Braves Association News

Bantam Braves Retain Stoney Creek Title

2008-11-17T10:27:00.000-08:00

The 2008-2009 Bantam Braves (1994s) celebrate their back-to-back Championship at the 25th Annual Stoney Creek Tournament of Champions held November, 2008

A determined and united Bantam Braves team retained their Championship title, going undefeated for a second straight year at the Stoney Creek Tournament of Champions. The Braves battled to a 4-2 victory in Friday's Game 1 vs the current #1 Ontario-ranked London Jr. Knights - Green squad, then went on to defeat the Gloucester Rangers 5-1 some 12 hours later in Friday's Game 2. Saturday's quarter-final match saw the Braves score their third victory with a 4-1 win over Georgina Blaze. Sunday's semi-final was a repeat of the 2007 match-up of Braves vs Farmington Hills Fire, and yet another tight game, ultimately going to the Braves in a 4-3 victory. The Championship Final had the Bantam Braves facing fierce competition from the Olympiques de l"Outaouais, who entered the game undefeated — including three shutouts and just one goal against in their previous four tournament games. With the Braves firing on all cylinders and with contributions from every player, regulation time ended in a 1-1 tie. A series of one-minute overtime rotations came to an inevitably abrupt and exciting end during a two-on-two player match-up when Braves' defenceman Vince Camarda won the face-off, rushed the net and scored the deciding goal.

Minor Midgets Take Stoney Creek

2008-11-17T09:49:00.000-08:00

The 2008-2009 Minor Midget Braves (1993s) celebrate their Championship at the 25th Annual Stoney Creek Tournament of Champions held November, 2008

The Minor Midget Mississauga Braves came home with the championship banner from the 25th Annual Stoney Creek Tournament of Champions on November 16th. Having lost their first game to the home team 2-1 on Thursday evening, the Braves stepped it up Friday, winning 4-2 against Tecumseh. The resulting 1 and 1 record forced an elimination game Saturday afternoon against the Clarence Mustangs, which saw the Braves come out on top 2-1 in a tight game. Saturday's quarter final match against GTHL rival Humberview proved to be another nail-biter, in which the Braves prevailed 3-1, including an empty-netter. During Sunday's semi final match up against Whitby, who had allowed only 2 goals against in 3 games, the Braves took their game to the next level, scoring a 3-0 victory. With the Braves heading to the finals, who should show up, but the Stoney Creek Warriors, who had dealt the Braves a defeat in the opening game. Ready for the show down, a determined Minor Midget team shut the door once again, scoring a 3-0 Championship victory. With everyone contributing, the Minor Midgets made the trip down the QEW well worth it — competing for 5 straight wins, capped off with back-to-back shutouts to close off a tremendous Championship weekend.

Minor Bantams Tiger Tourney Champs

2008-11-12T06:32:00.000-08:00

The 2008-2009 Minor Bantam Braves celebrate their Championship at the 41st Annual Streetsville Tigers Fall Tournament held November, 2008

The Minor Bantams went undefeated over the weekend to capture the Championship banner at the 41st Annual Streetsville Tigers Fall Tournament, including a 2-0 semi finals victory over the host Tigers team, followed by a 5-0 effort in the finals verses the Georgina Blaze.

Take Actions to Reduce Footprint

2008-10-31T11:09:00.000-07:00

As noted in the October 29 blog posting, the Mississauga Braves Hockey Association has stepped up as a community group to participate in The Good Life! program, created and operated by WWF-Canada. "We are so excited to have the Braves community on board to show how making simple changes in their lives can make a big impact when everyone works together. With 175 players on 10 teams, along with parents, coaches, and administration, there are over 500 members of this amazing community!", says Joanne Adair, a Community Our Reach Co-ordinator at WWF.

Once you've joined with The Good Life program, you'll be presented with the opportunity to select specific "Actions" you've already taken, or plan to take, in order to reduce your personal footprint. Your savings will accumulate individually as well as being combined with all other Braves members. If you do not choose any actions, your savings will remain at ZERO.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN

Braves to Reduce Environmental Footprint

2008-10-28T12:37:00.000-07:00

Blog Post by Joanne Adair, WWF Canada
The Mississauga Braves Hockey Association has stepped up as a community group to participate in The Good Life! We are so excited to have the Braves community on board to show how making simple changes in their lives can make a big impact when everyone works together. With 175 players on 10 teams, along with parents, coaches, and administration, there are over 500 members of this amazing community!

