Hamilton Hurricanes strive for third straight OFC title in 2012

After the back-to-back championship runs in 2010 and 2011, the Hamilton Hurricanes of the Ontario Football Conference are looking to three-peat in 2012. CFC takes a look at team’s prospects and discusses the upcoming season with Head Coach, Jay Hayes.

In 2012, the Hamilton Hurricanes will look to build off of last season’s storybook campaign, which saw the squad reel in a second consecutive OFC Championship.

While the team will have another month to bask in the triumph of last season’s victory before training camp opens, Head Coach, Jay Hayes, knows that past accomplishments do little to secure future glories.

“The OFC has become so strong from top to bottom that you have difficult games each week,” notes Hayes. “As a staff, we want to continue to develop young players.”

Though the Ontario Football Conference continues to become more and more competitive, the Hurricanes look to be well equipped for their impending title defense.

“Our Defensive line returns eight players including All-Canadian, Anthony Dinguana, and sack leader Matt Brady,” notes Coach Hayes. “The secondary returns cornerbacks, Cody Lynch and Stephen Jordan.”

On the offensive side of the ball, star running back, Ryan Kotar, returns to shoulder the lode. He will be joined in the backfield by quarterback, Kyle Johnston, who will look to make a splash in the OFC. Helping him do so will be what is the strongest receiving corps in the province.

In addition to the veteran presence afforded by a strong group of returnees, the Hurricanes roster boasts 75 rookie signings from the offseason. “We are excited to see them compete in our May spring camp with our vets,” says an energized Hayes. “The competition will be great.”

But despite several key returning team members and the influx of rookie talent, Coach Hayes knows full well that there remains room for improvement despite the tremendous successes achieved each of the past two years.

After cleaning out the OFC, the Hurricanes faced off against the Saskatoon Hilltops in the Canadian Bowl, the 2011 CJFL National Championship. The result was a 29-1 loss.

“We have had the opportunity to play nationwide the past two years, and in the CJFL,” recalls Hayes. “The Saskatoon Hilltops and VI Raiders had great programs and they are setting the bar for other teams.”

While reaching and surpassing that bar is the ultimate end, Hayes intents to build on the team’s strengths rather than reconfigure the system.

“Our philosophy will remain the same. We plan to attack people with our depth,” explains the coach. “We have won the OFC the last two seasons playing great, tough defense, and our offense showed great balance with the two leading receivers, and two of the top three rushers.”

The 2012 squad will be a composition of old and new faces, but according to Coach Hayes, the goal for the season will remain the same as always: “Get off to a fast start and put ourselves in position for another OFC title.”