The start of the month of October brought some surprises on the scoreboard. The 2001 Toronto Marlboros said goodbye to the month of September, with 11wins, and said “hello” to October, with two “goodbyes” and two losses.

As any good coach will tell you, there are times when adjustments have to be made and by mid-month the results of those successful changes became quite apparent on the scoreboard! With the support and guidance of the Coaching Staff, the team rallied to achieve 3 decisive wins! During the last three games of October the team amassed 19 goals and played excellent team defence, allowing only one goal against. The scores for the month were:

Toronto Marlboros 1 v. Toronto Titans 3
Toronto Marlboros 1 v. Mississauga Rebels 3
Toronto Marlboros 6 v. Don Mills Flyers 0
Toronto Marlboros 6 v. North York Rangers 1
Toronto Marlboros 7 v. Markham Majors 0

The month of October was also “Breast Cancer Awareness” month. In support of family members who have been touched by cancer, the team collectively decided to show their support by having a special sticker designed that they proudly wore on their helmets and goalie masks throughout the awareness campaign. Each player was so committed to helping create a heightened awareness of the continued battle against Breast Cancer that, as a team, they decided to proudly display the stickers for the remainder of the season. One could easily conclude that hockey players at this level are ‘single-minded’ in their battles toward creating excellence - where it is ‘all about hockey, and nothing else.’ On this team, without exception, each player knows that their success on the ice is the direct result of the incredible support that they continually receive, sometimes from loved ones/parents/care-givers who are fighting battles of their own. Through the continued display of their Breast Cancer stickers they promote the need for people to know about and to do something positive to bring Breast Cancer to an end.