As a whole, the community is going to be taking simple but effective actions, like carpooling to practices, washing uniforms in cold water, and avoiding idling. Think of it this way: If just one player takes these simple actions consistently throughout the year, he can save the equivalent in greenhouse gases of taking one home off the grid for 6 whole months-imagine the savings this community can achieve if 500 members all participate!

The way it works is that we have set up each team as a group in our database, so when players, coaches and parents sign up on The Good Life website and add their names to the appropriate team, their simple actions can be quantified, and we can retrieve the team’s GHG savings as a whole. I can see some big competitions starting amongst the teams to have the most people signed up, as well as to be the team taking the most actions leading up to the greatest number of GHGs saved!

This is our FIRST hockey association in Canada participating in The Good Life, and we hope that others will be inspired by the Braves to take action in their own community. I’ll keep you updated about how their community is doing, and how we are working together to implement different sustainable activities into their hockey season.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN

Minor Atoms Rock In Cleveland

2008-10-15T07:49:00.000-07:00

The 2008-2009 Minor Atom Braves proudly display their Rock n Roll Cup Finalist Medals.

The Minor Atom Braves, led by coach Dwain Ervin, travelled to Cleveland on Thanksgiving weekend to take part in the the Rock n Roll Cup. Facing some stiff competition from Atom aged teams from Michigan, New York state and Ohio the team represented the Braves organization very well. The team advanced to the finals to face the Elyria Panthers and after being down 4-1 the team rallied back to tie the game and force overtime. Unfortunately the team lost in overtime but performed extremely well against all three American teams they faced and left their opponents questioning where the home of the Braves really is.

Story Contributed by Joe Perrotta

08/09 President's Message

2008-09-21T12:10:00.000-07:00

Dear Parents & Players,

Welcome to another new and exciting season of hockey that is filled with great anticipation, and excitement, for everyone.

My name is Barry Carroll, and I am the newly elected President of the Mississauga Braves Hockey Association.

I am proud to say that I have worked closely with Gord Murphy our General Manager, and past President over the last 8 years, as well as our Board of Directors, to help make our organization one of the best in all of the GTHL.

It is rewarding for me to take on the challenges at hand, to help make sure that your sons and daughters have a great experience playing the best game in the world with our organization as Braves.

We want our players to not only develop their hockey skills, but to also develop their interpersonal and leadership skills for the future, while having fun. The Mississauga Braves will do everything possible to make this happen.

We have implemented measures this year to help make this happen. An internally operated “Player Development Program” has been created that will help our Coaches to provide a consistent training, and skills development program to all of our age groups. This program is being managed by Gary Camilleri, one of the most successful Coaches in the GTHL, and our Director of Player Development.

There are many other areas where the Mississauga Braves will be taking a leadership role within the GTHL over this year.

New programs are being designed which will involve all of our Teams in making Mississauga a better place to live!

One such program involves putting measures together that will help in reducing our carbon footprint here on this planet. Plans are in the works now with the World Wild Life Federation, and Hockey Night in Canada, to make the Mississauga Braves the first Hockey Association in all of Canada to take on this initiative. We will be providing more information to everyone over the next few months on this new uplifting, and vital program.

Another initiative that we are committed to is a “Christmas Food Drive” during the month of December, for the needy in Mississauga. We believe that it is important that we all participate in giving back to our community, by helping the less fortunate.

There will also be a Mississauga Braves Recognition Night at a Toronto Marlies game in the New Year with discounted tickets, and related events that evening.

Please watch for updates pertaining to all of these initiatives on our web site, to make sure that you are kept current with our programs for this coming year.

The Mississauga Braves are a very competitive Association, thanks to our parents, players, great Coaches, and our Directors!

I want to thank each and every one of you for being part of The Mississauga Braves, and wish you the very best of luck this season.

The Mississauga Braves have stood for “Good Times & Great Hockey Since 1982” and always will!

I look forward to seeing all of you in the rinks during another successful 26th season!

All the best!

Barry Carroll

President
Mississauga Braves Hockey Association

Braves take 08 MEB by Storm

2008-09-15T08:47:00.000-07:00

The Mississauga Braves Hockey Association set an association record sending seven of nine teams to the play off rounds and capturing Championships in four of the Mississauga Early Bird's eight age divisions. The Minor Atoms, Atoms, Peewees and Minor Bantams all took home the trophies, with the Bantams losing the finals in a 2 - 1 overtime battle with the Jets. Competing in semi final action were the Minor Peewees and Midget Juniors. The Braves Association congratulates all teams for doing us proud!

