HAMILTON— Hamilton Steelhawks forward Cameron Sault firmly believes that they had a shot at winning the prestigious Allan Cup.
Shortly after the season was cancelled due to the serious outbreak of coronavirus, Sault, whose team was only two wins away from the Ontario Finals championship stated, “I’m disappointed for sure. I mean, this was my eighth year in this league chasing a national championship and this year’s Hamilton team was one of the best teams I’ve been on. We definitely had a shot at winning the Allan Cup on home soil.”
What made the season cancellation extra disappointing to Sault was that in the Ontario Finals they were beating his former team the Brantford Blast 2-0 in what was a best of seven.
“I’ve only played in one Allan Cup tournament in my career and it was in 2014 with the Blast,” Sault said. “So, to be playing for Hamilton against Brantford was a bittersweet feeling for sure. I won two Ontario championships while with Brantford and the memories are some of my best. I was hoping to win one (Allan Cup) with Hamilton this year but that’s not going to happen now.”
Playing in his second year with Hamilton, Sault who was coming off a regular season of three goals and seven points, was full of praise for his teammates when reflecting on his team finishing the season first overall and winning the first two games against Brantford in the Ontario finals.
“I think we finished 15-4-1 for first place,” Sault said. “But we threw seven or eight straight wins together at the end of the season that was fun. Hockey’s always better when you’re winning.” Showing to be the ultimate teammate Sault went on to add, “We were playing some of the best hockey of the season in the first two games of the finals. Munro (goalie) was playing unreal and all the guys were buying in and playing the right way. Finishing checks, playing tough defensive, and scoring on our chances. It was some great hockey.”
No doubt it was a golden opportunity cut short for Sault to help the Steelhawks triumphally lift the Allan Cup.