The Lucknow Sentinel, 1975-11-12, Page 9Tlirougelh the
SPORTS GATE
by Jack Outecilliff
Sports Ildlter
Look who's here!
What could be the most exciting thing to happen to
junior A hockey in St. Catharines since Marcel. Dionne -
left (1971) is about, to take place.
Andy Whitby is signed, sealed and delivered to the
St. Catharines Black Hawks and will play here tonight
against Hamilton. Fineups.
That question doesn't
have to be answered for
anyone who has followed
junior A hockey, even ca-
sually, in Ontario the past
three or four years.
Perhaps •the native of
Lucknow gained, his grea-
test notoriety in St. Cath-
arines during the first
round of the playoffs in
1973-74.
Sure the Hawks ne-
ver lost a game but- the
most colorful player of
the series was little 5 ft.
7 in., 130-pound Andy
Whitby.
The vast majority of
the Generals were beaten
before that round started
and their top scorer and
captain Bill Lochead
(recently demoted to the
Andy Whitby minors by Detroit Red
Wings) was so terrified of
Hawks' Wilt Paiement that the only goal he scored was
one which caromed in off the seat of his pants while he
was trying to protect himself in front of the St. Cath-
arines net.
One grimace from the well-Muscled Mr. Paiement in
that series — which'was the best he ever played for the,
Hawks — was enough to send the Generals into- an in-
stant state of shock.
All but Andy Whitby that is.
• One-man team
If there ever was a one-man team the week the
Hawks met the Generals in the spring of 1974, that young
man was Mr: Whitby. ,.
He 'just never stopped trying.
Andy Was ahnost a combination of former limits'
Dionne, Bobby Sheehan and a dash of Johnny McKenzie.
But before putting him on the spot let's set the record
straight. He's good but can't be expected to match the
skills of those' mentioned above.
Against the Hawks he seemed to be in six places
simultaneously, bouncing like a rubber ball off players,
boards, goal posts and, often, into the penaky. box.
"I guess that was the year I bad 20 goals and 20
assists," said Whitby!.
Penalties? "Well it was something between 240 and
250 minutes," `he said with a gap in his front teeth which
proved . he, received as well as gave punishment.
With the possible exception of Loa Nistico of Low
don Knights Whitby was the most interesting player to
watch in the league which, at that time consisted of it .
teams.
"I‘o be sure he wasn't the most talented but what the
btek — people don't go to hockey games just to , watch
the smoothie& There is equal enjoyment seeing .a youngs-'.
ter like Whitby playing 120 per cent of his ability every
shift of every game.
• Last season.things didn't go that well for Andy.
In the 14th game.of the schedule he was making one
of his customary mad dashes down the right side when
he was caught by a' legal hip check from Black Hawk
defenceman Ken Breitenbaeh.
"It was clean and didn't even rate a penalty," said
Andy who watched the Hawk-Ottawa game here this Stet-
Andy who, you say?
, .
6,,..
.\ ik
t,t, '7
• Andy '..Goes To St. Catharines . Black .110/ks,
day from the press box. "The only problem was that I
twisted the knee when I went into the boards and I knew
right away it was damaged."
Out for rest o season
Whitby was taken to the dressing room, then helped
onto the bus later.
He reported to the Oshawa hospital the next day and
the diagnosis was torn knee ligament&
Andy went under the knife, sat out eight weeks while
the damage mended, then turned out for practice.
"My second workout Vic Sirko and I were horsing
around, I slipped and the knee went again," said Andy.
"It was back in the hospital, the identical operation
again on the same knee and he didn't play again in the
schedule or •playoffs.
Despite his suspect knee Whitby was so highly-
rated by scouts that he was drafted by the NHL Buf-
falo Sabres ninth and by the 'MIA Denver. Spurs
eighth. g However he was unable to report to either mp as
the knee still hadn't mended completely. He admits
though that' he would prefer to play in the NHL "but I'd
take the WHA if I didn't Ihink I had a good shoat at
making a regular spot in the National . League."
Andy played a few games this season, with the Gener-
als but Oshawa is apparently On a youth kick at the
moment and, as an over-age/ junior (he'll be 21 next
February) didn't fit into their/plans.
He also said, there was "a personality conflict" be-
tween him aid manager-coach Gus Bodnar but declined
to elaborate.
- •
He , enjoys St. Catharines
Andy is living at the Queensway temporarily until a
boarding house 'can be found., (He's settled in welt 'as he
walked out of the rink Sunday with a girl on his arm.)
