GUELPH -- Joe Pikula Sr. did everything he could to steer his young son away from the football field.
After all, Joe Sr., a defensive tackle, had only lasted two seasons with pro football's Hamilton Tiger-Cats before succumbing to a career-ending back injury in the early 1960s.

Turns out his son's sport of choice has proved almost as brutal as his own. Joe Pikula Jr., who has shaken off a string of busted limbs, scored two goals for the Laurier Golden Hawks as they defeated the Ryerson Rams 3-1 and collected their first title at the Gryphon Invitational university hockey tournament in seven years on Saturday.

Pikula, whose tenacious style of play often means he's either in sick bay or front and centre on Laurier's side of the scoresheet, figures in the end, the sins of the father are often visited upon the son.

"I never played football. I think it was because my dad got so beat up playing that game. But I've have had my share of injuries, too," said the former Waterloo Siskin forward.

Hawks coach Tony Martindale reckons Pikula must take after his tough-as-nails dad. How else could you explain Joe Jr.'s return to the lineup last season in time for the playoffs. This, after battling through a broken hand and a separated shoulder earlier in the season.

"He's relentless," said Martindale, after the Hawks roared through this six-team event with a perfect 3-0 record. "Joe's feet are always moving. I need more guys like him."

Despite Pikula's best efforts, the Hawks (5-4-3, won-lost-tied regular-season record) have been plagued by streaky play the past couple of seasons. They will look to improve on their consistency over the second half of the campaign which begins Sunday at 2 p.m. at the University of Waterloo.

Sunday is the Hawks' first of five straight games against divisional rivals, a stretch which could make or break Laurier's playoff hopes.

Complicating matters this term, Laurier will be without two offensive catalysts, transfer student Mark Dineley (Niagara University) and Colin Schmidt, a former Midwestern Junior B League scoring champ while with Stratford. Both players have decided to leave the team to concentrate on their studies. Meanwhile, former Hawk defenceman Ryan Crombeen has recently returned to the Elmira Sugar Kings.

During this past week's tournament, the Hawks welcomed five new players into the fold including centre Jason Bullock, a transfer from Findlay University of Ohio; three Tier 2 players, winger Daryl Moor (Aurora), centre Chris Ferguson (Brockville) and defenceman Adam Bertoli (Georgetown); along with former Chatham senior defender Jeff Stahlbrand. The reinforcements are welcome additions, said Martindale.

"We needed players. We were down to 10 or 11 forwards," he said.

Also at the tournament, the Waterloo Warriors finished this second-half tuneup with a 1-1-1 record. Waterloo notched a 2-2 tie with the Guelph Gryphons on Saturday night.



Taken from KW Record
Tuesday January 2, 2001
By: Christine Rivet
RECORD STAFF