2008 MISSISSAUGA EARLY BIRD TOURNAMENT RESULTS

MINOR ATOM (Champions) Round Robin: W: 2 • L: 0 • T: 1 / GF: 8 • GA: 4 / PTS: 5 • Semi Final: Braves 3 • Barrie Colts 0 • Final: Braves 2 • Jets 0

ATOM (Champions) Round Robin: W: 3 • L: 0 • T: 0 / GF: 18 • GA: 3 / PTS: 6 • Semi Final: Braves 4 • North Stars 0 • Final: Braves 6 • Panthers 1

MINOR PEEWEE (Semi Finalists) Round Robin: W: 3 • L: 0 • T: 0 / GF: 15 • GA: 5 / PTS: 6 • Semi Final: Braves 0 • NY Knights 1

PEEWEE (Champions) Round Robin: W: 2 • L: 0 • T: 1 / GF: 6 • GA: 1 / PTS: 5 • Quarter Final: Braves 2 • Richmond Hill 1 • Semi Final: Braves 3 • Young Bruins 0 • Final: Braves 2 • Barrie Colts 1

MINOR BANTAM (Champions) Round Robin: W: 2 • L: 1 • T: 0 / GF: 8 • GA: 4 / PTS: 4 • Quarter Final: Braves 5 • Humber Valley 4 • Semi Final: Braves 3 • Eagles 2 • Final: Braves 3 • South Point 0

BANTAM (Finalists) Round Robin: W: 3 • L: 0 • T: 0 / GF: 14 • GA: 2 / PTS: 6 • Quarter Final: Braves 5 • North Stars 0 • Semi Final: Braves 3 • Huskies 1 • Final: Braves 1 • Jets 2 (OT)

MINOR MIDGET (Participants) Round Robin: W: 1 • L: 1 • T: 1 / GF: 8 • GA: 6 / PTS: 3

MIDGET JR (Semi Finalists) Round Robin: W: 2 • L: 1 • T: 0 / GF: 11 • GA: 8 / PTS: 4 • Semi Final: Braves 1 • Troy 5

MIDGET SR (Participants) Round Robin: W: 1 • L: 1 • T: 1 / GF: 3 • GA: 7 / PTS: 3

Minor Bantams Capture Aces Early Bird

2008-09-08T14:23:00.000-07:00

The 2008-2009 Minor Bantam Braves proudly display their Toronto Aces Early Bird Championship Medals and Trophy.

The Mississauga Braves Minor Bantam Hockey Team went undefeated in the Toronto Aces Early Bird Tournament, including a 7 to 2 win over Aces in the September 7 Championship Game.

GAME SUMMARY
Finals: Mississauga Braves: 7 - Toronto Aces: 2
Semis: Mississauga Braves: 5 - East Enders: 2
GM 3: Mississauga Braves: 4 - Toronto Aces: 1
GM 2: East Enders: 0 - Mississauga Braves: 4
GM 1: Mississauga Braves: 2 - Aurora Tigers: 1

Peewee Braves Take Vaughan Early Bird

2008-09-08T06:59:00.000-07:00

The 2008-2009 Peewee Braves proudly display their Vaughan Early Bird Championship Trophies.

The Mississauga Braves Peewee Hockey Team are off to a promising start, going undefeated in the Vaughan Rangers Early Bird Tournament, including a 5 to 2 win over Whitby Wildcats in the September 7 Championship Game.

GAME SUMMARY
Finals: Mississauga Braves: 5 - Whitby Wildcats: 2
Semis: Mississauga Braves: 5 - Vaughan Rangers: 0
GM 3: Mississauga Braves: 2 - Brampton Batallion: 0
GM 2:Etobicoke Canucks: 0 - Mississauga Braves: 6
GM 1: Mississauga Braves: 1 - Vaughan Panthers: 1

07/08 Five-Year Ring Recipients

2008-07-21T06:33:00.000-07:00

The Mississauga Braves Hockey Association prides itself on building long-term relationships with its players and coaches by maintaining a culture of mutual respect and a positive environment in which everyone benefits from participation in minor hockey. The Braves Association both thanks and congratulates its 2007-2008 Five-Year Ring Recipients:

Midget Senior: Evan Story, Midget Junior: Michael Balaban, Aaron MacKay, Minor Midget: Tyler Thomas, Bantam: Claude Dumolin, Tanner Lee, Brennan Low, Zachary Millington,Ted Nesbitt - Coach, Brett Nesbitt, Minor Bantam: Vince Camarda, Tyler Camilleri, Bobby LaPlante

07/08 Coach of the Year Named

2008-04-19T07:46:00.000-07:00

Gary Camilleri proudly displays his Mississauga Braves Coach of The Year plaque and trophy.

