Times-Advocate, 1979-03-07, Page 13Sports
Spotlight
By Ross Haugh
in-
Lead series with three straight wins Times-Advacate, March 7, 1979 Page 13
Hawks surprise Mitchell in final
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Harold's
Attending conventions usually makes for an
teresting few days, but, the one we just returned from
was a little extra special.
Most of the extra excitement didn’t really come
from the Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association held
at Hotel Toronto but from the extra side show provid
ed mostly by one Harold Ballard.
The saga really started late Thursday night when
Ballard is supposed to have fired Leaf coach Roger
Neilson.
A lot of conversation during recesses at the con
vention centred on the plight of the Leafs and who
would be the next coach.
Friday morning we decided it might be a good
idea to try and get tickets for the Saturday night game
with the Philadelphia Flyers taking on the Leafs.
A phone call to the Gardens sent us searching for
other ticket sources. We contacted several firms who
were represented at the convention and were promis
ed, “we will see what we can do.”
At each meal at the convention draws were made
for various draw prizes.
These prizes included brooms, cheese, maple
syrup, pen and pencil sets and two tickets to Satur
day’s Maple Leaf game.
We were shut out as far as prizes were concerned
for Friday breakfast and lunch but dinner was a
different story.
The first number drawn Friday night was 461 and
lo and behold it was held by our better half.
Each lucky winner had a choice of the prizes
remaining and it was a tense minute until she returned
clutching two blue tickets instead of a broom.
Speculation continued around Toronto as to the
identity of the new Leaf coach right up to the last
minute.
When we arrived at the Gardens about 25 minutes
before game time, all talk in the lobby centered on the
coaching situation.
On reaching our seats high at the south end we
spotted a sign at the opposite end which read, “Keep
Neilson and fire Ballard.”
This seemed to indicate Neilson would not be back
and increased the guessing. A few minutes later the
sign was removed.
The usual coaching spot behind the Leaf bench
remained vacant through the last minute of skating
and the singing of O Canada and caused the fans on the
east side to remain standing and stretch their necks
towards the bench.
Referee Wally Harris was ready to drop the puck
when Neilson strolled slowly back of the bench. That’s
when the noise broke loose.
The fans gave Neilson a standing ovation that
lasted for three minutes and only quieted when the
game got underway.
Ballard is steadfast in saying the firing of Neilson
was a hoax “to put a little turpentine in the right place
to get the players going. ”
If anybody believes Ballard’s excuse, they are the
ones that need a saliva test. It appears he was similar
to a person who paints himself into a corner and had to
use a silly, dramatic flair to try and redeem himself.
The game provided a fitting climax to a hectic few
days with the Leafs winning.
We know everybody looks at a game differently,
but its amazing many times when the three stars are
selected.
Saturday was no exception. Granted that Salming,
Quenneville and Clarke played well, the selection cer
tainly overlooked Leaf goalie Mike Palmateer.
Palmateer was the key to the Leaf victory, es
pecially in the last two minutes and 22 seconds when
the Flyers sent six forwards to the attack.
“It’s almost un
believable,” commented
Exeter Hawks coach Ron
Bogart as his squad scored
three consecutive wins over
Mitchell on the weekend to
take a 3-1 lead in their
northern group Junior “D”
final.
The teams met last night
in Mitchell with Exeter hav
ing the opportunity to wrap
up the set, If a sixth game is
needed it will be in Exeter
on Friday and the seventh is
scheduled for Mitchell
Mitchell took the opening
game of the set in their
home arena on Tuesday by a
5-3 count and Exeter evened
it with an identical 5-3
margin on their home ice,
Friday.
However, the key game
was on Saturday when the
teams returned to Mitchell
and Exeter put on one of
their best displays of the
season to pull a major upset
with another 5-3 win. They
added the icing on Sunday
with a 6-2 triumph.
...
“Saturday night was the
highlight,” said an elated
Bogart. He said his team
had probably never skated
better and their constant
forechecking was the key to
the win.
Exeter jumped on their
hosts from the opening
faceoff and only some ex
ceptional net minding by
Bob Ward kept his team in
the game as Exeter out-shot
their namesakes by a 23-4
margin.
“We’re also playing well
in the third period,” Bogart
commented, noting that in
many of their season losses
to Mitchell, they blew early
leads.
He admitted he didn’t ex
pect his Hawks to enjoy a
commanding lead at this
point in the series. “I hoped
we’d be even after the first
four,” he said.
He suggested his Hawks
have Mitchell frustrated and
confused at this point and
feels they can wrap up the
series if they play as well as
they have in the past three
games.
