Once again, the Greenbirds have proven the doubters wrong by capturing yet another Salaam Cup title, their seventh in franchise history. The team had to hear that 2015 was a fluke and that they didn't have what it takes to win another. They heard it all leading up to the tournament; that their vets were too old, they didn't score when it counted, no one feared their defence, their goaltending was weak, they were not "physical enough, strong enough or nasty enough to intimidate you."

#Micdrop

Not only did they silence any and all critics. They decided to do it in spectacular fashion. An underwhelming round robin placed the team in fifth place, giving them a QF matchup versus their oldest rivals the ML Warriors. The G-Men dispatched the Warriors 6-0, propelled by a hat-trick by Sajjid Ayubi. This setup the game of the tournament, Greenbirds vs Green Army. The arena was packed. The atmosphere tense. The hockey was physical, fast and furious, not to mention a game which took almost two and a half hours to play due to penalties, multiple stoppages, and an arena change due to safety issues on the floor. Cue the fireworks: Green Army led the entire game and had a 2-0 lead with less than twenty-five seconds to play, but there was a feeling on the GB bench, a never give up attitude, a calm demeanour. #TheComeback.

With the net empty, a PowerPlay and a 6 on 4 advantage, Bilal Buttar, the wily vet, potted a goal by batting a rebound out of the air. Then on the ensuing faceoff, the same six players, dump the ball deep, win a battle along the boards, get the ball to Captain Osman Buttar, who proceeds to blast a slapshot past a screened netminder with only six seconds left on the clock! #Pandemonium #TheStickFlip.

Overtime solved nothing. #TheShootout. Safi Ahmed scored, Raza Butt stood strong and GA missed their first two attempts. Munavar Hamdani, after missing a critical penalty shot in regulation, slid home the game winner and the G-Men were off to the finals. #Redemption.

With an emotional semi-final behind them, the team had all the momentum and knew it was their title to lose. They would be facing another rival, the Shaolin Monks. The game was also fast and physical, but both teams kept their cool and displayed some solid hockey. The Greenbirds dominated much of the 5v5, and jumped out to a 2-0 lead. But the scrappy Monks team, who also had a poor round robin, clawed their way back and tied the game. Then, with under six minutes to play, Farooq Khan let loose a curling slapshot from the red line, which eluded goaltender Ibad Khan and gave the G-Men a 3-2 lead. #TheShot.

Much of the last minute was played in the GB offensive zone, with faceoff after faceoff, but the five man unit were able to keep things on the outside and continue clearing the zone. The final buzzer went and the Greenbirds had their seventh title, against all odds.

This tournament also saw the emergence of another hopeful star from the GB franchise. Goaltender Raza Butt, still at the tender age of 16, was the tournament MVP. Butt was simply spectacular throughout the tournament, especially in the three knockout games on Sunday. His angles, positioning and never-give-up attitude, enabled him to make saves at very crucial moments in games, keeping the Greenbirds on top or allowing them to comeback, but never making his teammates lose hope in a victory.

Sajjid Ayubi was also a force the entire tournament, leading the team in goals scored and points. His dedication to fitness, strength training and overall will to win was an inspiration to all his teammates and at times propelled others to do more and leave everything on the floor.