HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1998-04-01, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 1998.
The champs
Representatives from the OMHA District present Blyth
Midget Bulldog Captain Mike Ansley with the Harold Luke
Trophy, emblematic of Midget E hockey supremacy in
Ontario.
Midget Bulldogs
Ontario champs
WHERE DO YOU TURN
TO DECIDE
WHERE TO
EAT OUT?
YOUR NEWSPAPER:
The link to your community
BRUSSELS
MINOR BALL
REGISTRATION
Wed., April 1 - 7:00 to 9:00
Sat., April 4 10:00 to noon
at B. M. & G. Community Centre
Consideration will be given to hard ball for
Squirt boys if enough interest is shown
A $35. uniform deposit will be required
(post-dated cheque Sept. 30/98)
to be returned at end of season with return of uniform.
For information on umpiring or registration
or if interested in joining executive contact
John Harrison 887-9865.
Celebration time
The Blyth Bantams took to the ice literally to celebrate their hard-fought OMHA chamionship
victory over Woodville on Sunday. In a game at home the team quashed their opponents 5-
3 after winning the previous two games.
Bantams win OMHA in 3
This past weekend was indeed a
golden moment in the history of
Blyth Minor Hockey as both the
Midget and Bantam Bulldogs
claimed OMHA All-Ontario
Championships.
Blyth's All-Ontario crown now
stands at four as these two teams
join the 1971-72 PeeWees and the
1992-93 Bantams as having the
distinction of bringing provincial
championship honours to the
village of Blyth.
The Midget Bulldogs completed
their undefeated playoff run in
Thornbury on Friday night as they
claimed the OMHA All-Ontario
Midget 'E' Championship with a
convincing 7-2 drubbing of Beaver
Valley. Although it took the team a
period and a half to get untracked,
they broke the game open with
three goals in the final three
minutes of the second period to
take a 5-2 lead after two frames.
Two late third period goals
completed the rout and gave Blyth
their first Midget All-Ontario
Championship.
Many local fans made the trek to
Thornbury for the game and
watched as Kyle Anderson, with an
unassisted powerplay goal, scored
the only goal in a tight, tentative
first frame.
Darryl Bromley increased the
lead to 2-0, 14 seconds into the
second stanza topping in Mike
Ansley's low point drive. Blyth
watched as Beaver Valley played
desperation hockey and tied the
game 2-2 before the period's
midway point.
The Bulldogs created some
extended offensive pressure
resulting in their three goal
explosion late in the second.
Bromley and Ansley teamed up for
the eventual winning goal as again
Bromley tipped in Ansley's low,
point blast with just under three
minutes showing on the clock.
Darryl Postma set up the insurance
goal with one and a half minutes
left as Mike Haggitt deked his way
through the Beaver Valley defence
and put the puck past the helpless
puckstopper.
Postma and Ansley teamed with
Jeff Cowan in the final minute as
Cowan gave Blyth a 5-2 lead with a
beautiful backhand shot to the top
corner.
Two late third period goals by
Cowan completed his hattrick and
gave Blyth their final 7-2 margin of
victory. Cory Bragg assisted on
Cowan's first of the period while
Anderson assisted on the final goal
of this championship game.
Coach Doug Chamney said,
"This game was about more than
goals and assists however as each
player played to his capabilities and
helped out in all areas of the ice."
Goaltender Scott Bromley was
named series MVP by his
teammates as he allowed only six
goals against in this three-game
sweep. The defence, consisting of
Ansley, Bragg, Postma and Jamie
Black, played rock-solid
defensively throughout and chipped
in with some timely goals as well.
Cowan and Haggitt were top goal
scorers throughout the season,
helped by the corner work and
passing skills of their wingers,
Chris Carter, Mike Courtney,
Anderson, Bromley, Steve
Oldfield, Jon Kochis, Darrell
Garrets and until he was injured,
Corey Campbell. 'The Bear, David
Craig, steadily improved
throughout the season and
contributed on the ice and in the
dressing room when asked.
