The Mississauga Hawks, the only high calibre team to enter only one Tour stop per season, made their annual appearance again at the Early Bird. What made their 2007 chapter more interesting then previous ones, however, was their entry into the elite division.

Last season, despite a close round-robin call with the GTA Lions, and their sudden semi-final overtime thriller with the Capitals, the Hawks cruised to the “A” title. Although a number of elite teams were missing from the Early Bird, there was still plenty of able competition to give the Laurier all star-laden squad a good test.

Quarter-Finals

Mississauga Hawks 21 vs. Hamilton Hogs 0

Montreal Maroons 26 vs. Burlington Spartans 13

Toronto Landell Lightning 22 vs. Kitchener Gaels 21

Hamilton Irish 15 vs. Toronto Trojans 0

The Hawks had fantastic first day results in the tournament. For their pool and preliminary match-ups, three games in total, the Hawks scored 80 points and allowed only 25 against. The most memorable of these results was their 41 to 19 handling of the number one ranked Burlington Spartans--never an easy task.

The Hawks wouldn’t be tested until they faced off against the revamped Hamilton Irish. The Irish, last year’s bubble tier one squad, posted impressive first day results as well. In the most contested pool of the elite division, the Irish walked away with two hard fought victories over favoured Landell Lightning, and the Ottawa Argos.

Proving that their victories weren’t a fluke, The Irish silenced another favoured team--the Toronto Trojans. The Irish sent them to the “A” side with a 15 to 0 shutout win, advancing to the elite semi-finals for their very first time.

The Hawks, despite their infamous qb, Billy Kubas, pulling out of the tournament due to a knee injury, they stalled the Irish’s momentum with a 20 to 14 semi-final result. Stepping in for the injured Kubas, was his former fellow Rattler great, and CFL’er, Stefan Ptaszek.

Stefan scrambled his Hawks into the Championship game, where they faced another revamped squad, the Montreal Maroons. Lead by the newly appointed Quebec Touch Football President, Chad Byers, the Maroons would avenge last year’s Early Bird championship game defeat from the Spartans, sending them to the “A” side with a 26 to 13 preliminary result. Before facing the Hawks in the Championship game, the Maroons slipped past Toronto’s Landell Lightning in a very close 28 to 20 game.

Semi-Finals

Mississauga hawks 20 vs. Hamilton Irish 14

Montreal Maroons 28 vs. Landell Lightning 20

The Hawks and Maroons engaged in one of the most exciting championship contests of the weekend. It came down to the very last minute of play. The Maroons, well inside the Hawks red zone, were faced with a 3rd and short situation. While they could have easily kicked a single to force overtime play, the Maroons, like any team worthy of their ranking should, opted to go for the win. Although they failed in their conversion attempt, it made for an exciting finish to an already exciting contest.

TFO would like to congratulate the Hawks on another fantastic Early Bird result, as well as the Maroons and Irish for their efforts.

Finals

Mississauga Hawks 22 vs. Montreal Maroons 21