"I've always liked playing here," he said. "St. Cath-
arines fans hated me more than any other rink in which
I played and that just made me go harder.
"In fact I enjoyed playing against. Paiement. He was,
a.challenge, Maybe that's why. I was noticed so much in
the playoffs." -
As for his knee, the boyish-looking 20-year-old with
the off-blond hair and hazel eyes — to say nothing of legs
like the trunks of giant redwood trees — he insists that
'it's as sound as ever.
"I've really given it a test," he. said. "The oper-
ations, I'm sure have corrected the problem, and I just
hope I can help the team. They're a good. bunch of
guys and get along better than the Generals?'
Ask us the name of one player on any other team
we'd like' to see in a St. Catharines uniform and we'd say
Andy Whitby.
He'll make the dullest game brighten up and turn an
ordinary night into one to remember.
He'll be worth money in the bank, goals in the net,
yes, a few penalties too, as .he is certain to' fill a good
many of the empty seats.
1 •
• \
4‘,
lost
!ars
fra
!low
gh single
Ingle and
dy Ackert
n Stanley
Cardinals
awks 22,
ardinals 4:
d.
ling
this week
th a single
4.
s high for
f 169 and
Oranges
, Blues 0,
ellows 34,
, Reds 20,
VIDE
EWS
llection of
ow Guide
Mrs. Dan
iris decide
heir patrol
iris checked
next week
be in the
kit. Mrs.
the Guides
d in a first
used in the
for . Guide
larch in the
rade. Lori
e' Kirkland
he flags and
the wreath.
with Taps.
Andy Whitby, a product of
Lucknow Minor Hockey ranks and a
son of Mrs. Sid Whitby of
Licknow, has been signed as an
over-age junior to play this year •
with St. Catharines Black 'Hawks.
The welcome mat is out for Andy
in that city as yoiced by the sports
editor of the St. Catharines
Standard, Jack Gatecliff.
Thanks to Cliff MacMillan of St.
Catharines, formerly of Lucknow.
The article made its -way to the
Sentinel desk, delivered personally
by Cliff. It read as follows.
Ripley W.I.
The Ripley Women's Institute
was held Friday, November 7, in
the Legion • Hall with tea and
dessert. The roll call was answered
by different ways you like milk.
Mrs. Jack McLean, announced
that $482.00 was collected for the
blind, an increase over last year.
A report on 'the Rally that was
held at Whitechurch' was capably
given by Mrs. Amelia MacLeod.
153 attended the meeting.
Miss Barbara Schorff received
the scholarship award in Bruce
Centre. Miss Ann Judd, speaking
on Women's Rights, was very
interesting.. The Legion banquet
was discussed for November 15.
The Area Convention was held in
Owen Sound on November 3, 4.
Mrs. Amelia, MacLeod, Mrs. Fran-
cis Gemthell and Mrs. Jim Kirkpat-
rick went from Ripley. Mrs. Fran-
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Ask me for details.
Wm. J. Kinahan
PHONE 3.574917 R.R. 2 LUCKNOW
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THAT WE
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UNIVERSE.
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From Beyond
The Grave
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1975 ° THE iMactiow.satomEL :INCKNOW, ONTARIO MI MINI
Lucknow Arena
News
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13
4:30 - 7:30 p.m. Figure Skating
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15 •
2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Public Skating
7:00' p.m! Flea Game
Lucknow vs Ripley
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16
1:30 - 3:15 p.m. Public Skating
8:00 p.m. Intermediate Game
Lucknow vs Goderich
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17
4:30 - 7:30' p.m. Figure Skating
7;30 - 8;30 p.m. Atom Game
Lucknow vs Tiverton
8:30 p.m. Bantam Game
Lucknow vs Tiverton
emommmom...•
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER IS
1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Mothers and Tots
cis Geminell was chairlady for part
of the convention. The theme was,
Challenge for To-morrow. 375
registered the first day, It was
suggested that we send S3.00 to the
convention, from South branch
instead of gift.
Mrs. Grace Peet then introduced
Mrs. Gladys Colwell who is one of
the leaders of the 4-H and they are
teaching "A Touch of Stitchery" to
the class 'of girls. She explained _a
few of the things they are learning'.
Mrs. Peet had a demonstration on
cooking things with eggs and milk
which was much enjoyed. Mrs.
Reg Moore thanked all who took
part.