HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1999-12-15, Page 13THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15,1999. PAGE 13.
Erom the sidelines
Remember the Seals Busy week for Brussels PeeWees
By Hugh
Nichol
Remember the
Oakland Seals?
When the
NHL decided to
expand in the
mid 1960s one
of the key areas
in terms of league exposure was the
American northwest. Unfortunately
while San Francisco had a history of
success at the minor league level the
ancient Cow Palace was deemed
unsuitable for major league hockey
and the team was placed across the
bay in Oakland’s Alameda County
Coliseum,
The choice was a marketing
embarrassment for the league. In the
Seals nine-year history they finished
last in their division six times,
including three years in which they
posted the NHL’s worst record.
Off ice the Seals spent most of the
time wavering on the verge of
financial collapse. Five ownership
groups took turns mismanaging the
franchise, including a four year term
by the very eccentric and equally
parsimonious Charles O. Finlay.
Finlay's idea of selling the team to
the public was a never-ending series
of gimmicks that surrounded the
club in a circus-like atmosphere.
One of his first acts of ownership
was to rename the club the
California Golden Seals, then outfit
his players in yellow sweaters, green
pants and white skates. Mercifully
his last act occurred in February
1974 when he allowed the team to
slide into receivership forcing the
NHL to assume control of team
operations until a new owner was
found.
On June 14, 1976 the NHL
witnessed its first franchise
relocation in 44 years when the
board of governors unanimously
approved the Seals transfer to
Cleveland. Unfortunately while the
location changed, the results did not.
Following two more last-place
finishes the Barons ownership
purchased the equally inept
Minnesota franchise and merged the
two teams under the North Stars
banner.
While success was not overnight
their fortunes did improve. A trip to
the Stanley Cup final in 1981 was
followed by divisional titles in 1982
and 1984 but alas the celebrations
would not last.
Suffering heavy monetary losses
a surprise visit to the finals in 1991
did little to overshadow seven
seasons of mediocre hockey and in
May 1993 the Minnesota North
Stars became the Dallas Stars.
Gilles Meloche was one of the
less than a handful of players who
endured the Oakland, Cleveland,
Minnesota experience. Acquired by
the Seals in 1971 Meloche enjoyed a
relatively successful yet
undistinguished career as the team’s
number one goaltender until his
trade to Edmonton in 1985.
In a unique act of parallelism I am
experiencing the uncertainty
Meloche faced throughout his
career. The continuous change of
ownership in Oakland is no different
than the turnover of counsellors
following a municipal election while
the NHL stepping in to assume
control of operations is somewhat
like the provincial government
forcing amalgamation upon us.
The Seals short-lived move to
Cleveland represents our initial talks
with Grey Twp. while the
Cleveland/Minnesota merger is the
equivalent of expanding our
amalgamation plans to include
McKillop, Tuckersmith and
Seaforth. And finally the Minnesota
move to Dallas is the future
possibility that we have not done
enough, that size does matter.
Whatever decisions are to be
made hopefully our identity will not
be forever lost. Just as hockey
historians have preserved the history
of the California Seals, Cleveland
Barons and Minnesota North Stars
so too may the supporters of small
town Ontario preserve “Our Story”.
Even the simple gesture of
allowing our village entrance signs
to remain standing will forever
remind us of our past and if you
truly believe history repeats itself it
is worth noting that NHL hockey
will be returning to Minnesota next
season.
As for myself only time will tell
whether I become the Gilles
Meloche of Huron East or simply
the trivia question answer to “who
was the last road superintendent for
the Village of Brussels”.
Purple Tykes play in tourney
The Brussels PeeWees had a
busy week, playing three league
games and competing in the Luc
know Legion tournament.
On Dec. 8, Belmore came to
town offering stiff competition.
Brussels got on the board first
when Brandon Blake took a pass
from Brent Wheeler for the score.
Belmore followed up three min
utes later, at 6:06 of the first. The
visitors jumped into the lead in the
second when they put two on the
scoresheet before Brussels could
manage another netter.
