Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1978-03-09, Page 10Pqqe 10 Times-Advocate, March 9, 1979 Hawks hampered by dull skates, injury Play here, Friday Sports Spotlight IBy Ross Haugh Time for skaters It’s the time of year when area figure skating clubs present their annual carnivals when all members have a chance to display their newly ac­ quired talents. The Lucan skating club will stage their carnival this Friday night at the Lucan Community Centre and the Exeter club presents its carnival April-1. The Lucan figure skating program is sponsored by the Legion LadiOs Auxiliary giving a large number of village and area boys and girls the opportunity to learn the art of skating. Gaylen Josephson, president of the Exeter figure skating club tells us the 1977-78 program is very successful. More than 140 youngsters are taking advantage of two club pros which doubles the instruction time. The club has the use of the ice at the South Huron Rec Cen­ tre each Monday and Thursday afternoons from 4 to 9 p.m. Brad Loosley is back for his seventh year as club pro and this year is being assisted by Marg Carey. The local carnival on Saturday, April 1 will be presented in two shows at 2 and 7 p.m. and will feature characters from MacDonald’s hamburger chain. These will include Ronald MacDonald, Grimace, Hamburgler and Mayor McCheese to name only a few. A carnival of a bit of a different nature will be held in Lucan March 31. It will be a masquerade or old fashioned carnival when all kinds of characters should come out of the woodwork. Only persons in costume will be allowed on the ice. New soccer team A new team from Detroit has been organized and will play in the National soccer league. It will be known as the Detroit Express. We recently received the home schedule for the Detroit team from Dave Silcock. Anyone wishing in­ formation on tickets or schedules should contact Dave at Box 683, Exeter or 235-2193. The 15 game home schedule for the Express in­ volves 15 different teams. They have some impressive club names. A few are Houston Hurricane, Memphis Rogues, Dallas Tornado, Philadelphia Fury, San Jose Earth­ quakes, Tulsa Roughnecks and Tampa Bay Rowdies. The Toronto Metros are Ontario’s only represen­ tatives. Shortest, longest season The 1977-78 hockey season for the Lucan-Ilderton Jets was the shortest in the team’s history, but we are sure it was the longest as far as manager Don Urbshott was concerned. Urbshott who was one of the prime organizers of the team'some seven years ago suffered through a los­ ing season in which the team won only six times in 35 starts and finished out of the playoffs for the first time. , League statistician Nick Martin in his regular season windup highlights some of the Jets low spots. It was the first time they lost more than 20 games, won less than 20, scored less than 200 goals and allowed more than 195. The Jets season goal total was 116 for and 210 against. On a better note, Jamie Robb tied Jack Nairn’s career record of 205 assists. Brian Murphy led the Jets in scoring for the year with 33 points. Captain Barry Baynham and Jamie Robb were next with 32 points each. Another statistic points out the dilemna of the Jets this year, manager Urbshott and coach Jack Chipchase used a total of 39 players over the 35 game schedule. Tigers low on salaries Detroit Tigers general manager Jim Campbell conceded recently that a survey which revealed the Tigers rank 22nd among the 26 major league ball teams in average salary was quite accurate. Campbell suggests that a chart should have been attached showing the average ages of the players on the different teams. He said the Tigers rank 22nd or 23rd in the average category. Campbell continued, “When you have so many young players it’s going to bring your average salary down. In 1969, the year after we won the World Series, we led the American league in salaries. We led again in 1973 and until the last three years were never lower than third or fourth.” One can be sure the Tigers will be up in salaries by the year 1981. That’s the year fellows like Mark Fidrych and Ron LeFlore will become six year veterans and eligible for free agent status. The next year it will be other rising stars, Dave Roesma, Jason Thompson and Steve Kemp, who could fly the coop. Ausable-Bayfield Conservation Authority NOTICE The snowmobile and cross-country ski trails between Exeter and the Morrison Dam will of­ ficially close on March 11, 1978. The Ausable-Bayfield Conservation Authority wishes to thank the property owners whose co-operation made these trails possible. The Ausable-Bayfield Conservation Authority. Junior hockey series tied at one game The Mitchell Hawks blasted Exeter 7-2 before over 500 fans, Tuesday to even their best-of-seven group semi-final atone game each. The locals won the opener 5-3. The series is shaping up to be another royal battle between the two identically named