Milton Winterhawks Atom Select

The Winterhawks faced off against their season rivals the Brampton Spitfires during the Brampton Youth Intra-City Championships Sunday March 28 and came away victorious with a 3-1 win. Milton led the league during regular season play with 16 wins, 2 losses and 2 ties, but stumbled early in the playoffs with two back to back losses. They came into the Championship game in second place behind a tough Brampton squad.
Both teams came out strong, but it was Milton that applied the most pressure from the first puck drop. In the bottom half of first period play Zachary Harrison drove into the Spitfires’ zone and fired a quick shot at the Brampton netminder. He blocked the shot, but Connor Michailoff came in on Harrison’s heels and picked up the rebound to put Milton on the board.
Early in the second Milton took a penalty deep in their zone. With one man down and looking to clear the puck, Matthew Evans saw an opportunity, flew down the ice and fired it high for the Winterhawks’ second point. Minutes later with both teams at full strength Brampton was fighting to get the play out of their zone, but Matthew Di Biasio kept the puck in with a pass to Callum MacGregor. A scramble in front of the Brampton net gave Matthew Evans the opening to score his second of the game. The Brampton Spitfires tallied one point early in the third.
Milton forwards kept the pressure up through all three periods and the passing was crisp and fast. Strong defence kept much of the play in the neutral and opponent’s zone and limited shots against to 14. Joshua Schaap and Braden Corp were solid between the pipes stopping all but 1. Today was a real team effort with every boy contributing 100%. Congratulations Winterhawks on winning the Division and Championship!

28 Feb 2010
The energy was palpable at Memorial last Sunday. Everyone was excited following Canada’s gold medal win and Milton decided to follow suit, trouncing their opponent 8-1.
Our boys hit the ice fast and after less than 2 minutes of play Galarneau registered the Hawks’ first point with the help of some crisp passing between Dutton and Evans. The next goal followed quickly with Di Biasio firing it out of his end to Harrison who spotted MacGregor in the perfect position. MacGregor registered his first of 4 goals! Isnor and Galarneau played it smart and Mulraney grabbed the chance to make it 3-0 at the end of the 1st.
The second period was still Milton’s game and our boys put another three points up, all by MacGregor. The first with some great play-making by Evans and Michailoff. The next one was a short-handed goal. Wulfers Joyce picked it up in Milton’s zone and sent it to Harrison who found Macgregor. Milton’s 6th point was another short-handed goal; this time it was Michailoff and Wulfers Joyce who provided the opportunity.
At 9:21 of the third, with play deep in the Snipers’ end, Michailoff and MacGregor sent it back and forth to each other. The forwards were covered and Michailoff sent the puck to McDonald who fired it right past the netminder from the blueline. Exactly 1 minute later the Galarneau-Evans-Dutton combination played it textbook and Galarneau registered point 8 of the game. The Snipers got on the board halfway through the period to close out the game at 8 to 1.
Shots on net were 30-20 in Milton’s favour and both our keepers made great saves. Congratulations on truly playing like a team! You boys were great!

20 Feb 2010
Milton was outshot by the Caledon Blackhawks 24 to 18 but won the game 3-1. Schaap and Corp did an outstanding job between the pipes and led their team to a much needed victory.
The Hawks began the game with great energy and put two on the board in the first period. At 6:35 Di Biasio sent a sharp pass across ice to MacGregor who drove in deep accompanied by Harrison. #2 didn’t have an opening and dropped it to Harrison who buried it high. Milton’s second point began with nice D work by Dickin who kept the play in the Blackhawks end. MacGregor shot on net and the rebound was picked up by Mulraney who sent it home.
Late in the second Caledon scored a point. Following their opponents goal, Milton was caught scrambling but was able to regroup and begin the third period strong. The final goal of the game came halfway in the 3rd on a pass from Dickin to Takeuchi who got caught with 3 men around him. He sent the puck out of the mêlée and found MacGregor who tallied his second of the game.
The boys played their passing game and the win was the result. Keep it up Hawks!

13 Feb 2010
The Hawks were left scrambling following 3 quick goals by the Brampton Bombers. Our boys were able to put 2 on the board before the end of first period play. Di Biasio and Wulfers Joyce made some clean passes to take the play out of Milton’s zone and send the puck to MacGregor who rifled it high for the Hawks’ first. Moments later Cunha drove in to the Bomber’s end and found MacGregor. There wasn’t an opening but Harrison was ready to receive the pass and Milton began closing the gap. With momentum building the Hawks once again had the puck over the line, but the goal was reviewed and discounted by the officials.
Play fell apart in the second and Milton could not get their focus back. The Bombers tallied 2 more points in the 2nd and 3rd periods. In the bottom half of the third MacGregor began a rush with Evans and it was a quick, high backhand from Evans that found the opening.
Milton outshot the Bombers 26-21 but final score was 7 to 3 in favour of Brampton.
Keep believing in each other and yourselves boys! We do.

25 Jan 2010
Creative and consistent passing was the name of the game Monday night when the Winterhawks faced off against the Caledon Lightning. As a result the Hawks dominated the game with 31 shots on net and a 5-0 win.
The Hawks scored their first minutes into play when McDonald sent the puck straight to Evans deep in the Lightning’s zone. Evans fired it over to Harrison who had a clear opening. Kudos to the Caledon netminder who fought off the Hawks offence with some great saves throughout the game.
The constant barrage of shots finally got through and during the second Milton tallied two more points. At 7:22 Sharpe, standing firm at the blue line, sent the puck over to his line mate Di Biasio. He lobbed it to MacGregor who blasted it high past the keeper. One minute later Evans, Mulraney and Harrison kept the Lightning guessing with passes back and forth. Harrison spotted an opportunity and Milton was up 3-0.
In the final half of the third Dutton, Galarneau and Takeuchi brought the play firmly in the Caledon zone and began firing on net. Takeuchi pounced on the rebound and shot it past the goalie’s skate. MacGregor wrapped it up nicely with the 5th of the game from beautiful passes by Cunha and Michailoff.
Congratulations on your first place standing Milton!