Tag Archives: Cambridge Times
From the Times: Cambridge wins penalty parade
Cambridge wins penalty parade Cam Pentsa’s fight sparks Winter Hawks to victory Hespeler Road wasn’t the only venue for a parade in the city Saturday night. The Cambridge Winter Hawks and the Wesrern Conference’s LaSalle Vipers were marching to the penalty box all night at the Galt Arena Gardens in the final Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League interleague matchup of the regular season for both teams.
Six in a row for Hawks
Six in a row for Hawks The Brantford Golden Eagles probably still don’t know what hit them. Well, the number of that train is six, because that’s what the Cambridge Winter Hawks winning streak is at after dumping the Golden Eagles 5-3 on Sunday during Pink at the Rink at the Galt Arena Gardens. Cambridge completed a three-game sweep on the weekend, beating Listowel 3-2 in overtime Friday and Owen Sound 7-0 on Saturday. The Winter Hawks wore pink jerseys to raise money and awareness for breast cancer on Sunday, but they had Brantford seeing red after coming back from being down 3-0 in the first with five unanswered goals. It was sweet revenge for the Winter Hawks, who coughed up a 2-0 third period lead to Brantford on Oct. 2, before losing 3-2. That seems like years ago now. “We’re on a little bit of a high now,” said Winter Hawks head coach Peter Crosby, who has seen his team start to look like contenders. “We’ve won six games and in that six-game stretch there’s been some big wins and this is a big win tonight. I go back to what I said before, it’s a 51-game season. There’s going to be some bumps along the way and there’s going to be some obstacles and it’s how well we respond to that.” Crosby admitted that Sunday was an example of that. As the Winter Hawks had a jittery first period, coupled by a rare of night by Lucas Machalski, to go down 3-0 after 20 minutes. “We didn’t have our best effort in the first period tonight,” said. “The guys answered the bell and came back in the second period, and finished them off in the third. “Every single kid in that dressing room is a character guy.” After Mike Riley, Jeff Swift and Ryan Blunt chased Machalski from the game, the Winter Hawks got some solid work from Brendan Gorecki, who extended his shutout streak to 105 minutes, 75 seconds. The comeback started just 47 seconds into the second period on a power play, when Gratton went top corner on a rebound past a diving Bryce O’Hagan. Three minutes later on another power play, Anthony Guido snuck in from the point to take a Tyler Snyder pass at the far side of the crease and bang it past O’Hagan. The Winter Hawks caught a break when Jeff Swift looked to get the puck in the net before it was pushed off by Michael Christou, but the goal was disallowed and there was no penalty on the play. That left the door open for Christian Barnard, who tied the game on a shorthanded breakaway. Christou got the eventual winner at 6:19 of the third, the Winter Hawks fourth straight power-play goal, when a clearing pass bounced off the side of his helmet and he beat the Brantford defence before snapping a shot over O’Hagan’s blocker. After having trouble solving O’Hagan in their last meeting, the Winter Hawks seemed to have his number on Sunday. “I think I can speak for all the boys, I think he looked like a block of Swiss cheese in that net. I’m not going to lie,” Christou said after the game. “But we had a slow start and then in the second and third period we battled back hard, and we deserved that win. Our team beat their talent.” Christou added that the team is starting to play the way they’re capable of. “I think we’re actually believing in the system now and we’re just going, and we’re having fun doing it. “It seems like we’re getting the job done. We’re not a finesse team so we just go out and do what we do night in and night out, and we’ve put together a pretty good streak now. You don’t get lucky winning six in a row.” Scot Mitchell finished off the scoring, taking a pretty drop pass from Gratton before sliding through the skates of O’Hagan. Against Listowel, Ryan Clarke, Christou and Guido scored for the Winter Hawks. Against Owen Sound, Andrew Coupland had two goals, while Clarke, Gratton, Christou, Snyder and Taylor Doering had one each. The Winter Hawks are in Stratford Friday at 7:30 p.m., before hosting Waterloo on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Galt Arena Gardens. Courtesy of the Bill Doucet at the Cambridge Times. See the original article here.
