were already looking to OT
Ian and I decided to play our line-ups fully through the third and wear this team down...we would win and lose on this day with everyone getting as equal ice as possible
But when we looked up post timeout.... gulp; a power line.
Our three minor peewees in Aidan,Colt and Ty,with Hayden and Connor would have the responsibility of pushing this to overtime. In the end it was Justin who most saved the day... and Coach's bacon.
For 20 seconds all three boys took turns battling for possession in the neutral zone,pucks ping ponging in all directions,but 26 seconds left Jacob V stole a puck and raced up the boards 2-1, smartly chipping a puck over to Maxim for a point blank slot chance. The puck was rolling but Maxim drilled a blocker side attempt that Justin read and reacted to with cat like reflexes,yet the rebound unluckily went right onto Jacob V's stick who had a wide open side. Justin never gave up,reached over with his stick and the shot deflected off it and into the corner.
JacobV chased his own rebound and spun a backhand back to the slot where this time Carter tried a backhand that Justin came across in perfect butterfly position snuff out. Connor rims the puck up the boards to Jackson, Aidan challenges,Ty chips it out and the pressure finally relieved. C1 tried on more long blast from mid ice just before the buzzer sounded that Justin coolly turned away to the most colossal of relief.
The boys somehow weathered the most frenetic pressure seen from C1 all series,and Justin was unshakable in this most ridiculously nerve wracking 26 seconds of our playoff lives.
Like Hasek,he never gave up... and gave C1 a taste of the same frustration we had been felt when swarming them
Like Fuhr he bent but never broke,and would give us a chance to to win...though this in our first ever overtime.
A fourth period where we would now counterpunch with our own powerline vs their tired boys.
It took just fifteen seconds for us to catch a break...a powerplay!
Harry and Eric on the flanks,Owen at C with Aidan and Doogie by his side as we rolled over the boards to to try and win this this right here.
It started out scrambly and Carter chipped the puck ahead racing hard right wing under pressure where he labelled a gorgeous high wrister just high of Justin's blocker side. Another heart in throat moment.
We regain our composure,set up shop in their zone and Doogie spun out of the slot to lay it tape to tape on Owen's stick from 10 feet out...uncontested
This was it...game over.
No! Owen's hard shot was snagged by Jayla's glove...yet once again.
We couldn't believe our eyes...nor could Owen I am sure.
29 seconds of PP left and we switched the D,and Jacob drew in.
This time Aidan took the draw and pushed to a wide open Taz who shot was robbed low pad then high blocker on two ridiculous chances.Would this rollercoaster of emotion and thwarted chances EVER END?
Mercifully,in a matter of seconds it turned out.
C1 just regained full strength and dumped the puck in deep,where Hayden raced in under pressure and rimmed it to Jacob who chipped it past the winger and raced up wing.
He smartly spots Owen blasting through the center ice and hits him.
Aidan joins the rush to make it 2-1 over the blueline.
The defender challenges Owen who flips it to Aidan who slides it back for the give and go where ,in tight ,Owen rips it top shelf and sends this Coach,bench,team and Home crowd into the most unimaginable state of delirium!!
YES!!!!!!!! FINALLY !!!!!!!!!!!
Owen's face was like a Christmas tree...what a spectacular moment in this young man's life!!
The Mighty O with another clutch finish!
Yet it took four smart plays on this goal to make the end result...and Aidan,who was a catalyst to our successes all playoffs, deserves special mention for his incredible playmaking and team leading hustle.
Somehow,we found a way and would now take this series to a deciding game three where anything could happen
I have been part of some truly emotional games,but this one will forever stand out with Oro Atom1 2014 vs Bradford 2014/Disney Cup and Oro Atom 1 2013 vs Osprey in the Championship clinching game as the BEST ever
The sweetest, most heavenly manna to this oh so deserving squad...allowing one last time into the fray Wednesday in Collingwood
Final
Thunder 2- Blackhawks 1 (OT)
Game 3-March25/15- Central Park Arena,Collingwood
So here we were...something I had not allowed myself to dream of this year.
Our goal from the first puck drop had been to get to the A division playdowns and hopefully make the Championship Round.
But win it all?.....didn't dare.
History has shown that when you meet the other side,no matter how strong your regular season,that one must expect the unexpected.
Last year the undefeated Peewees ran into the Georgian Shores squads that proved too formidable.
Our Atoms, conversely, turned the tables on the West where both Oro teams met in the A Championships.
Every year is different,with no guarantees when the best teams face off for all the marbles in round robins/short series.
I have only written final addresses for these most special of moments over the years,preferring to wing it mostly with rough sketches throughout the season. Dead poets have been the inspiration mostly,but for this one I borrowed from all over.
Cam,you wanted to be a "fly on the wall"..so this is for you;
"These are the moments we dream of boys…that very few teams ever get the chance to achieve.
The Theory of Evolution claims that "only the strong shall survive".
