HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1987-01-14, Page 19THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1987. PAGE 19.
Novices return to action with vengeance
BY RUSTY BLADES
The Blyth novice team returned
from the Christmas break last week
with a vengeance as they played
two games and gained three of a
possible four points.
Last Wednesday, January 7, the
Elma-Logan novice visited Blyth
with visions of a victory, no doubt,
in mind. A number of factors
contributed to this dull uninspired
contest, not the least of which was
the slow ice conditions due to the
breakdown of the iceplant. (More
on that later). After the long
holiday lay off, it took the boys in
blue about one and a half periods to
get all the rust worn off their blades
and their skating legs back in high
gear.
Never-the-less, the game began
with Blyth opening the scoring in
the first period. Peter Craig did the
honours as he played a few shifts at
centre in this game and came
through with a strong effort. Twin
wingers Benjie and Shawn Hak-
kerscontributed well-deserved
assists as they set Peter up
perfectly for his game opener.
Elma-Logan played a strong
second period and quickly tied the
game. But Blyth scored the go
ahead goal near the end of the
period as sniper Brian McNichol
came through with another one of
his patented unassisted tallies.
Play went a lot smoother in the
third stanza as Blyth controlled the
play and scored two unanswered
goals to skate home with a 4 - 1
victory.
Second effort contributed to the
first goal of the period as Jason
Rutledge and Ryan Chamney both
picked up assists on a goal by “the
Scoring Machine’’, Henry Bos.
Jason and Ryan both had a poke at
the puck in the crease before Henry
bounced on the rebound and
deposited the puck behind the
Elma-Logangoaltender. Itonly
took another 16 seconds before
Blyth scored their final goal of the
game. Brian McNichol garnered
an assist as he carried the puck into
the opposition before being stopp
ed. He then put the puck in the
corner where Jason Rutledge
raced to it, swooped behind the net
and stuffed the puck between the
post and the goaltenders pad.
The final score favoured Blyth by
a 4 -1 score. It was great to start the
new year with a victory but
everyone knew that a more solid
effort would be needed in their next
game against a smooth skating
Clinton squad.
On Friday, January 9, Blyth
ventured down Highway 4 (or was
that the Baseline) for their first trip
into Clinton this season. Another
excellent game was forecast as
Blyth had come up short by one
goal on two separate occasions
against this team already this
season. A very spirited pre game
“talk’ ’ by coach Chamney left little
doubt what each player’s role was
and what was expected from him in
this game -- skating, passing,
spirited forechecking, but most of
all — teamwork.
Once again, however, the team
came out of the gate flatter than the
ice they were skating on. Clinton
raced to a 2 - 0 lead before the game
was three and a half minutes old
against a somewhat disorganized
Blyth unit. The first period ended
that way.
Blyth finally hit the scoreboard
in the first minute of the second
period as they scored the only goal
of the period. Scott Arthur and
Christopher Howson were the
playmakers on the goal as they
controlled the puck behind the
Clinton goal. Thepuck was then
passed out in front where Ryan
Chamney controlled the puck and
slid a backhand shot between the
goalie’s legs. Blyth seemed to pick
uptheplay afterthistosetup an
exciting third period of shinny.
In the first minutes of the third
period Clinton scored again to
restore their two-goal lead but
Biyth just dug a little deeper and
you could almost sense that Blyth
would be heard from before the
game was over.
Blyth narrowed the score to 3 - 2
halfway through the period on a
smart, unselfish goal. Defence-
man Peter Craig sent a long
clearing pass up along the boards
that Brian McNichol picked up at
centre ice. Brian carried the puck
across the blueline and was forced
wide along the boards by the
Clinton defence. From deep in the
corner he spotted Christopher
Howson standing along in front of
the Clinton net. He then sent a
perfect pass out to Chris, who
quickly one-timeditintothe net
before the goaltender had a chance
to react. Blyth finally tied the score
with 3:06 left in the game as Peter
Craig continued his strong play.
Peter made a remarkable end-to-
end rush through the entire right
side of the Clinton team and put an
equallyremarkableshoton net.