clubs. Last year, Exeter ousted Mitchell in a tough six-game struggle and then went on to win the OHA title. Many fans expect this year’s OHA title could also be decided in the current series. Two dull pair of skates and an injury to captain Steve Jennison appeared to play an integral part in Tuesday’s loss-. Veterans Brian Taylor and John VanGerwen missed a couple of shifts early in the second while their skates were being sharpened, and Jennison was having five or six stitches to close a cut on his upper lip, the result of a high stick in front of the Exeter net late in the opening period. Mitchell took advantage of the resulting line juggling to rap in three goals in the first two minutes of the middle frame to take command of the contest. Exeter had taken an early lead in the game when Randy Parsons blinked the light at the 3:18 mark of the first when he deflected a pass from the point by Matt Muller. Mitchell evened the count with only six seconds remaining on a power play by Eric Beard. Mike Avery opened the second period flourish at the 42 second mark and his tally was followed by two more quickies by Murrary Elliott and Dennis Fischer. Dave Kinsman pulled Exeter back into contention at the 3:35 mark on a power play goal set up by Fred Mommersteeg and Ken Pinder and another scoring drive that was called back minutes later on an offside call spoiled their chances of a quick rally. Mitchell added two more goals in the second period and potted the only tally of the third to even the series, although Exeter dominated play in the final stanza with a 14-5 edge in shots on goal. The home crew came out hitting in the contest, and while they picked up 11 of the 18 penalties called, their body checking appeared to have many of the Hawks off stride for much of the con­ test. In the second period, they bottled Exeter up in their own end for long durations with only the Pinder- VanGerwen-Mommersteeg line having much success at clearing out of their zone. Brian Taylor was the victim of another Exeter injury in the third, when he hurt a shoulder. Coach Ron Bogart said it didn’t appear to be-anything serious and he expects the speedy winger back in the lineup, Friday, when Exeter hosts the third game at 8:00 p.m. Defen­ ceman Jim Ferguson, out with a knee injury may also be back in action. “Everything seemed to go wrong,” Bogart lamented after the game adding that he hoped all the misfortunes and flat play were left in the Tuesday game and won’t be carried over. Goalie Steve Beer was not up to his usual form in the contest either, playing under some difficulty after straining a back muscle in played before 650 fans at the rec centre, Exeter rallied for three goals in the third period to overcome a deficit and take their 5-3 victory. pre-game warm-ups. Rally in third In Sunday night’s opener. HAWK HELPED — Randy Lovie, a member of the Exeter Hawks for the past four years and the league's leading net- minder last season, was the recipient of a special cheque, Sunday. Lovie was injured earlier this season and lost con­ siderable time from work and received the EMHA's share of the final playoff game with Lucan Making the presentation ts EMHA president Ron Bogart, while timer Bob Osgood is shown in the background. Staff photo Atoms back to wall, need Friday victory Goalie Steve Beer was one of the big differences in the game, as he came up with spectacular saves in the se­ cond and third period to keep the visitors at bay. Fans still couldn’t believe how he blocked one scoring attempt in the second when a Mitchell forward had a clear shot while Beer was on the ice and managed to get his foot in the way of the puck heading for an open corner. Exeter’s defence was caught napping early in the game and Mitchell had four two-on-one breaks, and managed to connect on one of those at the 6:46 mark to open the scoring. Exeter knotted the count at the 14:10 mark when John VanGerwen scored the first of his pair as he took a pass from Ken Pinder and found the range. Fred Mommersteeg also helped on the tally. However, the visitors came back in just over a minute to take a 2-1 lead on the first Randy Raycraft’s two goals. The defending OHA champs scored the only goal of the second to even the count. Fred Mommersteeg was the triggerman from the slot with the assists go­ ing to Pinder and VanGerwen. In the third period. Pinder started the Hawks rolling on a power play with Mommersteeg and Phil Knight. The centreman deft­ ly deked Tom Chessell in the Mitchell net as he broke in from the side. A minute later, Phil Knight upped the lead to two goals when he took a pass from Brion Penhale and blasted a drive from the point, with Penhale moving in to provide a screen. Mitchell managed to narrow the count at the 6:47 mark when Raycraft deflected a shot off an Ex­ eter defender into the bot­ tom corner, but VanGerwen got the insurance marker back again at the 13:13 mark on a neat