The East Gwillimbury Tyke Select Team wrapped up its perfect season as a grand-prize winner in the Ford Drills and Skills Competition.
On April 12th, the team spent an unforgettable day at the Air Canada Centre training with the Toronto Maple Leafs development team. Upon arrival at the ACC, they spent some time in the photo gallery where team members could have pictures taken with family members to mark the occasion. The team then headed into the session and were given a chance to listen and ask questions of two Leafs legends - Darryl Sittler and Wendel Clark. Both former NHLers had some great advice to search with the Tykes about being a hockey player and even more importantly how they even at their young ages they can make an impact on their community.
This was a really important lesson that the coaching staff wanted to impress on the Tykes this year and it was their efforts in the Hockey 4 Hunger Food Drive (with the largest team donation of 2863.6 lbs of food) and the Christmas Toy Drive that drove people to vote for them in the Ford Drills and Skills Contest.
After getting suited up and having their pictures taken with Darryl Sittler, the Eagles hit Centre Ice at the ACC. They started their session by standing for the national anthem and then spent the next hour with an action packed set of drills. The Leafs Development staff put our Eagles through the paces and worked them hard.
After the session on the ice, the team was then brought to the the Raptors’ training facility in the ACC for off-ice strength and agility drills. Once again they were worked pretty hard but seemed to be loving every minute of this incredible experience.
Their final session at the ACC included a visit from the head chef for the Leafs and Raptors, who made them a healthy meal that would be typical of what he would prepare for the pros.
As leaving the ACC, the Tykes were even interview by CP24 on their opinions regarding the changes in the Leafs organization that were announced that day.
Overall, it was the perfect end to their perfect season that saw them with 33 wins, no losses, 230 goals for with only 30 goals against! That 33-0 record also included wins at in the Ajax, Pickering and Oshawa tournaments and the Orillia March Break Festival.
The team will have one more opportunity to spend time together on Saturday June 13th when they take part in the OMHA Parade of Champions and are awarded the Hometown Hockey Excellence Award for their community efforts.
The team would like to thank all the family and friends that supported them this season. It was an unforgettable season that will be remembered by many for a long time, not only for all the incredible accomplishments but for the wonderful friendships that formed between the team mates.
Go Eagles Go!