Team spirit has played an
important role in the show
ing to date. “We knew we
were the underdogs and this
really fired the guys up,”
Bogart commented Monday.
“They were really ready! ”
He discounted suggestions
from Mitchell fans that their
team hasn’t been playing
well. “They just didn’t ex
pect us to play this well,” he
opined.
Lose first one
As expected, the Mitchell
squad took a one-game lead
in the series with their 5-3
■ win on home ice in the
opener, although Exeter
gave indications then they
would be tougher than some
had expected.
The home team took a
lead at the 8 05 mark of the
second and built it up to 5-1
before Exeter showed they
could play good third period
hockey with two tallies.
Midget Doug Fletcher and
veterans Ken Pinder and
Phil Knight scored for Ex
eter, with the assists going
to Dave Kinsman, Brian
Mercer, Dave Bogart and
Fred Mommersteeg.
Mitchell out-shot Exeter
by a 35-30 margin and gave
up six extra power play
attempts.
Even set
Exeter evened the set on
Friday night as they built up
a 4-1 lead by the end of the
second and then showed
some staying power as they
hung on for the 5-3 win.
Fred Mommersteeg and
Dave Kinsman gave the
locals a 2-0 lead in the first,
while Brian Mercer and Don
McKellar, added the second
period tallies.
Phil Knight scored on an
unassisted effort at the 16:02
mark of the third to pull the
game out of reach.
Preston Dearing picked up
two assists to lead in that
department, while singles
were added by Pinder.
Mercer. Kinsman and Jamie
Caldwell.
The big one
Exeter’s big win came on
Saturday night as they came
out flying on Mitchell ice to
open up a 2-0 lead in the first
and were never headed.
Fred Mommersteeg and
Dave Kinsman picked up
first period goals and came
back with their second
tallies later in the game to
sink the league champions.
Dave Bogart added the
fifth goal late in the third
after Mitchell had rallied to
pull to within one tally.
Ken Pinder was the lop
playmaker for the winners
as he helped set up three of
the goals. Brian Mercer
assisted on a pair while
Bogart. Dearing and Jamie
Caldwell helped out on one
each.
Exeter ended up out
shooting Mitchell by a 41-21
margin in a cleanly played
contest that saw only seven
minor penalties
Despite having an easier
time than his opponent,
goalie Randy Lovie made
several key saves in the
Saturday win. as he has in
the other three games.
“He’s been a standout.”
commented Bogart, adding
that the defence have also
given him some strong sup
port
Take command
Exeter took a strangle
hold on the series with their
third win in three days as
they dumped Mitchell 6-2 at
the rec centre. Sunday.
After a 1-1 tie in the first,
the local Hawks outscored
their opponents by a 3-1
margin in the middle frame
and then added two in
surance markers in the late
minute of the third to cap
the triumph.
Ken Pinder started the
Exeter crew off with the
first period tally on a play
with Brian Mercer while
Don McKellar scored the go-
ahead goal at the 3 *59 mark
of the second with
Mommersteeg and Knight
drawing assists.
Rookie Kerry Bedard then
hammered in a pair in the
middle stanza, with Mercer
assisting on both Pinder
and Kinsman drew one
assist.
Mitchell pulled their net-
minder in favour of an extra
attacker in the final minutes
and Mercer promptly fired a
clincher on a play with
Pinder, while Dearing then
added another at the 19 25
mark with Mercer and
Pinder drawing assists
Randy Lovie turned aside
25 shots in the nets for the
locals, while Bob Ward
stopped 26 at the opposite
end
Both teams scored one on
power plays, with Exeter
assessed li minors and the
visitors picking up eight.
V-
Y^AR F0R VOL YBALL — The South Huron District High School senior girls volleyball team placed second in Huron-
Oonterence play offs this year. It was the best record for the team in recent years. Back, left, managers Gail Irvine and
Patti bhapton, Lisa Stretton, Susan Stretton, Sue Chapman, Karen McAllister, Bonnie Westlake, Brenda Fletcher and coach Joe
Johnston0"1, H°rner' Ann Dearin9' Ju,icmne MacLean, Jill Tuckey, Peggy Inch, Bonnie Keyes and manager Pam
T-A photo
Peewees out of Shamrock playoffs,
atoms, bantams here on Saturday
Two others who deserved three star consideration
were Butler and Jones of the Leafs.
They were relentless in their checking and
probably worked harder than any other Toronto
players in trying to protect Neilson’s job.
Butler and Jones are important in Neilson’s style
of play but likely wouldn’t make the team for another
coach.