Maybe so, maybe so.
But the Theory of Competition states; "just because they're the strong doesn't mean they can't get their asses kicked". That's right.
See, what every long shot, come from behind, underdog will tell ya is this: the other guy may in fact be the favorite, the odds may be stacked against you but that THIS ISNT a MATH test
This is a completely DIFFERENT kind of test.
One where PASSION, has a funny way of trumping and defying logic.
So before you step on the ice, before the puck drops, and the clocks start ticking just remember:
Out there the results don't always add up.
No matter what the stats and scores and the other team thought before this started….you guys have DEFIED ALL ODDS to get to this day.
Collingwood thought we’d roll over and cry "UNCLE"…just like every team they faced before
But not this team
Not these Lions
No matter what happens today you have shown to all the fans ,other teams and coaches what we have known in this dressing room all season long
That you are CHAMPIONS OF THE HEART…and no one can ever take that honor away
And that we are underdogs… NO MORE !!!
You have OUTPLAYED and OUT GUTTED this team for TWO GAMES….they are LUCKY to be with US
You have shown with determination ,focus and bravery that the UNDERDOGS can become THE FAVOURITES
We HAVE... SEIZED THE DAYS
Fortune WAS on our side... because of YOUR BRAVERY
And because of all that I now am able to ask.......
ARE YOU READY FOR THIS MOMENT?
ARE YOU READY TO BRING ALLLLL YOUR THUNDER ?
ARE YOU READY TO BE CHAMPIONS?
ONCE MORE INTO THE FRAY with everything you have, in your HEART, in your MINDS... and in your SOUL"
Owen received the honour of the opening faceoff because of his exemplary work these playoffs and especially this series. He had done everything we coaches had asked and finished this season much as he had started it.
Versus Collingwood The Mighty O had redefined the meaning of "clutch"
Game on
Collingwood came out firing on all cylinders..they too were ready for "this moment"
We made a foray into C1's zone but they immediately counterpunched and raced down ice.
Jackson,the towering Dman who is such a handful on the rush led the attack, passing to Brayden who found Jacob V driving wide. A quick release along the ice fooled Justin and we were down just a minute and 15 seconds into the match. "No problem boys,let's get it back for Justin"
Well we didn't waste much time doing just that.
Chaser,Ben and Colt rolled over the boards...a new trio that I wanted to try on a hunch.
These three didn't let me down,playing the games of their lives and were on fire all night.
Colt hit Chaser mid zone who flew into the C1 zone wide with incredible speed to swing a seeing eye pass to Big Ben who wasted no time drilling home the equalizer. Fabulous response and yes; it was from inside the House of Ben.
Another standout game Benny and you should be so very proud of yourself.
With all your heart you pushed your body to the limit...and were a difference maker for our team.
Congrats pal.
A mere 17 seconds after C1 had taken the early lead,our boys had responded.
It was to be one of those see saw nights.
Late first Maxim and Jacob,who have such excellent chemistry,played catch into our zone creatively.
Maxim found himself alone to slide the puck five hole as he pulled Jacob wide.
Smart,smart change-up to a team that had gone high all series.
2-1 after 1
The puck was no sooner dropped in the second and Collingwood took a 3-1 lead
I was still talking to some boys and missed this one completely,but I'm guessing it was a faceoff push from Maxim to Carter who broke in with the goal just 11 seconds in.
Deflating for sure,and C1 proved once again that they are the masters of the quick strike.
Undaunted though we continued to push the action through the third.
Harry tried of so valiantly to put the team on his strong back and weaved his way through C1's formidable squad to find himself alone in on Jayla several times. She stoned him each and every one.
Flash,Connor and Hayden took turns moving the puck well out of zone for quick ups or center ice dumps where we forechecked and battled once again playing most of the game in the right end..but to little success
Eddie was flying and almost repeated his magic from the Stayner game but Jayla would have none of it.
Great job and season Fast Eddie,who without your HUGE goal in that final round robin game,we would not have been here to begin with.
With the exception of Owen's overtime marker,I have never heard our crowd so loud for any goal.
A fan favourite because of your quiet off ice demeanor which quickly vanishes whenever you step on the ice.
Watching you pass,shoot and fly the wing, hair flying in the wind, is an image that will remain with me every time I think of you.
Along with Hayden,no other player has shown more improvement than you have all season long through hard work and dedication off ice.
Kudos to you, my dear friend.
Chaser was, unsurprisingly, having one whale of a game.
Chase's skills and smarts are exceptional, and he was a key contributor to Oro's success all season.
Here is a player that has it all; skating,shooting,dekes and has trusted teammates with head's up playmaking to set up many chances/goals by drawing the play to him. Ben's first period marker was just another in a long list of examples. He has also been a joy to get to know and work with this year as well.
Late second period Chase showed his exceptional goal scoring touch by drilling home a wrister past Jayla from mid slot with assists to Ben and Flash.
