Quick Hit -
Success is measured all sorts of ways, and expectations go a long way towards determining whether a season was a success or not. So, was this season a success for the Hogs? I don't know?

Coach Cotino - "Losing is never what you want, you never want to finish a season with a loss, then turnaround and be satisfied with it. I'm happy with what we were able to accomplish, not only for this team but for the Hawks organ-i-zation. More guys took steps forward this year than I thought would at the beginning of the year. Finishing as a #1 seed you have that expectation to go far, or even go all the way, but the fact that we weren't in the playoffs the last two years played a roll in the outcome. Guys have never been there, sure they may have played in the playoffs in Junior's, but this is a different animal altogether, and all in all I'm happy with what we were able to accomplished, but none of us are satisfied."

Thanks Coach, that doesn't clear it up or answer the question at all, but the Hogs performed this year, and maybe even outperformed the expectations people had going into the year. Year two under Cotino should be just as exciting as a new crop of rookies are ready to make the jump, and take one step closer to the ultimate goal of skating with and winning a Cup with the Hawks.