TFO Hamilton Touch Bowl 2007 Newsletter

The Kitchener Gaels pulled off several revenge victories at the Hamilton Bowl. They answered previous season defeats to capture their first elite title in club history. Prior to this season, only four other teams in recent history (ONC, Piranhas, Spartans, Mustangs) have earned an elite title. Let’s see who the Gaels had to go through before capturing this prestigious prize.

In Round Robin action, the Gaels made quick work the Hamilton Hornets, as well as the Ottawa Hellcats, the team that ousted them in a heartbreaking decision at last year’s Provincials. In their first playoff contest against the Ottawa Argos, the Gaels held on to the dreadful nine point lead to advance to the semi-finals.

Quarter-Finals

Burlington Spartans 29 vs Ottawa Hellcats 22

Kitchener Gaels 35 vs Ottawa Argos 24

Ottawa Capitals 26 vs Toronto Tojans 23

Hamilton hogs 33 vs Landell Lightning 32

At the Ottawa stop finals last year, the Gaels were humbled by the Ottawa Capitals in a lop-sided result. Carrying a short bench and forced to deal with the extreme heat that weekend, they quickly ran out of gas. Things were quite different in this scenario, however, as the Capitals were carrying the shorter bench this time, and were lead by a different quarterback, former CIAU MVP Phil Cote. While heat wouldn’t play a factor in this result, the improved roster of the Gaels would, as they controlled the Capitals in a 30 to 20 decision.

Other semi-finals saw another highly improved squad, the Hamilton Hogs, take on the number-one-ranked Burlington Spartans. What made this match up extra interesting was that Hog qb, Don Gerry, was a former Spartan for several years. The hype proved to be more interesting then the result, as the Spartans walked away with convincing 37 to 6 victory.

Semi-Finals

Burlington Spartans 37 vs Hamilton Hogs 6

Kitchener Gaels 30 vs Ottawa Capitals 20

It could be said, despite having new faces themselves, that the Gaels path to the finals was against opposition adjusting to new bodies. No one could say anything like that about their next opponents, however, as the Spartans were the most established unit competing in Hamilton.

In this defensive-oriented final, the Gaels held the Spartans to only 18 points. Scoring 20 themselves, they earned their first elite title, jump to fourth place in the Province, and firmly planted themselves as one of the teams to beat in 2007. Congratulations Gaels!

Finals

Kitchener Gaels 20 vs Burlington Spartans 18



	The Kitchener Gaels pulled off several revenge victories at the Hamilton Bowl. They answered previous season defeats to capture their first elite title in club history. Prior to this season, only four other teams in recent history (ONC, Piranhas, Spartans, Mustangs) have earned an elite title. Let’s see who the Gaels had to go through before capturing this prestigious prize. In Round Robin action, the Gaels made quick work the Hamilton Hornets, as well as the Ottawa Hellcats, the team that ousted them in a heartbreaking decision at last year’s Provincials. In their first playoff contest against the Ottawa Argos, the Gaels held on to the dreadful nine point lead to advance to the semi-finals. Quarter-Finals Burlington Spartans 29 vs Ottawa Hellcats 22 Kitchener Gaels 35 vs Ottawa Argos 24 Ottawa Capitals 26 vs Toronto Tojans 23 Hamilton hogs 33 vs Landell Lightning 32 At the Ottawa stop finals last year, the Gaels were humbled by the Ottawa Capitals in a lop-sided result. Carrying a short bench and forced to deal with the extreme heat that weekend, they quickly ran out of gas. Things were quite different in this scenario, however, as the Capitals were carrying the shorter bench this time, and were lead by a different quarterback, former CIAU MVP Phil Cote. While heat wouldn’t play a factor in this result, the improved roster of the Gaels would, as they controlled the Capitals in a 30 to 20 decision. Other semi-finals saw another highly improved squad, the Hamilton Hogs, take on the number-one-ranked Burlington Spartans. What made this match up extra interesting was that Hog qb, Don Gerry, was a former Spartan for several years. The hype proved to be more interesting then the result, as the Spartans walked away with convincing 37 to 6 victory. Semi-Finals Burlington Spartans 37 vs Hamilton Hogs 6 Kitchener Gaels 30 vs Ottawa Capitals 20 It could be said, despite having new faces themselves, that the Gaels path to the finals was against opposition adjusting to new bodies. No one could say anything like that about their next opponents, however, as the Spartans were the most established unit competing in Hamilton. In this defensive-oriented final, the Gaels held the Spartans to only 18 points. Scoring 20 themselves, they earned their first elite title, jump to fourth place in the Province, and firmly planted themselves as one of the teams to beat in 2007. Congratulations Gaels! Finals Kitchener Gaels 20 vs Burlington Spartans 18