From the Times: Complete wins for Hawks
Complete wins for Hawks Tyler Snyder did all the little things right. The just turned 18-year-old Cambridge Winter Hawks forward was at his best during Saturday’s 6-0 win over the Kitchener Dutchmen, blocking shots, potting a goal and killing penalties. He also added a bang-on impersonation of former Winter Hawks Kyle Helms, knocking 30 seconds off a penalty by working the puck along the boards against three Dutchmen. But what will people remember most from Snyder’s night? Probably his failed attempt at an open net near the end of the second period when the Winter Hawks could have added on to their 4-0 lead. With Cody Gratton in the penalty box for roughing, the Dutchmen pulled goalie Mario Duscio for a 6-on-4 advantage to try to put a dent in the Winter Hawks’ lead. Snyder managed to get loose and was in a foot race with a Kitchener defenceman for the open net. He put on the brakes to go around him and the puck bounced away. You could practically hear the groans from the Winter Hawks bench. So what happened? “I don’t know,” Snyder said, trying to cover his laughter with the towel hanging around his neck. “I just turned my head and I just lost the puck. It skipped up; I’ll get it next time.” Even head coach Peter Crosby couldn’t resist taking a shot at Snyder. “Snydes had an awesome game. We just have to work on the open net shots for him,” he said with a smile. And there were grins all around the Cambridge dressing room as the team dominated the Dutchmen for 60 minutes and helped Lucas Machalski earn his first Junior B shutout. The fact that they also held onto the 4-0 lead, despite some deficiencies in that area a couple of weeks ago, also put the team in a good mood. “We put up a good performance and closed them out,” Snyder said. “That was something we weren’t doing earlier in the year, but we stepped it up and got the win.” Snyder certainly stepped up his game against Kitchener and his tenacious style of play, along with linemate Lawrence Pagnan, kept the Dutchmen at 0-for-5 on the power play. He’s also a player who knows his role and accepts it. “I’m just a fourth line guy and I just go out there and play defensively, try not to get scored on and my line tries to chip in every once in a while. It’s what I do to have my spot,” he said When Snyder can add to the offence, that’s a bigger bonus. He did get a hometown bounce on his goal, as he put the Winter Hawks up 2-0 when his shot on a 2-on-1 rush with Lawrence Pagnan was stopped, but deflected in off a Kitchener player. Ryan Clarke also scored twice for the Winter Hawks, while Gratton, Brandon Zimmerman and Christian Barnard – on a pretty passing play with Cameron Pentsa – had singles. The Winter Hawks took momentum from that game and used it to beat previously undefeated Elmira 5-3 on Sunday. Courtesy of Bill Doucet at the Cambridge Times. See the original article here!
From the Times: Hawks never gave up
Hawks never gave up Two losses not as bad as it seems for Winter Hawks It’s a weekend the Cambridge Winter Hawks will lock away in the vault. Though they went pointless with a 7-5 loss to Stratford on Friday and were defeated 4-1 by Elmira on Saturday, the games produced something just as valuable for the Winter Hawks – they learned they could play with the best teams in the league. Considered the two top squads in the Midwestern Conference, Stratford and Elmira threw everything they had at Cambridge, only to see the Winter Hawks fight them right to the end and keep the games close. And the Winter Hawks learned what it will take to beat top level teams.
