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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2004-09-30, Page 8BRUSSELS SKATING CLUB Itroof- Can Skate & Power Skating starts Thursday, October 14 Register today by calling Jacquie at 887-8302 or Corrie at 887-9820 Late fees apply after October 14 PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2004. Sports Wingham Ironmen begin season on positive note By Jim Brown Wingham Advance-Times The Wingham Ironmen began the defence of their Western Junior C Hockey League championship on the weekend on a positive note. The Ironmen opened their 31st season at the North Huron-Wescast Community Complex on Friday evening against the Mount Forest Patriots Following the opening ceremonies. during which the Ironmen unveiled their championship banner and made a cheque presentation to Dave Black of the recreation department for some new nets. the Ironmen jumped out to a quick start, scoring two goals in the first two minutes, then cruised to a 7- 0 win over the Patriots. Kurt Edwards recorded the shutout in the Wingham net. having to make some key saves, although he was not tested that often. On Saturday. the Ironmen travelled to, Erin. for their first interlocking game against teams from the Georgian Bay Mid-Ontario League. Netminder Jason Blinkhorn kept the Ironmen in the first period as they played with no emotion and found themselves trailing the Shamrocks, 1- 0. However, it was a different team that came out for the second and third periods as they rebounded to score a 7-3 decision. Captain Zack O'Krafka had three points in each game on the weekend PeeWee Lakers win 4 of 5 The Huron-Perth Lakers AAA Minor PeeWees put on an impressive performanCe this past weekend team at the London Jr. Knights early bird hockey tournament. Opening the tournament with four straight victories, the locals won their division and advanced to the tournament semi-finals. On the way to winning their division the PeeWee Lakers defeated two American teams heating Rochester. New York 2-1 and the St. Louis Amateur Blues 3- 2. The Lakers went on to score a 3- 2 win over their archrivals from Elgin-Middlesex along with a 1-0 victory over Ajax-Pickering Raiders. After capturing the Division title, the PeeWees were then matched up against the Guelph Junior Storm in the semi-finals. Playing their fifth game in three days, the Lakers found themselves trailing Guelph 3- () in the second period, before mounting a courageous comeback. Unfortunately the Lakers came up short and were defeated by Guelph 1_ 2 The Junior Storm entered the tournament as the defending champions. The next home game for the Lakers Minor PeeWees team is Saturday. Oct. 2 in Monkton at 4:30 p.m. when they take on Hamilton. and holds an early lead in the team's individual scoring race, with six points on two goals and four assists. His linemates. Cole Stewart and Cory Hamilton also enjoyed a big weekend. Stewart had a goal and four assists on the weekend and Hamilton picked up four assists. The offence was spread out in both games. as coach Louie Livingston said they are once again able to roll four lines. with each unit being able to score goals. In Friday's contest, the defence scored the team's first three goals and ended up tallying four of the team's seven goals. Following the opening home game victory, Livingston said he didn't expect such a lack of effort from the Patriots. "They can get explosive offensively." he said. "They can score goals in bunches." He noted it was important for the Ironmen to get goals quickly at the start of the game. but the source of those quick goals was a surprise. "Eddie (goaltender Kurt Edwards) played well for us tonight," stated Livingston following the decision over the Patriots. "He was called upon to make some big saves, although it may not have seemed like it." Wingham outshot Mount Forest 45-36. Matt Rehorst went the distance in goal for the Patriots. Livingston . said the Ironmen's defence played well and the forwards took their time, but were able to show the team's offensive power. . According to the coach, the 'special teams' did an excellent job for the Ironmen, scoring three power play goals and keeping the Patriots' power play off the score board even when playing two men short. "Eddie was definitely the difference when we were on the penalty kill." said Livingston. Matt McCann opened the scoring for the new season, just 57 seconds after the opening .face off. O'Krafka and Hamilton assisted. Fifty-eight seconds later. Devin McGuire gave the Ironmen a 2-0 lead, with Zach Graham getting the assist. With 4:34 left in the opening stanza, Jamie Chester connected for a goal after being set up by Stewart and Hamilton. The Ironmen struggled in the second period as they ran into penalty problems. but Edwards was there to make the saves. With 2:36 remaining in period two, the forwards finally scored as Matt MacPhee found the range behind Rehorst after being set up by Matt Hill and O'Krafka. The Ironmen added three more goals in the third