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The Citizen, 1987-03-18, Page 23Lucknow was a hot-shooting team when it met the Blyth Novice “B” team in the consolation round at the Blyth Little Lions tournament Saturday. Here Blyth’s goaltender Chris Bromley stretches to make a save. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 1987. PAGE 23. Brussels Bantams win Blyth Novices trail series BY RUSTY BLADES The Blyth Novices travelled to Milverton on Monday, March 9 to complete a two-game sweep of their play-off series with a convinc­ ing come-from-behind 7-3 win. Once again the team started slowly and never really got things rolling until the dying moments of the second period. Blyth opened the scoring in the first as defence­ man Jonathan Collins kept the puck in at the blueline and spotted J ason Rutledge at the corner of the net. Jason then poked the puck to Ryan Chamney in front of the net who slid the disc into the net. Milverton tied the game in the final minute of the first period and tooka2-l lead with a power play goal halfway through the second frame. The fans started to get restless until, once again, the Blyth offence exploded for three late second period goals. Scott Arthur and Shawn Hakkers set up Benjie Hakkers who scored on a backhand shot with 2:13 left. Then, with 35 secondsleftintheperiod, Brian McNichol and Benjie Hakkers set up Shawn Hakkers who scored on another backhand shot. Blyth took a 4-2 lead with only eight seconds left on the clock as Ryan Chamney picked up from behind the Milver­ ton net, swung around in front and stuffed the puck home. Hard working wingers Scott Arthur and Jason Rutledge picked up well deserved assists on the play. Milverton moved to within one goal of Blyth as they scored early in the third period but Blyth respond­ ed with three unanswered goals to seal the victory. Jason Rutledge set up defenceman Jonathan Collins whose shot from the point was deflected into the net by Ryan Chamney as Ryan recorded anoth­ er hat-trick. Goal number 6 was set up by Brian McNichol and Benjie Hakkers as Ryan Chamney tipped in a beautiful pass out from the corner.. Milverton pulled their goalie in the final minute but the Scoring Machine iced the win. A three-way relay from Ryan Chamney to Scott Arthur to Henry Bos set up the empty net goal by Henry as the Milverton players sprawled on the ice in a valiant attempt to block the shot. This 7-3 victory sent the Blyth Novices into the group champion­ ship series against a smooth skating squad from Seaforth. The first game of the series was played in Blyth last Wednesday, March 11. Blyth played an outstanding game as they put a tremendous effort into this contest. The skating was fast and furious from end-to- end for the entire game with a couple of breaks going Seaforth’s way in a 5-2 win for the visitors. A very entertaining scoreless first period was witnessed by the many fans in attendance who no doubt got their money’s worth on this night. The floodgates opened in the second frame as Seaforth scored two power play goals on their way to a 3 -1 second period lead. They scoredthefirstthree goals of the period as they seemed to capitalize on every Blyth mistake. Shawn Hakkers got Blyth on the scoreboard, and back into the game, with only 19 seconds left in the period. Benjie Hakkers passed to brother Shawn who was standing alone in the face-off circle. Shawn lit the red light up as he threaded a low, hard shot through a maze of players and into the net. The teams came out strong for the third with exceptional play­ making and checking skills exhibit­ ed by both teams as the puck was passed from one endoftheiceto theother. Seaforth counted two more goals to stake them to a 5-1 lead but Blyth never gave up. Scott Arthur scored the final goal of the game as a couple of players all had a poke at the puck. Henry Bos passed to Ryan Chamney who banked two shots off the goalie’s pads before Scott finished the play on the helpless Seaforth goalie. The Blyth squad journeyed to Seaforth on Friday, March 13 for the second game of this best three out of five play-off series knowing full well the enormous task at hand. Blyth came prepared to play and they gave their many fans in attendance plenty to cheer about until finally succumbing in over­ time to Seaforth by a 5-3 count. Once again the two teams played with a tenacity that had the fans standing and