Said Coach Chamney, "These
guys bought into the system of
passing and team discipline. That
was the main reason they beat
Walpole Island and Beaver Valley
and arc very much deserving of the
title of All-Ontario Champions."
Coach Wayne McDougall added,
"This team has had moderate
success over the years. The
addition of Gerrits from Clinton
and the 'Three Amigos' from
Brussels, Bragg, Campbell and
Oldfield, gave the team the extra
size and skill needed to become
Champions."
"It's been a long season," said
Manager Allan Craig, "but all the
work is worthwhile when we see
the players commit to a common
goal. We knew early on that this
team had potential and all the
pieces fell into place as the season
wore on."
Captain Mike Ansley, who
accepted the Harold Luke Trophy
on behalf of his teammates,
summed up the team's feelings,
"We've played for this moment
since we first joined Blyth Minor
Hockey. This feels great and we
have our parents, our many fans as
well as our coaches to thank for
helping us reach our goal. We will
forever be All-Ontario
Champions."
Trainers Terry Rutledge and
Gord Haggitt also must be thanked
for their contributions throughout
the season.
As well as their team trophy, all
team members received
championship medallions. The
Blyth community can truly be
proud of this team and the way they
conducted themselves throughout
the season, said the coaching staff.
The Blyth Bantam Bulldogs are
the OMHA Bantam E Champions.
Blyth became champions by
defeating Woodville 5-3 Sunday
afternoon in Blyth. They won this
series in three games straight, with
earlier wins of 3-2 and 4-2.
The OMHA title completed a 13-
0 run through the playoffs and
capped a dream season of 39 wins
and four losses.
Blyth did it the tough way.
Woodville scored the only goal of
the first period and again early in
the second to take a 2-0 lead.
Shawn Bromley got Blyth on the
board five minutes into the second
frame tipping in a pass from Adam
Anderson and Joel Arthur. Thirty
seconds later Arthur on passes from
Craig Marks and Tyler Stewart
outskated the Woodville team and
scored on a breakaway to deadlock
the score.
Before the period ended, Matt
Anderson gave Blyth the lead
PeeWees
lose
to Bothwell
Since the Blyth PeeWee Bulldog
Reps WOAA win, they went on to
play a very tough Bothwell team in
the OMHA semi-finals.
Bothwell beat the Blyth boys in a
three-game sweep, by scores of 6-
2, 6-1 and 6-2.
The Bulldogs put up a valiant
fight each game, but could not put
the puck past the Bothwell goalie
often enough.
All the parents would like to
congratulate the boys on their
successes this year. They came a
long way from the start of the
season.
finishing off great corner work
from Nathan Shannon and Derek
Cook.
Woodville started the third
period on a powerplay and needed
only 15 seconds to tie the game at
three. Instead of folding, Blyth
showed their typical grit and 12
seconds later Cook scored on a
dump in from Marks with great
work from Anderson behind the
net.
Dave Ansley increased the lead
to 5-3 potting a goal, assisted by
Ethel Minor Ball
Registration
at the
Ethel Fire Hall
Sat., April 4
1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Thurs., April 9
7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
or phone Brenda
at 887-6153 or
Dianne at 887-9442
ot evrasevrTn
Anderson and Cook, with 10
minutes to go in the third period.
Blyth held Woodville in check
the remainder of the game to win 5-
3.
Again, Dean Wilson came up big
in the Blyth net to keep the
Bulldogs in the game.
Thank You
The Blyth Bantams would
like to thank Linda Kirby and
Aubrey Toll for the singing
of the National Anthem at
the opening ceremonies.
The Village Eatery, Pauline
and Mike for the pizza.
Grant and Steven Sparling
and The Blyth Fire Dept. for
the Victory Parade. The
Ansleys for hosting the
Victory Party. Our coaches
Don "Barney" Stewart, John
Stewart, Rod Ansley and
Rob Finch. Our parents who
supported us all year and a
big thank you to all our fans
who cheered us on to
Victory of the OMHA
BANTAM E FINAL.
Thank you for your support
The Blyth Bantams