Wheeler’s goal at 5:53 brought
the team to within one before end
ing the frame. Brett Bean and Brett
Hunt assisted.
Robbie Semple drew Brussels
even at 13:01 of the third with the
assistance of Tate Stephenson.
Brussels clinched the win late in
the contest when Blake and Philip
Wedow got the puck to Ryan
McClinchey for the winner at l :32.
Two days later, the squad trav
eled to Milverton to eke out another
win.
Though Brussels scored first on a
shot by Semple, assisted by Chris
Bernard, Milverton soon took con
trol for a 3-1 lead through the first.
Milverton increased their lead by
one before Brussels started to get
back in the game. With three quick
goals they pulled even before the
end of the second. Semple, Bernard
and Scott Armstrong all scored.
Milverton hit for their fifth at
8:52 of the third, but Brussels
would not be held back, scoring at
5:36 and 1:48 for the 6-5 win.
McClinchey and Blake earned the
goals.
The team was not as successful
when they met Goderich Dec. 12.
The lone goal for Brussels came off
the stick of Wheeler and
McClinchey earned the assist.
In spite of the 5-1 score. Coach
Paul Sebastian said he was
impressed with the play of all the
players. “Goderich is a “B” centre
and I thought we held our own.”
The PeeWees started well in the
Lucknow Legion tournament, but
soon met a tough opponent.
They slid by Howick 3-2 in the
game after being down 2-1 after
two periods of play. Brussels scor
ers were Bernard and Semple (two)
with Brett Bean and Armstrong
capturing the assists.
Brussels was ousted from tourna
ment play by Hensail in a 5-1 loss.
In the game through the first two,
Hensall blew them out with three
unanswered goals in the third.
Blake scored for Brussels.
The PeeWees' coaches and par
ents thanked the Brussels Legion
for their sponsorship of the team,
particularly Comrade Eric Ross
who attended the first game. The
coaches and team agreed Ross
should have stayed around for the
second game to give the squad a
speech as he had done before the
first rflatch.
Enjoy 2 hours of bowling including...
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• music tribute to the 20th Century!
Call 524-BOWL (2695)
204 Huron Rd.. Goderich
Wed. Dec. 29 & Thurs. Dec. 30
1:00 pm, 3:15 pm, 5:30 pm,
7:45 pm or 10:00 pm
Fri., Dec. 31 1:00 pm. 3:15 pm or 5:30 pm
With this coupon at Rice's Store
until December 24
SAVE THE TAXES
on all Non-Fiction & Rugged Wear
While supplies last - Sorry No Rain Checks
Prepare for winter with Heavy Duck Coats
ranging from $45. - $115. ~ great for outdoor work.
Insulated Overalls from $70. - $105.00.
There's still time to personalize your gift with
custom embroidery. Check our samples at our Clinton store.
RICE'S WORKWEAR PLUS
TWO LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU BETTER
11 Victoria St.
Clinton
Extended Hours:
9:00-5:30
Dec. 20 - 23 9-7
Dec. 24 9-3
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2 1/2 miles off Hwy. 4
on Cone. 12 & 13 between
Blyth & Londesboro
Mon. - Thurs. 9-9;
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523-4426
The Elma Logan arena was
“home for a day” on Saturday, Dec.
I l for the Blyth “Purple” Tyke
team as they played in their first
tournament.
The first game was fast-paced,
end-to-end action against
Milverton. The end score was 4-3
in Milverton’s favour and Blyth
dropped into the consolation round.
After soundly defeating Elma
Logan by a score of lO-l Blyth
headed to the final game. This
game pitted them against the Blyth
“White” Tykes. These two teams
are very evenly matched, although
Purple had a longer rest period
between games which worked to
their advantage.
The first period was spent
watching a seesaw of activity at
both ends, with Purple goalie Grant
Sparling and White goalie Gregg
Dodds seeing a lot of action. The
Purple Tykes capitilized on a
power-play situation to open the
scoring in the second and with
another two goals sealed the
championship title for the Purple
Bulldogs. Fans were proud of the
boys and satisfied with the effort
Continued on page 14
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