chanting all night long with the many vocal suppor­ ters from Blyth letting their presence be known to the equally boisterous home town ravers. For the second game in a row, the teams battled through a scoreless first period before the offence got rolling in the second stanza. Peter Craig recorded the game opening marker as he scored an unassisted, short-handed goal on a spectacular rush down the ice. The goaltender made the initial stop but Peter followed up on the piayandslidthepuck across the line as he was dumped by the Seaforth defender. Seaforth, how­ ever, recorded two goals of their own before the period ended which set up a wild third frame. Blyth once again gave the proverbial “110 per cent effort ” in the third as they pulled out all the stops. A power play goal by Seaforth’s No. 15, who was deemed by his coaches to be so valuable that he was hardly allowed off the ice in this game, gave Seaforth a 3-1 lead but Blyth still felt they could over come this huge obstacle. A defen­ sive mistake by Seaforth gave Blyth one of the breaks it would need as Henry Bos and Jason Rutledge skated in alone on the helpless goaltender from the cen­ tre line on in. Jason was used as a decoy all the way before Henry scored an unassisted goal with a low, hard shot. Blyth continued to press the opposition into mistakes until a tripping penalty set up a power play for the boys in blue. Blyth’s persistance paid off as they scored a power play goal to tie the game 3-3. Ryan Chamney set up Henry Bos deep in the slot and Henry’s hard, high wrist shot deflected off everything in its way as it weaved its way into the net. The seconds ticked off the clock until the buzzer ended regulation time with these twofine teams knotted at three goals each. The teams entered a 10-minute overtime period and one could sense the steam running out. The boys gave it their all but Seaforth scored two goals mid-way through the overtime. Blyth kept buzzing the Seaforth goal but couldn’t find the twine as Seaforth hung on for a 5-3 overtime win. It was Blyth’s best game all year and the coaching staff, as well as the players and fans, were very, very proud of the effort the team exhibited in this contest. Game number three is scheduled for Seaforth on Tues­ day. A loss would eliminate Blyth but a win or tie could bring Blyth back for a home game tonight - Wednesday, March 18 at 7 o’clock. Rebates Off Already Low, Low Prices • Laundry Pairs Up to $50.00 Off • Refrigerators Up to $150.00 Off • Ranges Up to $50.00 Off ----------------------------- • Dishwashers Up to $35.00 Off • Micro wave Ovens Up ot $45.00 Off REBATE RECEIVE YOUR REBATE THE SAME DAY YOU PURCHASE THE ITEM. M.C. Smith Appliances CASH, CHEQUE, CREDIT CARD OR LEASE TOOWN Proceed east of Molesworth on Highway 86 to second road. Turn south ontoGrey/Elma Townline. Turn right at first crossroad. We are the first place on right. RR 2, Listowel,291-3810 The Bantams are currently playing their group playoffs. They played their first game at home on Wednesday night when they de­ feated the visiting Drayton squad 2-0. The Brussels goal scorers were Brian Alcock assisted by lan Johnston and Jeff Earl unassisted. They returned to Drayton on Saturday afternoon to play the second game and come home with a 6-2 victory. The goal scorers were: Steve Fritz assisted by Jeff Earl and Scott Bremner; Dan Beuermann assisted by Fritz and Bremner; Barry Blake from Brian Alcock; Scott Bremner from Brad Taylor and Dan Beuermann; Steve Fritz from lan Johnston and Jamie Nicholson; Scott Johnston from Andrew McCutcheon and Barry Blake. This win eliminated Drayton and the team will now play Harriston with the first game being played Thursday night at 7:30 in Harri­ ston. The Bantams also played their first game in the annual Harriston tournament on Sunday. They played Sullivan Twp. and were defeated 1-0. They will return to Harriston to play their second game of the tournament on Saturday afternoon. The Midgets played their first game in their second round against Ayton on Saturday night. They managed a 3-1 victory over the visitors even though it appeared they weren’t enthusiastic over playing Saturday night hockey. They will be returning to Ayton on Monday for 9 p.m. game hopefully to wrap up the series. Often Carol’s Hairstyling Ethel, Ontario CALL FOR YOUR APPOINTMENTS NOW 887-9786 Open Monday to Friday, evening appointments on request