The goalie made the save but
couldn’t handle the rebound as it
lay alone in front of the goal. Jason
Rutledge, who was trailing the
play, jumped at the opportunity
and made no mistake as he used his
ever-improving wrist shot to tie the
Announcing
the second annual
CITIZEN’S
CITIZEN
AWARDS
I nan effort to give some small reward to those who contribute so much to our
community, The Citizen is sponsoring a Citizen of The Year award - one for the
Brussels area and one for the Blyth area.
Nominations Wanted
We welcome your nomination for these citizenships awards. Please fill in the ballot
with the name of your nominee, why you feel he or she should win the award and your
own nameandtelephone number. (Names of all nominators will be kept confidential).
Nominees can be from the villages themselves or the surrounding townships and can
have made their contribution either directly (through local politics, club work, etc.) or
in a more general way (eg. Long-term service to many organizations, work with the
environment, or with farm organizations, etc.)
Entries will be judged by an independent panel.
I nominate...................................................as Citizen of the year for the (Check one)
Blyth................. Brussels...........................community.
I feel he or she deserves this honour because:
(use additional paper if needed).
Nomination deadline January 16* 1987
Please print name and phone number of nominator
score. The game ended in a 3 - 3 tie
thanks to the determination and
teamwork of the Blyth squad as,
once again, Chris Lee and Mike
de J ong made some very tough, key
saves. After this tremendous
effort by the team, coach Chamney
once again provided refreshments
for the thirsty lot. Hopefully this
tradition will continue in the future
by anyone who feels the urge.
An exhibition game is scheduled
in Blyth against the Wingham
novice team on Wednesday but
due to the iceplant shutdown, it
mighthavetobecancelledunless it
stays very cold. The team travels to
Brussels on Friday, January 16 for
a 6 o’clock showdown.
Incaseyou haven’t heard, a very
critical component of the ice plant
failed and it will probably be
another two weeks before the part
isdeliveredandinstalled. Until
then the ice plant is shut down and
the only ice that is at the arena will
be what the managers will be
trying to keep frozen naturally.
However, out of this disaster a
hero? is emerging. Arena co-man
ager Dave “You Can Quote Me on
that’ ’ Cook has publicly stated that
he will put his job on the line and
personally guarantee that he will
do everything in his power to keep
the ice surface useable! He was
quoted as stating that he will work
night and day to ensure that the ice
stays in.
When I phoned to confirm this
statement, his wife said Dave was
down at the Manpower office
picking up unemployment insur
ance benefit forms. Let’s hope it
stays cold so he won’t need them!!
Don’tforget about the Minor
Hockey and Ringette Family
Dance this Saturday night at the
arena auditorium. Parents and
children are welcome to this family
gathering as the band, “Crippled
Duck’’, provides the entertain
ment from 8 p.m. to midnight.
Ticketsareavailableatthe door
and it is sure to be a fun event for
everyone.
In another late breaking hockey
story, I am thrilled to report that
Jonathan Collins, a member of the
Blyth novice A-Team, is following
in my footsteps. Anyone who is a
regular reader of this column will
remember last spring how I came
inches from winning a car at a shoot
out at a Junior A game in London.
Well, last Sunday Jonathan had
his chance for stardom as he was
selected to shoot for the car in a
between periods shootout contest
at a London Knights Junior A
hockey game in London. Jonathan
had to shoot from the blueline and
aim for a hole in a board covering
the net at the far end of the ice. The
hole is only about one inch wider
than the puck so his task was
almost impossible. I am told he put
a tremendous wrist shot on the net
and only missed the hole by one
foot.
However, a souvenir puck and a
new hockey stick was his reward
and a very happy young man
walkedofftheice. There was no
danger of Jonathan slipping on the
ice as he walked off because I am
told that he was about three-feet off
the ice surface. There was some
concern, however, for Jonathan’s
parents who watched from the
stands. Again I understand that a
whiff of ammonia was all that was
necessary to revive them and get
their hearts pumping again. Con
gratulations Jonathan! (Doyou
give credit to your coaches for your
shooting skills?)
to flit’s AD in the
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