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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1999-04-07, Page 8PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1999. Sports Novices play well at Lobster Cup From the sidelines Reviving Midget level hockey By Hugh Nichol effort minor interest Midget toIn an revive hockey at the level the Ontario Hockey League recently announced plans for the implementation of an eight-round Bantam draft by the year 2000 and the proposed creation of a 40-team Super League for Midget-aged players. The rationale behind the draft is that Bantam-age players will remain at home knowing they will be evaluated by OHL scouts concentrating strictly on the Bantam level while the Super Midget League would allow these players to develop their skills against players their own age. Minor hockey organizations argue none of the above measures help in renewing interest, that to participate in the Midget league the number of young adults moving away from home will increase, that additional pressure will be placed on Bantarn- age players to sign Junior in order to be noticed in their draft year, and that players that are passed over will drop out at the level of hockey already experiencing the greatest decline in registration. It appears the OHL is simply trying to resurrect the system of sponsorship used by the National Hockey League before the introduction of the entry draft, the system that once allowed teams to sign players as young as 14 to a C- Form wnich bound his playing rights to a specific team upon turning professional. It's also the system that placed these signees on NHL-sponsored amateur clubs until their services were required or deemed valuable. In fact the London Knights may have already taken the first step in the process. Last spring the Knights ownership purchased the London Jr B franchise with the idea that their draft picks could experience the culture of Major "A" while developing their skills playing at the Junior B level. Ironically in 1980 when the NHL introduced the underage drafting of 18 year olds it was the Junior A operators who were the first to complain that the draft left their ranks thin in talent, robbed them of their star gate attractions and slowed the development of the remaining players. While the NHL finally compromised by agreeing that the underage player could not be sent to the minors for apprenticing, that he either remained on the NHL roster or be returned to his Junior club the debate still continues on who holds the players' best interest at heart. For example Boston Bruin centre Joe Thornton was one of the 1990's most publicized prospects, a consensus number-one draft pick whom everyone expected to develop into a franchise player. In Thornton's first year of professional hockey he recorded seven points while seeing limited action. Yet the experts maintained the experience at the NH1 level was better than the 40 minutes of all-situation ice time he would have received had he been returned to his junior team. While Thornton appears to have survived many did not, including countless Maple Leaf draft choices who were rushed into the big leagues before their time. Midget hockey will survive but not because of the above proposals. There is too much profit to be made at the NHL, OHL, and Junior levels for all involved to agree and don't believe that an OHL scout will take up residence at the BMG arena this winter to watch the Bantams play. However, in a note of interest the Ontario Hockey Association will introduce steps at its annual meeting to reduce signed rosters at the Jr. C and D levels from the present 25 to 19. It seems the OHA has finally admitted that one of the reasons Midget hockey numbers are declining is because too many of "their" Junior teams are signing players of the Midget age level. Battling strong teams, the Brus­ sels Novice Reps made it to the finals at the Red Lobster playoff tournament this past weekend. They met Seaforth in their first contest and found themselves down 4-1 at the end of the first period. Chris Corbett scored the lone Brussels' goal, taking a pass from Adam Corbett. Brussels drew a little closer early in the second when C. Corbett went in unassisted to notch a point. However, Seaforth scored twice in the frame, extending their lead to 6-2. A. Corbett tallied another in the third, giving Brussels three in an 8- 3 loss. The team got great goaltending from Shane Gibson and was under the leadership of Dave Stephenson. Brussels took on South Port AE in the semi-final and were quickly down 1-0. Brussels did not slow down with C. Corbett popping one in to even the score in the second. Christopher Jutzi passed off to C. Corbett at 11:29 of the third to put Brussels up for the first time in the game. South Port drew even with a power play goal late in the frame. However, Brussels continued the attack with Chase Chapman assist­ ing on two netters, the first to C. Corbett at 1:38 and then Jutzi with 47 seconds remaining. With the 4-2 win, Brussels moved on to the finals against Minto. The score seesawed in the high- scoring match as Minto put two over the line early just to see Brus­ sels' C. Corbett bring the tally to 2- 2 before the 10- minute mark. Tom Cronin earned an assist. Before the first buzzer, Minto drew ahead with