“We can’t say enough about how it wasn’t what we expected,” said co-coach Rob Zangari. “We have just deal with it and looking forward to next year. We are looking at ways we can change it and get back on the right path.”

“I thought we would have 11 to 13 wins just by looking at the schedule,” said co-coach Joe O’Halloran. “We didn’t take advantage of the games at the start of the schedule.”

The two coaches made the comments just prior to the team’s 2008 awards banquet, held on July 8 at the Huntsville Centennial Centre.

Corey Moore was the big winner on the night. He received the team’s most offensive player of the year award and the most valuable player honour.

Other award recipients were Cole Greenaway (top rookie), Paul Hesch (coaches’ award), Luke Walton (Mark Simmons Memorial Award), Morgan Didsbury (most improved) and Chad Schmeler (best defensive player).

The season that could have been never was for the Hawks. Several key injuries during the campaign and losing the 2007 OLA East MVP Travis Hallyburton prior to the start of the year were big setbacks. Nevertheless, the Hawks were not anyone’s doormats despite the winless record, losing eight contests by one or two goals, including

the last game of the year to Markham in

overtime.

There is reason to be optimistic for next year as the Hawks are losing only one player due to age restrictions and the nucleus of the squad will be one year older and a little more experienced in playing at the junior B level.

O’Halloran said the lack of experience came into play, as the Hawks lost a majority of their games in the late stages of the contest.

“Not being able to have the strength and the chemistry in the last 20 minutes to seal the deal (is what hurt the team). I would say a number of times the other teams didn’t beat us, we beat ourselves,” he said.

Despite this, both coaches say they are proud of how the team competed in every game, no matter what the score reflected.

“I would say that out of the 20 games we were in 14 of them. We got blown out only a couple of games,” said O’Halloran. “Even though we went 0-20 guys showed a lot of heart. They haven’t given up on us and we haven’t given up on them.”

The two coaches, who say they want to return for a second year with the team, say they learned a great deal as rookie bench bosses and are looking forward to another crack at leading the Hawks.

“We know we have a team that can score goals,” said Zangari. “Hopefully Travis will come back next year to help us.”