two-way passing play with Brian Taylor, who had been beaten earlier on a breakaway attempt. Exeter dominated play throughout most of the third, firing 12 shots and three goals at Chessell.Beer handled eight shots for Ex­ eter. bringing his game total to 29. Referee Doug Lasenby handed out 1:2 minor penalties, with Mitchell picking up seven. The con­ test was not a hard-hitting affair until the final 10 minutes when players started to throw their weight around more liberal­ ly. SNOWMOBILE RACES LL YjGuLV* Varna, Ont. Sun., Mar. 12 Oval & Novelty Races Registration 9-11 a.m. Sponsored By Hully Gully Snowmobile Club WINS AWARD — Ken Pinder, top scoring centreman for the Exeter Hawks, was named Hawk-of-the-month for February. He receives a $50 merchandise certificate from Dean McKnight of Len McKnight & Sons Men's Wear. Staff photo Mommersteeg leads Hawks in scoring Fred Mommersteeg led the Exeter Hawks scoring attack in the five game group semi-final series against the Lucan Irish. Mommersteeg scored two goals and picked up nine assists for 11 points to lead the club in scoring, Next with five goals and the same number of assists for 10 points was John Van Gerwen. Ken Pinder and Steve Jennison were deadlocked with eight points apiece. Pinder tied Van Gerwen for high goal production. Don McKellar with 16 minutes spent the most time in the penalty box and Randy Parsons was' next with 12 minutes of sin bin time. Ken Pinder and Brad Taylor each scored twice to lead the Hawks in power play goals. PIONEER Home Stereo Components ON THE SPOT FINANCING GET OUR PRICE BEFORE YOU BUY Jerry Maclean & Son Expfer OUR STORE IS BIG ENOUGH TO SERVE YOUR NEEDS BUT SMALL ENOUGH TO BE FRIENDLY AUTOMOTIVE LTD.235 0800 Authorized Dealer for RADIO SHACK The Exeter atoms will have their backs to the wall when they travel to Lambeth, Friday, for the fourth game in their OMHA group semi-final. Playing at home, Sunday, the locals dropped a 3-0 deci­ sion .to Lambeth and now trail the best-of-five set by a 2-1 margin. If the fifth game is need­ ed, it will be played in Ex­ eter on Saturday at 6:00. In Sunday’s contest, Ex­ eter held an edge in play but couldn’t put the puck in the net. They hit three goal posts ir. the third period alone, one on a breakaway by Steve Gould. Lambeth opened the scor­ ing in the second period with two quick goals and salted the win away with a marker early in the third. Playing in the Shamrock playoffs at the rec centre. Saturday, the locals failed in their attempt to win the gold medal when they ended up on the short end of a 2-0 count to the league cham­ pion Strathroy squad. Strathroy jumped into a quick lead at the 1:13 mark of the first and scored another mid-way through the third to gain the cham­ pionship. Exeter made it to the playoff final with a heart­ pounding overtime win against Belmont that saw the teams battle through three overtime periods with shots on goal to count. Belmont opened the scor­ ing in the contest with a marker at the 7:27 mark of the third period and appeared to be heading for the win, but Exeter pulled their goalie and the move paid dividends when Scott Lovie blasted a shot into the net with 39 seconds left in the game. George Pratt assisted on the play, having won the faceoff in the Bel­ mont end. This put the two teams into a five-minute overtime period with shots on goal to count and they battled through the first session with two shots each. In the second extra over­ time, Exeter jumped into a quick 4-1 lead on shots, but Belmont came back to tie it up when the locals picked up a penalty. The last Belmont shot came with eight seconds on the clock. In the third overtime, Ex­ eter won by a 2-1 margin on shots with Jeff Pfaff and Sean Whiteford playing strong defensive role as they thwarted several Belmont attempts. If you're in the market for a truck . . . you'll never find greater savings than right now. New '78 Ford Chassis & Cab at low, low 77 PRICES SEVERAL MODELS NOW IN STOCK TO CHOOSE FROM • Equipped with 475 and 389 Engines • 176" to 212" Wheel Base • 1020 Tires • 9,000 Pound Front Axles • 18,500 Pound Rear Axles • 5-Speed Transmissions • 2-Speed Rear Axles Plus Many Other Options Larry Snider Motors LIMITED EXETER 235-1640 LONDON 227-4191 Huron County's Largest Ford Dealer BUS EXCURSION TO THE MOTOR CITY INTERNATIONAL SUPER-CROSS Buy your motorcycle from us this month and besides super pre-season prices we’ll take you on a free bus excursion to see the exciting International Super-Cross of the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan on Saturday, April 1st. You'll see the leading North American competitors dueling for $35,000 in prize money. — SOME MORE GOOD REASONS TO BUY FROM US— * Pre-Season Prices * Excellent Selection Of New & Used * Reputation For Good Service .......... DON'T FORGET OUR BIKE SHOW • DOOR PRIZES • MOTORCYCLE MOVIES • NEW MODELS SAT. & SUN. MAR. 18& 19 VARNA, ONT.1-262-5809