Another feature of the few days in Toronto was
Saturday breakfast in the CN tower. For a fellow who
gets dizzy a few feet off the ground we really enjoyed
the experience.
Similar to an athlete we did a little pre-training
for the CN tower trip by taking the outside elevator at
Hotel Toronto to the 32nd floor Friday night.
Good ice show
The current Ice Capades show which is appearing
in Western Ontario for the next two weeks has special
appeal for residents of this part of the country.
Two of the headline skaters are Ron Shaver and
Lynn Nightingale who have many awards in Canadian
and world championships.
Shaver is a native of Galt and Lynn Nightingale
who calls Ottawa her home is a granddaughter of Mr.
and Mrs. John Payne of Grand Bend.
Ice Capades are now on at the London Gardens
and will continue with daily shows through Sunday.
Tuesday, March 6 the show switches to the
Kitchener auditorium and goes until the following Sun
day.
We haven’t seen an Ice Capades show for quite a
few years, but, know it provides excellent entertain
ment for the entire family,
Two Exeter minor hockey
teams failed in their bids for
medals in the Shamrock
hockey playoffs this past
weekend, while the other
three local teams will make
their attempts this weekend.
The local pee wees suf
fered a 2-0 defeat to the host
team in the pee wee “B”
division playoffs in Lucan,
Friday.
John Cook scored late in
the second period for the
Irish, while Ted Hall added
the clincher late in the third
to put the game out of reach
for Exeter.
In a consolation game
Saturday, the Exeter crew
dropped a 4-1 decision to
Oakridge.
The Exeter Waxers battl
ed their way into the final of
the novice “B” division
playoffs in Strathroy, Satur
day, but were stopped 3-1 by
YOUR HOME TOWN
It's Good For You
Niters lead
dart league
The Itchy Niters with 75
points to their credit lead the
Doublers by two points at the
top of the standings in the
Exeter Legion mixed dart
league.
The DR’s are in third spot
with 72 points, the Winkers
have 71 and the Flying
High and Sassenachs are
tied for fifth place with 70
points apiece.
The Family Affair and Out
of Space are next with 62
points, the Scotties have 61,
Sabres 58, Outlaws 55,
CB’ers 52, Shiphunters 50,
Nicky Tams 48 and Can-
scotts and Chances 41 each.
Whis week’s scores were:
Sassenachs 5 — CB’ers 0
Family Affair 4 — Out' of
Space 1
Doublers 4 — Winkers 1
Shiphunters 4 — Nicky Tams
1
Sabres 3 — Outlaws 2
Itchy Niters 3 — Canscotts 2
Chances 3 — Flying High 2
Scotties 3 — DR's 2
Fridays’s schedule is as
follows:.
8 p.m.
Doublers vs Sabres
Shiphunters vs Family
Affair
Nicky Tams vs Out of Space
Sassenachs vs Winkers
9,30 p.m.
Itchy Niters vs Scotties
CB’ers vs Flying High
Outlaws vs Chances
Canscotts vs DR’s
the hosts.
The local lads showed the
effects of a full day’s stay in
Strathroy in their third
game of the day.
In their first game, the
Exeter crew sat out some of
their stalwarts in a “nothing
game” and dropped a 5-0
verdict to Strathroy.
Their second encounter
was with Lambeth and they
skated to a 3-1 win, their six
th win in seven meetings
with Lambeth this year.
Jarett Kobe, Doug Clark
and Scott Boyd scored for
Exeter, with Clark, Steve
Lingard and Jon O’Connor
picking up assists.
In the rematch with
Strathroy, the home team
jumped into a 2-0 lead and
Jon O’Connor then cut the
deficit to a single tally when
he finished off a play with
Steve Lingard late in the
middle stanza.
However, Strathroy
scored in the third to pull the
game out of reach of the
weary Waxers.
Playoffs in Exefer
This weekend, the local
atoms, bantams and
midgets will play in the final
Shamrock playoff tour
naments.
Exeter will host the atom
and bantam affairs this
Saturday at the rec centre,
which will be the scene of 11
games.
The local bantams open
their play at 10:00 a.m.
against Strathroy, while the
atoms see their first action
r FOR
INFORMATION
ON
at 11:00 when they face St.
Marvs.
The Exeter midgets will
be in action in St. Marys.
Theirfirst game is at 3:00
against Lambeth.
The local atoms tuned up
for the playoff with a 3-1 win
over Huron Park, Saturday.
Ron Loucks, Brett Batten
and Sean Whiteford scored
for Exeter, while Mike
McCallum replied for Huron
Park.
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