Again,this line was stepping up and leading the way like so many have taken turns doing before.
I was somewhere in this frame that a long shot eluded Jayla and seemed to trickle past the goal line...Jacob,who was on the spot, sure saw it that way. The refs were out of position to see it and before they could verify the puck had been scooped away.
Some fans say it was in, another said they didn't think so..but an interesting footnote to our story in what could have been a game changer.
Score stayed 3-2 and before long Collingwood once again would show their killer instinct.
Jacob V,ever circling like a hungry shark, forced a turnover and was off to the races with his top of the charts speed. It's moments like this where The Blackhawks demonstrate why they are Championship calibre.
Justin came out high to set and challenge...showdown at the OK Corral
A team that prefers to shoot first,Jacob recognized his speed advantage/ Justin's aggressiveness and pumped/ pulled wide to rip it home over our diving keeper.
Exceptional finish; the best in this league.
4-2 into the final stanza
I told the boys 'they could do this,it wasn't over yet" and they responded
We continued to pressure and gets shots on goal but there always seemed to be a stick in the lane or we just got to rebounds a split second too late
At the other end Justin had to be sharp for the counterattacks ,knowing one more goal against would crush our hopes. He was Grant Fuhr in this period; finding the resolve to give us a chance with spectacular stops.
Problem was,so did Jayla and she continued to frustrate our boys shot after shot
At the eight minute mark,it was the two Eric's turn to ignite our team.
Flash found Doogie high slot who turned and blazed a snipe post in on a partial screen.
Jubilation! We were back in this!!
Oro continued to attack in waves,fend off the counterpunches and Justin stood strong
Collingwood was bending like a big maple in a ferocious Thunder storm
They felt the tide turn,they knew we were just one shot away from overtime ,and we felt it too
The question was....would they break?
I moved Harry up to wing; a move I have contemplated all season if and when the time was right
We needed more of his big shot from in close; instead of having to beat five players to the net,he only needed to best one or two.
More chances and clears as Collingwood was content to run down the clock,but we continued our relentless pressure and at 1:39 to go they had to take a penalty.Shortly after we pulled Justin and tried so hard for the equalizer that Collingwood took another penalty. With 48 seconds to go and the face off just outside C1's blueline we were now 6 on 3. Coach Terry asked if I wanted Justin back in to be safe
"No,we're going for it" I responded.
We won the draw,scrambled it deep,tried to force the puck through their keeper with sheer will but still Collingwood wouldn't break.
The puck goes into their corner,11 seconds left and Maxim is first to it.
We will never forget the next moments which seemed to play out in slow motion.
Maxim brilliantly eats the puck to kill the clock,using his skate to protect it against the boards
Our boys frantically try to dislodge it, the clock ticking down. 10,9,8,7,6,..we can't seem to get it!
5,4,3 and suddenly Harry busts it free it and turns to the net.
He circles out front and releases the Kraken for one final time
The twine explodes outward blocker side and we erupt.
They broke!!!! We did it!!!!
But the celebration quickly turned to tears as the ref signalled "no goal"...and rightly so
The puck had just left Harry's stick mid air at the buzzer from five feet away and only a fraction of a second separated Overtime from defeat.
Yes....half a second or less the replays showed. But it was late.
When you think of the countless hours our boys play hockey every year it is unimaginable to think .5 seconds could separate us from a better fate...but that is what happened
Our poor lads were inconsolable,tears streaming down the bravest of young men's faces.
Flash especially so. "Coach!Coach! You have to do something...it isn't right!!!"
I shook my head sadly " they got it right...it was late. It's ok son. It's ok. "
"Son"...I caught myself saying it again,but this is how these boys feel to me after spending so much time together as a hockey family over the years. I feel the emotions again just writing this.
It was a heroic yet most painful way you could ever lose a Championship and I felt helpless to ease their sorrows other than to hug them and tell them they were Champs too.
We lined up for our awards tears still staining the boy's breathless red faces
There were speeches,congratulations and medals but in a most sportsmanlike moment, the two teams posed with the trophy they had both so valiantly competed for.
A wonderful gesture that did both team's hearts proud.
Thank-you Coach Sean.
Two great Champions of the East and West had battled it out for five games really and yet it came down to one last play.
Truly fitting of a competition where both teams can be proud to say they battled with all their will yet never crossed lines to intentionally hurt one another nor play the game dishonourably for advantage.
The inevitable winner was determined to win simply on honed skills combined with passion and if accurate about our lads becoming favourites, then the underdogs flipped the script and rose once again
A competition like no other and one both teams will remember differently but oh so fondly in the autumns of their lives to come
We tip our hats to the GB Champion Collingwood Blackhawks1...fabulously led by their Coaching staff of gentlemen and the most deserving of victors of our highest accomplishment.
Then finally to my boys;
You simply proved to be everything that I already knew you were.
You will forever remain.... Champions of the Heart
Always
Coach Greg