Minor Bantam Head Coach and Mississauga Braves Association Director of Player Development, Gary Camilleri, was honoured as "2007-2008 Coach of the Year" at the recent Mississauga Braves Association Banquet.

Tryout Schedule Updated

2008-04-18T12:24:00.000-07:00

The Minor Peewee Mississauga Braves have added a tryout on Saturday, April 26 • 8:15 am - 9:15 am at Iceland Rink 3. Braves Association Tryouts Schedule can be viewed here.

Minor Bantam Braves GTHL Champions!

2008-04-10T06:07:00.000-07:00

The 2007-2008 Minor Bantam Braves celebrate their 4-0 win over the North York Knights to win the GTHL Championship on Wednesday, April 9 at Lakeshore Lions Arena.

The Mississauga Braves Minor Bantam Hockey Team capped off a remarkable season by capturing the GTHL Championship 8 points to 2 over the defending Champion North York Knights.

TEAMMATES and STAFF
Tyler Bartlett, Jesse Bruni, Josh Bruzzese, Vince Camarda, Tyler Camilleri, Dillon Constant, Mitchell Ellul, Bobby LaPlante, Patrick Maziarz, Christian Mazzanti, Joey Menecola, Matthias Nazar, Alex Perruccio, Ryan Rubino, Seamus Shanahan and Drake Tideman.

Head Coach: Gary Camilleri, Assistant Coach: Brian Shanahan, Assistant Coach: Kevin LaPlante, Trainer: Joe Menecola, Manager: Harry Tideman

07/08 TEAM ACHIEVEMENTS
Mississauga Early Bird Tournament Finalists
Stoney Creek Tournament Champions
Paul Coffey Tournament Champions
Promittere Cup GTHL Regular Season Champions
GTHL Minor Bantam West Playoff Champions
2007-2008 GTHL Minor Bantam Champions

Braves Head to GTHL Championships

2008-03-26T06:17:00.000-07:00

The 2007-2008 Minor Bantam Braves are one of three Braves Teams headed to the GTHL Championship Finals following an 8 to 2 point series victory over the Steetsville Tigers. Photo courtesy of Gary Roork Photography

The Mississauga Braves Minor Atoms, Minor Bantams and Midget Seniors are all headed to the GTHL "East vs West" Championship Finals, while the Bantams remain locked in stiff competition verses the Toros for the West Division title.

The Minor Atoms and Midgets are both facing teams representing the North York Knights, while the Minor Bantams are awaiting the results of the East Enders Ticats vs North York Knights East Division Finals.

Four Braves Teams in West Finals

2008-03-19T06:33:00.000-07:00

Shown above, the 2007-2008 Bantam Braves have stunned the competition and are now heading to the GTHL West Division Finals, following an eighth place regular season finish. Photo courtesy of Gary Roork Photography

MINOR ATOM BRAVES
The Minor Atom Braves are five games deep into the West Finals 8 point series, leading 6 points to 4 over the regular season champion Humberview Huskies.

MINOR BANTAM BRAVES
The Promittere Cup Regular Season Champion Minor Bantam Braves have battled their way to the GTHL West Division Finals where they are facing stiff comptetion from a talent Streetsville Tigers squad. At time of writing the 8 point series is tied 2 points to 2, following two close games.

BANTAM BRAVES
The Bantam Braves have yet again kept their playoff dreams alive, eliminating the venerable Mississauga Terriers 7 points to 5, in a hard fought semi final series that went six games. Heading into the West Finals, the Bantams will now face the winner of the York Toros vs. Humber Valley Sharks Semi Final which, at time of writing, is tied 5 points to 5 after five games.

MIDGET Sr. BRAVES
The Promittere Cup Regular Season Champion Midget Sr. Braves are, at time of writing, trailing the Humberview Huskies 4 points to 6 after five games in the highly competitive 8 point GTHL West Division Finals.

