Wilfrid Laurier University Alumni Newsletter From the Home of Golden Hawk Hockey
Volume 2, Issue 2 Message from Dr. Bob Rosehart “It was a great Fall 2004 for the hockey Golden Hawks and Winter 2005 holds promise for the playoffs. Your ongoing interest, participation and support has and continues to be very important to the success of our student athletes”.
Mid Season 2004-05
Hawks Look Adversity in the Face After a disappointing end to the 2004 season, a summer that saw former coach Mark French leave the program for an assistant coaching job in the East Coast Hockey League, and with key departures from players from the 2004 squad, the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks Men’s hockey team were primed for failure during the first half of the season. From the onset of the hockey season, however, the Hawks were determined to not let the battle of adversity take over their hockey club. “We simply believe in the people that we have in our room” said fourth year Captain Nick Vukovic, who assumed the Captainship after third year center Bryan Kazarian left the program early in November. “Even though we have lost some key people and good team-mates, we believe that if we work hard every night that we can compete with anyone in our league. We have focused on what we do everyday to prepare and to not worry about things we can’t control. We’re having fun at the rink and believing in each other.” Believe they do, the Hawks opened the regular season with a tough victory over the nationally ranked University of Toronto Blues and then went on to win the next three games against Ryerson, RMC, and Queens. Next, the Hawks took a 4-0 record and 10th spot in the national rank-
ings to Thunder Bay to play the number four ranked Lakehead University Thunderwolves where they suffered two hard fought losses to the Thunderwolves. The Hawks, then traveled to London, Ontario to play the number five ranked University of Western Ontario Mustangs but once again came up short in a Fourth Year Captain Nick Vukovic tight checking game. Despite suffering and battled back the next three losses in a row on the road to the number night against University four and five ranked teams of Ottawa, yet another respectively, the Hawks nationally ranked squad. however, regrouped and The Hawks turned in an remained unfazed earn- impressive performance as ing a victory the follow- they outplayed the defending weekend against the ing Far-East champions ninth ranked and Far East and a 3-2 victory with a late Division leading Con- goal by Richard Colwill. cordia Stingers. The next With the win, the Hawks night, the Hawks battled remained in second place the UQTR Patriotes and in the Mid West division, despite giving up two early three points behind York at goals, the Hawks battled the Christmas break with back and outplayed their two games in hand. First year coach Steve opposition for the remain- ing part of the game but Martell has suggested that failed to get the win as the this group of Hawks conPatriots hung on to get a tinue to show everyone 2-1 win. The next week- they have that special qualend, the Hawks traveled to ity that differentiates teams. Montreal to face off against “I have been truly blessed the McGill Redmen and the to have inherited such University of Ottawa Gee veteran leadership. These Gees. At McGill, the Hawks guys make it easy for me were simply outplayed by a to coach this hockey club. determined McGill Redmen Every time I think they get team that went on to defeat down and out someone on the Hawks by a score of our team comes up with a 7-1. Rather than continue strong performance that to dig a deeper hole, the allows us to continue to Hawks remained unfazed believe.
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