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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2000-02-02, Page 9THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2000. PAGE 9. Local PeeWee Lakers play in Blyth Tyler Elligscn Editor’s note: The following is part of a feature story on the whole Huron-Perth Lakers hockey system written by Craig Bradford of the Exeter Times-Advocate. The story appeared in the Dec. 22, 1999 issue. WESTERN ONTARIO - The Huron-Perth AAA Lakers hockey system has recovered from the leaks Justin Peters it had last year. Down to four teams last year, the Lakers feature six teams in its fourth season. This year the Lakers put a total of 94 players on the ice compared to last season’s 70. The club had 140 players and eight teams in its inau gural season and in year two, had 110 players and six teams. This season’s teams include Novice, Minor and Major PeeWee, Minor and Major Bantam and Midget. The Midget team is based out of Stratford and is run by a committee of representatives from the Lakers, Stratford Minor Hockey and the Junior ‘B’ Cullitons. The Novice team is new. Lakers President Dick Lord said not every AAA organization has a Novice team. “We are very fortunate in being approached by a great nucleus group to start this age group,” he said. “We look forward to this group moving through the system and being very fine representatives for the Lakers.” Lord said his main goal was to try to keep a strong executive together. Once that was accomplished, the executive aimed to work on market ing the Lakers as an organized and prepared organization. The execu tive also put in place a competent coaching staff. Another goal of Lord’s and his executive is to play the highest level possible while keeping the opportu nity affordable for players and their families. Lord attributes the resurgence in the Laker program to achieving the above goals. There are still hurdles for the Lakers to surmount. Lord said get ting ice time for the Lakers is “always a struggle” since the Lakers are considered an “outside party” or “third in line” by arena boards. Lord said the executive will continue to have a good rapport with arena boards. Other goals for the Lakers include better organization through comput er filing, a quicker response back to sponsors and spreading the work load out among a bigger operating committee. Lord has a positive view of where the Lakers are going. “I believe AAA hockey is estab lished in our zone and is well repre sented,” he said. A number of area players are on the Major PeeWees. MAJOR PEE WEES Coach: Doug Salt of Woodstock; assistant coach Mark Rowe of Goderich, trainer Dave Fischer and manager Tracy Fischer, both of Staffa. Strengths: great goaltending, big defence, fast, shifty forwards and big wingers. Weaknesses: in the first part of the season the inability to stay away from retaliatory penalties; using the defence for more offensive scoring chances. Style of play: nice short passes; keeping all three lanes intact; cycling the puck; crashing the net; reversing the flow. Changes this year: two new defencemen and four new forwards. Challenges: getting used to low scoring games at ‘AAA’ level; play ing hard every shift. Goals: to develop as a team; achieve to the fullest of their ability; making friendships that last a life time; win the Alliance; get to the All-Ontario. Highlights so far: finalists at Little Caesars tournament in Waterloo; finalists at Oshawa Kinsmen tourna ment; defeating Brantford in the Waterloo tourney; taking Compuware to overtime in Oshawa. Players from this area: Tyler Elligscn of Walton - always in the Tight place for a scoring chance. Justin Peters of Blyth - goal tender handles the puck extremely well. GAA 1.87 SV%.910. Joel Riley of Wingham - good shooter and playmaker. Jeff Rowe of Goderich - big strapping defenceman. Perry Bakker of Goderich - great wrist shot, not afraid to go to the net. Shaync Andrews of Clinton - good rushing defenceman. Coaches note: in the regular sea son all the players played fairly (including on the power play and penalty kill). There is no captain (different alternates each game) though each player would be a leader in their home centre. Last word: “The Major PeeWee team is really coming together due to their great work ethic and their willingness to learn. We, as coaches, are really hoping to keep this ball rolling throughout the second half of the schedule and the playoffs. It is a great group of individuals to be associated with and I could only encourage other players in the zone to come out and give it a chance as I don’t feel they would regret their decision. The Pee Wee Lakers are playing the London Junior Knights tonight (Feb. 2) at 7 p.m. in the Blyth Community Centre. Free admission. Busy weekend for Novice Reps It was a very busy and successful weekend for the Blyth Novice Rep squad when they played a league match prior to capturing the B championship in the Ayton-Hor- manby tournament. The team took to the ice in Mil verton Friday night. Milverton struck first, but Blyth evened the tally just 14 seconds later, at 5:53 of the first period on a shot from Brett Courtney. Tony Bean earned the assist. Milverton went up 3-1, before Roman Sturzenegger scored unas sisted at 6:18. Curtis Robertson pulled Blyth back into a tie at 4:44. Sturzeneg ger and Courtney assisted. Blyth went ahead for the first time at 1 1:41 of the third when Bean went in alone. However, the Milverton offense would not be stopped as they hit for two in the last half of the period for the 5-4 win. Blyth travelled to Ayton Satur day to participate in a tournament. Their first opponent, Clifford, was shutout while Blyth notched two. Scorers were Bean and Robertson with each earning an assist on the other’s netter. In their second game, they went up against a tough Wallace team. The opponent got the lead early and never relinquished though Blyth fought back with goals from Robertson and Bean. Lee Watkins got two assists. Blyth’s second goal was scored with 54 seconds left in the third. With just seconds remaining, Blyth pulled the goalie, but could not manage the tie. Wallace went on to win the A championship. Blyth advanced to the B final, meeting Mount Forest. This turned out to be their highest scoring game of the tournament, putting five over the line to Mount Forest’s two. Though Mount Forest got on the board first, scoring at 9:19 and 6:07 of the first, Blyth shut them down after that. Robertson from Bean hit the tar get at 5:30 of the first with Court ney and Bean scoring in the second. An assist went to Johnathon McDowell. Madill Juniors The junior boys basketball squad from F.E. Madill Secondary School in Wingham brought home gold from a Jan. 22 tournament in Guelph. The Mustangs took on Our Lady of Lourdes, Guelph, in the first round of the Centennial invitational 1/2 p R I C E S A L E Sturzenegger and Robertson closed out the scoring in the third. Robertson, Ken Plunkett (two) and Watkins earned assists. There was awesome defense by Matthew Stevenson. Derek Young- blut, Byron Broome and Claren Yuill. Anthony Peters stood between the posts. It was a whole team effort which won Blyth the B title. win tourney B&W Trailblazers VALENTINE’S DAY STEAK BBQ & RADAR RUN Sunday, February 13,2000 at Brussels Clubhouse on Top Trail B108. Radar Run - noon to 4:00 p.m. Dinner - 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., $12.00 per person Advance tickets contact: Bruce, 887-6225; Don, 523-9771; Benny, 887-6918; Lois, 357-4036 tournament, capturing the win in a .tough battle. 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