The bonds are strong for Bantams

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The West London Hawks Minor Bantam (team 17) squad has maintained a core group of players for multiple years, and it has resulted in positive benefits – like the bonds and friendships that have been built. It’s something the coaching staff has taught the players to embrace – and the positive results are showing.

“We’ve grown quite a bit as a team in the past few years, and as a result we’ve become more and more successful each year,” says coach Mike Berdan. “And one big area of success we’ve seen is that as the young men have matured, they’ve been able to learn a lot of self control and compassion for others.”

The Minor Bantam Hawks (b. 2005) compete in the Greater London Hockey Association (CHL division), playing their home games at the Bostwick Community Centre – against teams in the three other associations in the city – plus teams from elsewhere in tournaments.

What are some of the Hawks’ strengths?

“The players have developed their individual and team skills, and they use their speed well to cause havoc for opponents,” says Berdan, who is in his ninth year of coaching minor hockey. “The players have learned our ‘defense first’ mentality, and it’s why year after year we have a low goals-against-average and why our success has grown.”

But it’s not all on-ice success the Hawks are focused on. In fact, Berdan and the rest of the coaching staff makes it a point to teach the kids to play the game with respect – for the other team, the officials, and for themselves. For years, Berdan has run a ‘captain program’ to give players extra incentive to exhibit leadership qualities. When a player lives the examples of team leadership, they’re honoured with the captain’s ‘C’ the following game.

“They’re aware that leadership isn’t about scoring the most goals or making the big play,” says Berdan. “It’s about leading by example on the ice with discipline and effort and being supportive and vocal – both on the ice and in the dressing room.”