a power play goal. Brussels jumped into the lead in the second, blasting three past the Minto netminder and holding the opponent off the board. Points went (o C. Corbett (two) and A. Corbett. A. Corbett also got an assist. However, Brussels could not hold their 5-3 lead, allowing Minto to score four in quick succession, the final one on a power play. C. Corbett, with the assistance of Chapman and Wade Stephenson brought the score to 7-6. Lightning loses to London Novices WOAA champs With a win over Goderich March 31, the Blyth Novice B Bulldogs captured the WOAA Novice Local League South Division title. While holding Goderich off the board throughout the match, Blyth's Katie McClinchey opened the scor­ ing at 9:49 of the second period. Brittany Peters and Curtis Robertson assisted on the play. Peters partnered with Anthony Peters and Tony Bean in the third to bulge the twine for the second goal of the contest. A. Peters took the puck from Bean and Byron Broome at 5:01 of the third for Blyth's final netter in the 3-0 victory. Joel Salverda played a strong game between the posts. Other Blyth Novices include Kendall Whitfield, Johnathon McDowell, Roman Sturzenegger, Derek Youngblut, and Lee The Saugeen Maitland PeeWee Lightning travelled to Brampton for the world's largest women's hockey tournament on the Easter weekend. Of the 380 teams involved, some travelled from as far away as England, Washington, and California, plus teams from Quebec with the bulk from Ontario. In game one against Cornwall the Lightning jumped out quickly when Heather Walker bulged the twine on passes from Bridget Shedden and Brittany Campbell two minutes into the start. Late in the period, Carleigh Weiler pounded one home, assisted by Brittany Kellington to go up by two goals. Brook Wheeler came in midway through the second period to share the goaltending for the remainder of the game after a solid performance by Nicki Berfelz. Equal to the task, Wheeler held off the Cornwall attack and Saugeen emerged with the 2-0 victory. Next up was a team from Oakville, who came out eager for a win. They had the Lightning off balance for the first period but were turned away by Berfelz until midway in the second period when Walker deflected the puck in on a point shot by Jackie Zacher. Wheeler finished the last half of the game to share in the shutout in the 1-0 nail biter. Game three against North York would decide who would advance to the semi-final as both teams were undefeated so far. First period action would see end-to-end play with close calls at both nets. Weiler pounced on the rebound of Jessica Mann to edge into the lead in the first minute of the second period. The Lightning found themselves in a power play situation late in the period and capitalized on a hard wrist shot to the comer by Walker on a pass from Zacher. North York roared back half a minute later to answer with one of their own and trailed by one going into the third. With Wheeler in net for the complete game, Saugeen held on to squeak out the 2-1 win and move to the semi against London. From the squad's experience with this team this season, they knew how evenly matched a game it would be. London jumped out early when a pass from the wing was one-timed into the corner past Berfelz. Saugeen Maitland tied the game at the end of the period when Weiler worked the puck from behind the net to Katie Whytock who jammed it past the London goalie. London regained the lead early in the second period and held the Lightning scoreless for the remainder of the period. Although the Lightning outplayed London in the third, they couldn't get one past the goalie and were handed a 3-1 loss with an empty-net goal with five seconds left in the game to end their char ces of going to the finals. So ends the season for the Lightning PeeWees and a great one it was. In six tournaments the girls chocked up three silvers and two golds including being the first Silver Stick Champions for their division. Coaches said, this was a team with a big heart and never-give-up attitude. Andy Shedden and Rick Weiler were the coaches with Lynn Mann and Elaine Zacher the trainers. Managing the team were Fay and Allan Robertson. GGGGGGGGG ■ G G G G G G G GGGGGGGGG G m________© Players needed © to fill several teams. @ If interested in playing please call Donna Raynard © 357-1609 © *||||||||| CUtel Minto, Rcdl HeffUbiaiion Sat., March 27 -1 to 3 p.m. Thurs., Apr. 8 - 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sat., Apr. 10-10 to 12 noon $20. Registration Fee plus uniform deposit or phone Brenda at 887-6153 or Dianne at 887-9442 I BRUSSELS “ REGISTRATION Please register on these dates so number of teams can be determined. Watkins. The team celebrated with a ride through the village on a firetruck.MINOR BALL Soccer & Baseball Registration Wed., April 7,7:30 ■ 9:00 p.m. Sat., April 10,9:00 a.m. ■ 12:00 noon Blyth Public School For more information for soccer call Herb Van Amersfoort at 523-4202 for baseball call Karen McClinchey at 526-7158. Thursday, April 8th 7-9 Friday, April 9th 7-9 at the BMG Arena Coaches and umpires needed A $35. uniform deposit will be required (post-dated cheque Sept. 30/99) to be returned at end of season with return of uniform. For information on registration or if interested in joining executive contact