From the Times: New excitement in Hawkeytown
New excitement in Hawkeytown Doucet’s Dugout There seems to be a new attitude around the Galt Arena Gardens this season. Though we are just one game into the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League campaign, this year’s Cambridge Winter Hawks team looks to have a new attitude. Since the Winter Hawks made it to the Cherrey Cup finals a year after their back-to-back Sutherland Cups, they have won a grand total of four playoff games. And because that didn’t come in the same season, they haven’t made it past the first round since that 2008 league final matchup against Elmira. The Winter Hawks are looking to change that this year. Now, no one is predicting a Sutherland Cup already. This isn’t Stratford, where the parade route is marked when training camp opens. But this year, there seems to be a bit more fire on the team. Facing a bruising Guelph squad on Saturday – obviously not the same team they beat 10-0 in exhibition play – the Winter Hawks came back after being down 3-1 in the second period to win 6-4. Last year, at times, that deficit might as well have been 10-1, as the Winter Hawks weren’t very adept at coming back. Even when Guelph tied the game 4-4 after Cambridge had taken the lead, it just seemed to give them more fire. That hasn’t been seen around here since those Sutherland Cup teams, where, no matter what the score, the team was never out of it. Could this team make some noise? Well, two years ago the Winter Hawks got off to a flying start before the Elmira incident, where players where told to stay on the players bench for the second intermission and wear their equipment for the bus ride home. There was mixed reaction among fans about head coach Ryan D’Arcy’s ploy, but it seemed to backfire as he not only lost the players, but was fined and suspended by the league. When D’Arcy relinquished the coaching duties later in the season, Paul Jennings wasn’t the answer. Last year, general manager Ken Jeysman did his best to get a competitive team together after almost everyone left during the offseason. But Pat Conklin never seemed to get the team going and some of the players were already thinking about the offseason when Jeysman took over the reigns just before Christmas. Unfortunately, last year’s Winter Hawks had a collective of individuals instead of a team. The players where that was evident aren’t in Cambridge jerseys this season. As stated before, only Game 1 of 51 has been dealt with. But a telling tale of a new attitude was an interview after Saturday’s game with new acquisition Michael Christou, who said that a lot of teams used the word family to describe their team. In Cambridge, the way he was accepted, the meaning behind family was evident. So time will tell with this Winter Hawks team if they will go through a wall for each other. Sure, there will be ups and downs and no one expects them to go 51-0, but they may just bring some excitement back to the old barn. Last year’s tagline, created by Jeysman, was, “There’s a new team in town”. This season, how about, “There’s a new attitude in town”. Courtesy of Bill Doucet, Doucet’s Dugout at the Cambridge Times. See the original editorial here.
From the Times: Hawks overcome jitters
Hawks overcome jitters Team comes back to win after rough first half The Cambridge Winter Hawks definitely had some opening night jitters. Starting the season at home for the first time since 2007-08, the Winter Hawks overcame 30 minutes of miscues and defensive breakdowns for a 6-4 win over the Guelph Hurricanes on Saturday at the Galt Arena Gardens.
From the Times: Winter Hawks camp opens Monday
Winter Hawks camp opens Monday There’s a feeling of anticipation filtering through the Cambridge Winter Hawks this season. Not only are they open training camp early this year, on Monday, but they will also have a good number of familiar bodies back. Last season, general manager Ken Jeysman was trying to piece together a team after the number of returnees could be counted on one hand. This season, he has possible 12 players coming back who are now a year older and have more experience in the league. “It’s a little different than last year because we have more people returning,” Jeysman said. “Instead of last year hitting the ground treading water, we’re hitting the ground running.” Already signed on for this season are forwards Josh Timpano, captain Ryan Clarke, Brandon Zimmerman, Rob Bennett, Chris Chapman, Christian Barnard and Jeff Howlett, defenceman Dylan Decker and goalie Brendan Gorecki. Scott Mitchell will return to the team if he doesn’t stick with the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League and Tyler Snyder is getting in shape for a possible return. The Winter Hawks will also find out this week if Trevor Hache is returning. Last year’s team playoff MVP Colin Furlong is skating with the Hamilton Red Wings and will attend the Guelph Storm camp. If he ends up in one of those places, midget graduate Lucas Machalski is a string candidate to take his spot. The Cambridge netminder backed up Furlong in two games last year and even played a period in a 13-2 win in Owen Sound, stopping all 11 shots he faced. Besides the returnees, the Winter Hawks have signed defencemen Andrew Coupland and Elmira’s Taylor Doring, and forwards Cody Gratton and Acton’s Ben Roelofson. With that many players inked, Jeysman isn’t sweating it out prior to training camp as he was last year. “It’s a big difference,” he said. “Last year, we had to grab players in a hurry because of the mass exodus. “Now it’s different, right? We’ll probably only have three players that haven’t played in the league before. It’s a big difference; a year older and a little more experience. All of sudden we’re not sitting in the same spot.” With that many players signed, it also means that training camp – which will have 40 to 50 players – should be a spirited one with so few spots open. That means, unlike last year, the Winter Hawks can be more selective of who they want on the roster. Jeysman said the team is looking to start the season with 23 players. “I think it should be very exciting. It’s kind of nice, as we have some guys vying for these spots who are training very hard and say they’ll do whatever it takes to make it. Which is a different attitude. “A lot of these guys have a lot more grit. I’m not saying tough, but grit. We’re looking for those players that aren’t afraid to go through and work hard on the wall.” Besides spirited, training camp could also be the toughest it has been in years. “Camp starts with a fitness test that will probably have a few kids puking,” Jeysman said with a laugh. Courtesy of Bill Doucet at the Cambridge Times. See the original article here!