8th Place Bantam Braves Advance

2008-03-05T10:44:00.000-08:00

Congratulations goes out to the Mississauga Braves Bantam Hockey Team for their triumphant effort in advancing past the first place Mississauga North Stars and into the second round of playoff action! The Braves, who finished the regular season in eighth place, took the points series 7-5 with a stunning 3-2 overtime victory in Game 6 at Tomken on Tuesday, March 4.

Game 1: North Stars 0 • Braves 3 (W)
Game 2: North Stars 4 • Braves 1 (L)
Game 3: North Stars 5 • Braves 5 (T)
Game 4: North Stars 0 • Braves 1 (W)
Game 5: North Stars 5 • Braves 2 (L)
Game 6: North Stars 2 • Braves 3 (OTW)

Midget Sr. Toronto Star Team of the Week

2008-02-14T10:39:00.000-08:00

The Mississauga Braves Midget Senior Hockey Team has been named Toronto Star GTHL Team of the week. The team of 17-year-olds completed regular season play with an incredible 35-0-1 record, scoring 249 goals – the most in the league as of Monday – while allowing just 51 against. They have also won five of the seven tournaments entered this season, including the prestigious International Silver Stick in Sarnia last month.

You can read the article in its entirety here.

Midget Sr. Compete for Spot at Ontario Winter Games

2008-02-12T16:17:00.000-08:00

The Mississauga Braves Midget Sr. Team will compete in a three game series vs the North York Knights — the winner of which will represent the GTHL at the 2008 Ontario Winter Games, to be held March 5 - 9 at various venues throughout the Collingwood - Owen Sound areas.

SERIES SCHEDULE:
TUE/FEB 12: 8:45PM at Hershey Centre 3
THU/FEB 14: 9:15PM at St. Michael's
SAT/FEB 16: 7:30PM at Herbert Carnegie (NY) Centennial

Click here to visit the 2008 Ontario Winter Games Website

Braves Teams take Three Promittere Cups

2008-02-12T06:44:00.000-08:00

Congratulations goes out to the Mississauga Braves Minor Peewee, Minor Bantam and Midget Sr. hockey teams for finishing 1st overall in regular season divisional competition. Each team will be presented The Promittere Cup in honour of their hard work, dedication and exceptional play.

Toronto Star Player of the Week

2008-02-11T08:11:00.000-08:00

Back in November, prior to the launch of this new site, Goaltender Justin Morandin of the Mississauga Braves Minor Atoms, was chosen as the Toronto Star GTHL Player of the Week. Congratulations from the Mississauga Braves Hockey Association. You can read Justin's story here.

Nominate Your Player or Team of the Week
To nominate a player from your Mississauga Braves Team, or the Team itself, send Toronto Star GTHL correspondent Lois Kalchman your reasons. It is not just about who scored the most goals but they're interested in a player who has learned something new, did something that demonstrated sportsmanship, or a defenceman who set up a terrific goal. Use your imagination. Perhaps you know a goaltender with a shutout streak or one who changed his style and has become more effective. The list of possibilities is long. Nominations for both GTHL Player or Team of the Week can be submitted to AskLois@sympatico.ca

25th Anniversary Ceremony

2008-01-28T07:24:00.000-08:00

The Mississauga Braves Hockey Association held its 25th Anniversary Ceremony on Sunday, January 27 at The Hershey Centre. The event featuring our Players was highlighted by special presentations by GTHL President John Gardner and Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion, the singing of the National Anthem by Devon Bourbonnais of the Mississauga Braves Minor Peewee Hockey Team, and a ceremonial face-off between Braves Minor Atonm Captian Kyle Lewis and Joe Bradshaw, Captain of Mississauga Terriers Minor Atoms. More photos can be seen here.

Mayor Hazel McCallion does the official puck drop at the Hershey Centre during the Mississauga Braves Hockey Association's 25th anniversary celebrations. Young hockey stars Kyle Lewis (left) and Joe Bradshaw took the draw while executives Rick Rye & Gord Murphy (wearing the hat) look on.

Photo by Steven Der-Garabedian, courtesy of The Mississauga News

Midget Seniors Win Silver Stick

2008-01-24T10:18:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to the Mississauga Braves Midget Seniors who won the International Silver Stick, held January 17-20 in Sarnia. The Midget Seniors are FIVE-Tournament Champions for the 2007-2008 season. Congratulations to the Mississauga Braves Midget Seniors who won the International Silver Stick, held January 17-20 in Sarnia. The Midget Seniors are FIVE-Tournament Champions for the 2007-2008 season.