period, before the frame was 10 minutes old. Getting the goals were Ryan Fry from Graham, Joel Hemingway unassisted and 0' Krafka _from Stewart and McCann. The Ironmen lost the services of big Nick Filsinger as he aggravated a groin injury sustained during the summer. In the game in Erin on Saturday. the Ironmen had a bad first period, but were able to stay even with the Shamrocks until late in the opening stanza when Erin took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Jason Davis. "We got off to a bad start in the first penod," said Livingston. "There was just no effort on the part of the players. We talked to the players between the first and second periods, and it was a different Wingham team in the second and third periods. "Blinkey (netminder Jason Blinkhorn) kept us in the game in the first period. He came up with some big saves." The talking-to by the- coaches was evident in the play of the Ironmen when they came out for period two. They were more aggressive on the puck and were finishing their checks. "The effort was back in their play," stated Livingston. After being unable to capitalize on chances in the opening minute of the second period, Hill was doing some forechecking, while killing a penalty, at the Erin blueline and the move paid off as he intercepted a pass. He got in on a break away and beat the goalie on the short side to tie the game at one at 4:19. Erin regained the lead at 8:44 on a goal from Kyle Hotham, but the Ironmen tied the game at two just over two minutes later as Stewart scored with help from linemates Hamilton and O'Krafka. O'Krafka put the Ironmen in the lead at 14:54 of period two, assisted by Stewart and Hamilton. With 2:23 remaining in the period, Williams bulled his way to the front of the net to score what would prove to be the winning goal. Hemingway received the assist. Livingston was pleased with the play of the 'special teams' -- getting a shorthanded marker and two power play goals. "Our penalty killing was sound and our power play was able to capitalize on its chances," he said. The Ironmen started the third period with a two-man advantage for 28 seconds. Thirty-five seconds into the third period, Mike Weber wristed r-- Friday, October 1st, 8:00 Saturday, October 2nd, 8:30 Friday, October 8th, 8:00 Saturday, October 9th, 8:00 Friday, October 15th, 8:30 Saturday, October 16th, 8:30 Saturday, October 23rd, 2:30 0 0 Sunday, October 24th, 1:30 Saturday, October 30th, 8:00 Saturday, November 6th, 8:00 Friday, November 12th, 8:30 Saturday, November 13th, 8:00 Friday, November 19th, 8:30 Saturday, November 20th, 8:00 Friday, November 26th, 8:30 Sunday, November 28th, 7:30 Friday, December 3rd, 8:30 Saturday, December 4th, 8:00 Sunday, December 5th, 1:00 Wednesday, December 22nd, 7:30 - Wednesday, January 5th, 8:30 - Friday, January 14th, 8:30 Sunday, January 16th, 8:00 Friday, January 21st, 8:00 Saturday, January 29th, 8:30 L a shot over the goalie's shoulder after taking passes from O'Krafka and Stewart. Less than four minutes later, Williams netted his second of the game, with assists going to Joel Riley and Chris Stanley. Blake Alton netted his first goal of the season at 7:59 as he banked a shot off the back of the netminder's pads. Graham and McGuire received assists. Seconds after Jesse Leitch missed an open net, Erin's Darren Halls scored to conclude the sconng in the game. Defenceman Chris Stanley played his first game of the season for the Ironmen -- only his second time on skates since the playoffs last season against Grimsby -- and although he only earned a single point he was instrumental in leading a number of rushes up the ice and pitching in to help keep the puck in the Erin zone. Blinkhorn made 25 saves in the Wingham net. Referee Mike McCreary assessed seven minor penalties in the game, four of them.to the Ironmen. The Ironmen have their first three- game weekend, beginning Friday, in Hanover for an 8:30 p.m. contest against the Barons. The Ironmen host the Goderich Sailors on Saturday, beginning at 8 p.m. at the complex and then take the bus to Bradford on Sunday for a 7:30 p.m. contest against the Bulls. Hensall at Wingham Wingham at Lucan-Ilderton (Lucan) Georgian Bay at Wingham Wingham at Shelburne Wingham at Goderich Wingham at Hensall Clinton at Wingham in Blyth Wingham at Lucknow Monkton at Wingham Brussels at Wingham Wingham at Mildmay Durham at Wingham Wingham at Elora Lucan-Ilderton at Wingham Wingham at Milverton Tavistock at Wingham in Blyth Wingham at Monkton Ripley at Wingham Wingham at Listowel Wingham at Brussels Milverton at Wingham Wingham at Clinton Palmerston at Wingham Goderich at Wingham Wingham at Tavistock - - -J What a run At the regional cross country meet at Grey Central Public School, Huron north schools competed in short and long- distance running, relays and other fun activities to pass the day. Denise Thelon grabs a stick which guaranteed her place at the end of a very long race. (Elyse DeBruyn photo) Cut out for future reference WINGHAM SPITFIRES 2004-2005 SCHEDULE