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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-02-12, Page 8SportsPAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2009. Go teams Rival neighbouring teams took to the ice in Brussels arena on Saturday in recent hockey action. The Blyth Atom Local League came to town and skated away with a 4-2 victory over their Brussels opponents. (Vicky Bremner photo) On Feb. 4 the Blyth Midget Icedogs broomball team travelled to Seaforth to face off against their local rivals. Derek Logtenberg stood strong in net, and didn’t allow any goals. The defensive line, consisting of Lucas Frawley, Jon Hakkers, Tyler Hallahan and Tristan Miltenberg, also worked hard to keep the ball away from their net. Blyth received a penalty in the first period for body contact, but players killed the penalty. By half time there was still no score. Just into the second Miltenberg passed the ball up the ice and Brendon Boven sprinted ahead on a breakaway to score. Hallahan had a nice wind-up shot from the boards at the blueline and Brent Drost was waiting. He tipped the ball into Seaforth’s net making the score 2-0. Miltenberg had another assist as he shot the ball up the ice and Andy Bolinger ran in on a breakaway to score for the Icedogs. Blyth won 3-0. With icetime left on the clock, the teams decided to practise overtime. Each member of the team had an opportunity to play. Boven scored a goal just a minute into overtime. Seaforth received a pushing penalty and Bolinger and Alex Hogan took advantage of the powerplay to set up the ball for Boven. This game wrapped up the regular playing season for the Icedogs. They will travel to Barrie for the provincial broomball tournament Feb. 13-15. The K-W Sidewinders are coming to Brussels for a minor hockey fundraising game Feb. 21. Yet, while watching the sledge hockey team is exciting enough for locals it is also going to be a chance to see one of their own back on home ice for the first time in many years. Doug McArter was just 16 and a member of the local Midget squad when his hockey days ended. During a game in Seaforth, a check pushed him into the boards, crushing his spine, and leaving him a partial paralegic. “I do have some movement, but nothing below the knees,” he said. In the decades since, McArter has not let his physical disability slow him. And after hearing that the Sidewinders were to play an exhibition game in Blyth last year, decided to go and “check it out.” “I talked to some people and eventually got in touch with someone about playing with them.” He went to see a practice at Waterloo’s RIM Park one evening and has since been a member of the Intermediate team. McArter said the ‘sledge’ is like a bucket with an aluminum frame and plastic seat. The blades are attached to the underside. The sticks used are designed to dig in. “The players sit with their legs out in front and it’s like kayaking as you’re sitting down, pedalling.” “You are one with the flood.” The number of blades is determined by the level of skill. McArter’s sledge has two, while the Team Canada sledges have one. “When they reach that pinnacle they are quite something to watch.” The Sidewinders, who won gold at a tournament in Calgary last year, have about 15 players of both sexes, said McArter. They practise twice a week, once at RIM Park and once in Guelph. They play sledge hockey teams from a number of cities, including Hamilton, Windsor, Mississauga, Elmvale and Markham. “It’s a little more travelling than I bargained for but I committed so I’m going to do this. And I miss it if I don’t get to a game,” said McArter. The game in Brussels came about, he said, after a conversation with Paul Sebastian from the minor hockey club. “He approached me about getting a game in Brussels and I mentioned it to the coach who took it from there.” The Sidewinders will face off against the Simcoe Blues at 6 p.m. Feb. 21, and afterwards, McArter said there will be an opportunity for people to try out the sledges. At 8 p.m. there will be a women’s hockey game, followed by the Oldtimers at 9 p.m. “It should be a fun night,” said McArter. McArter on ice with Sidewinders Sledging Doug McArter of Brussels, shows the sledge he uses when playing hockey with the K-W Sidewinders. The team is coming to town Feb. 21 for a minor hockey fundraiser that also includes a women’s hockey and an Oldtimers game. (Bonnie Gropp photo) Icedogs end regular season By Bonnie Gropp The Citizen The Blyth Midgets have advanced to the All-Ontario quarter-finals after defeating Ripley. Blyth opened the scoring four minutes into the first frame with a shorthanded goal scored by Dan Dery. Picking up the assist was Tyler Stevenson. Just six minutes later Dallas Pennington gave Blyth a two-goal lead, with assists going to Tyler Middegaal and Matt Stevenson. Blyth scored five minutes into the second period with a goal by Tyler Black, assisted by Dery and Adam Cronin. Ripley answered back 32 seconds later to make it 3-1. Blyth’s goalie Sheldon Reid, made some key saves for the Dogs keeping Ripley off the board for the rest of the second period. Blyth added two goals late in the second period. Scoring were Dery from Austin Sjaarda and Tyler Stevenson and Pennington from Cronin and Dery. Ripley didn’t quit, however and scored three goals in the third to make a game of it. Reid made two amazing saves late in the game to hold them. Blyth Midgets move on Winter Sports Pages B l y t h B u l l d o g s A t o m — B a c k r o w , f r o m l e f t : L o r e t t a T h o m p s o n , T r e v o r R a y n a r d , A a r o n P o p p , T y l e r B l a c k , J o h n L e C o m t e , J e f f P l a e t z e r , M a t t h e w P o p p , F o u r t h r o w : C o a c h e s K i r k S t e w a r t , C h a d H a g g i t t , C o l e S t e w a r t , K a r e n P e n n i n g t o n , D o r e e n T h o m p s o n , L i n d a P l a e t z e r , D o u g W a l k e r , L a r r y P l a e t z e r . T h i r d r o w : C o d y D u c h a r m e , D a n a T e e d , J a m i e P l a e t z e r , K e l s e y S m i t h , M a t t h e w C l a r k e , E m m a B r o h m . S e c o n d r o w : R y a n P a q u i n , A l i c i a M i d d e g a a l , C a r l y W h i t f i e l d , C o d y R i c h m o n d , K i r b y C o o k , C o d y K e d d y , C a l e b B r o w n . F r o n t r o w : A d a m C r o n i n , K e v i n P e n n i n g t o n , J o n a t h o n A t k i n s o n , K a y l a B l a c k . A b s e n t : S t e v e n E l l i s . The Citizen Coaches and parents ~ we need your team’s picture and players’ names • Hockey • Broomball 1. Please submit team photo A.S.A.P. 2. Please include players’ and coaches’ names for under the photo. Please help us get ALL the Winter Sports teams published. 404 Queen St., Blyth 523-4792 541 Turnberry St., Brussels 887-9114