From the Times: Winter Hawks open main camp Aug. 15
Winter Hawks open main camp Aug. 15 The Cambridge Winter Hawks can’t wait to get on the ice. Even though the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League regular season schedule usually doesn’t get started until the second week of September, Winter Hawks brass are making sure they have the team picked well ahead of time, opening the main camp on Aug. 15 at the Galt Arena Gardens. Prospective Hawks will break into two teams and the players better be ready when they hit camp as the first cuts will be made on Aug. 18. Players will also be released leading up to a pre-season tournament in Port Colborne, from Aug. 26 to 28, before final cuts are made on Aug. 29. Courtesy of Bill Doucet at the Cambridge Times. See the original article here!
Winter Hawks announce new head coach
Winter Hawks get No. 1 choice Courtesy of Bill Doucet Three time’s a charm for Peter Crosby. After applying for the Cambridge Winter Hawks head coaching job the last two seasons – the Winter Hawks instead took Ryan D’Arcy, then Pat Conklin – general manager Ken Jeysman approached the Paris resident this year to take over behind the bench after the team has gone through four coaches in the last two Junior B campaigns. In fact, one of those coaches was Jeysman, who took over last season for Conklin prior to the Christmas break. Before Jeysman could hire Crosby, he had to fire himself. “Yeah, I didn’t like the guy,” Jeysman said, tongue firmly planted in cheek. In all seriousness though, the Winter Hawks coaching job has been anything but a laughing matter since the departure of Greg Bignell after the 2008-09 season. Jeysman said he is looking for long-term at the position and has confidence in Crosby, who brings an impressive resume to town. The 42 year old was assistant coach with the Brantford Golden Eagles in 2008 under head coach and close friend Jay Wells, before winning coach of the year in 2009 with the Junior C Paris Mounties. After that, Crosby moved to women’s professional hockey, where he coached Mississauga two seasons ago and was interim head coach for Brampton last season. “He was the guy I wanted right from the beginning,” Jeysman said. “He’s technically sound, he’s organized, he’s a local guy and he makes it all work. “We want some stability. So here’s a guy that’s been working his way up, hard. He’s a stabile, family-type guy, so I think he will be around for a bit.” Crosby said the decision to leave Brampton wasn’t an easy one, admitting he had a “really good gig going on”, but the drive was getting to be too much and he felt that it was the right time to move back to junior hockey. “I really enjoyed it, but coaching the guys, coaching at a high level like Junior B, coaching probably one of the storied franchises in the Junior B loop in Cambridge and coaching in the backyard of my adopted hometown is pretty exciting.” A teacher at Paris District High School since 1994 and founder of the Hockey Canada Skill Academy in 2005, Crosby says he already has a plan in place to get the Winter Hawks back to a championship calibre team. “It’s the approach of making sure we’re sound technically, and that leads into being tactically sound towards our system,” he said. “Without giving away too much, but people will figure us out quickly I’m sure, is that we’re going to be aggressive in all three zones. But that doesn’t mean total offensive-minded. It means being aggressive in the three zones defensively, and that’s going to create offensive chances.” He added that the team is also going to work specifically on special teams this season, with an emphasis of trying a different penalty killing system that is different than most Junior B teams play. But that also comes from working hard in every zone on the ice. “You go back to Bigs (Greg Bignell) and he was coaching in the league when Jay was the head coach of Brantford and I was his assistant, and you could see how his players bought into his technique, his systems and his plays, and he was a very sound coach, he said. “The whole mantra of the year is going to be buy into the process and enjoy the process, because where we start better not be where we finish.” Visit Cambridge Times for the original article, courtesy of Bill Doucet.
