HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2005-01-13, Page 8PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 2005.
Sports
Gretzky visits Lakers
The Major Atom Lakers were amazed when Walter Gretzky walked into
their change room preceding their game against the Brantford 99ers, on
Sunday, Jan. 9.
Hugo Maaskant, a Laker parent, arranged the visit,
Gretzky spent the better part of an hour answering the players’ questions,
having his picture taken, and signing memorabilia. His pre-game talk spoke
to the importance of passing the puck, short shifts and always listening to
your coach. Gretzky made sure the kids were aware of how great an
opportunity they have, being able to play such a great game and reminded
them to thank parents often.
The players were receptive and appreciative of Gretzky’s wisdom, but fell
short of his request to let the Brantford 99ers win the game, trouncing them
6-0.
This game extended the Major Atoms unbeaten streak to 10 straight league
games. They are currently leading the Eastern Alliance Division by six
points.
Shelsie Popp scores hattrick
The Blyth Atom Girls had a busy weekend of play. They met up with
Ripley on Saturday, Jan. 9 and gave the m a great game. The team picked up
Heidi Raynard and Shelsie Popp because they were missing three of their
regular squad.
Popp got the hattrick and Raynard popped another one in the net but the
girls just couldn’t pull off the victory. It was 5-4 for Ripley but Blyth’s
closest game yet.
On Sunday, Blyth met up with Walkerton, a very tough competitor. The
team played well. Kelsey Kerr, Courtney Middegaal and Ashley Higgins
were right in there digging for the puck. Alisha Middegaal had a few chances
at scoring, but was unable to get by the Walkerton goalie.
Lauren Cronin, Rebecca Chalmers and Chloe Middegaal showed good
offensive play. Laura Higgins, Justine Reid and Jeanette Plaetzer did their
best to keep moving the puck to the other end.
Jessie Walton had many good saves in net again, but the girls couldn’t beat
the tough Walkerton team. Mikayla Middegaal played her first two games
with the girls on the weekend and did well.
Brussels Novices lose to Milverton
The Brussels Novices were handed a 9-3 setback by the visiting Milverton
squad on Jan. 7 at the Brussels-Morris-Grey Community Centre.
Milverton took a 4-0 lead in the first period and were in front 5-2 going
into the third period.
Brody TenPas had two goals for Brussels, with Anthony Vader adding a
single goal. Earning assists were Brock McLean, Bryce Armstrong and
Taylor Higgins.
Crusaders play
The Brussels Crusaders gave up three goals in the first period on Friday evening as they fell
5-2 to the Mildmay Monarchs in a WOAA Senior Hockey League contest played at the
Brussels-Morris-Grey Community Centre. (Jim Brown photo)
Crusaders fall to Monarchs
Jim
Class
Stanley Cup will not be won
For all intents and purposes, the
2004-05 NHL season will not be
played.
That means that for only the
second time in the 102-year history
of the Stanley Cup, a winner of the
weathered old mug will not be
determined.
The last time, the Stanley Cup
champion was not determined was
way back in 1918-19, just the second
year of the National Hockey League.
The final series- had been started
that season between the Montreal
Canadiens of the NHL and the
Seattle Metropolitans of the Pacific
Coast Hockey Association. The
series was evenly matched, with the
teams splitting four of the five games
and one game tied, when one of the
players (Joe Hall) was stricken with
influenza and died. This was the year
of the last major influenza pandemic,
which killed hundreds of thousands
around the world.
In the early 1920s the NHL
playoffs were threatened after the
Hamilton Tigers finished in first
place in the regular season and were
to receive a bye into the NHL final.
However, a number of players, led
by Red Green, said their contracts
were only good for the regular
season and wanted $200 per player
for the playoffs. The NHL refused
and said the second and third place
teams — Montreal Canadiens and
Toronto St. Pats would play for the
league championship. Montreal won
the series but lost to Victoria in the
Stanley Cup final.
The move by the Hamilton players
was the beginning of the end of
professional hockey in the Steel
City.
Of course, there was the strike 10
years ago which resulted in a
shortened 48-game schedule when
the two sides agreed to an 1 Ith-hour
pact. There won’t be an 1 lth-hour
agreement this year, and the NHL
has cancelled its owners meeting
scheduled for Friday, saying there
were no new proposals being
presented.***
The Canadian Juniors put this
country back on top of world junior
hockey, by totally dominating the
Russians in the final, 6-1.
While Canada had excellent
offensive players, wijhjiifbng two-
way play of the o^feMive stars tike
Sidney Crosby and Corey Perry,
was also the strong forechecking and
defensive zone play which prevented
the Russians as well as other
opponents from having any
sustained attack around the Canadian
net.
Next year could be a problem,
when the the championship is played
in Vancouver as Canada will only
have two players returning from this
year’s roster — one of them being
Crosby
By Jim Brown
Citizen staff
The Brussels Crusaders dug themselves into a hole on
Friday evening against the Mildmay Monarchs and were
unable to recover.
The Crusaders fell behind 3-0 in the first period, and
that proved to be the difference in the game as they
dropped the WOAA Senior Hockey League contest,
played at the Brussels-Morris-Grey Community Centre,
5-2.
Coach Tim Macdonald was not very happy with the
way the team played, especially in the opening 20
minutes.
“We did not play well at all/’ he said following the
contest. “We did not have a very good game.”
Starting goaltender Bryan-Hennessey gave up a couple
of soft goals in the first period and as a result was
replaced by Rob Warwick at the beginning of the second
period.
Warwick played well in the final two periods, and
helped the Crusaders to play even with the Monarchs for
the final 40 minutes.
Macdonald said the coaches are having a tough time to
get the players to adapt to their system.
“We are telling the players to shoot more,” he said.
“They seem to be looking for that final pass to put a
player in the clear.”
When the Crusaders tallied their first goal, a short-
handed effort late in the second period, Macdonald said
they were hoping to build on that in the final period. The
Crusaders were unable to.
Trevor McDonald, Tony Beitz and Wes Deitz did the
scoring for the Monarchs in the first period.
Jeremy Bross made it 4-0 in the second period, before
Darryl Olczak netted the unassisted short-handed goal
with 1:24 remaining in the middle period.
Shawn Detzler tallied the fifth Mildmay marker, with
Mike Oliveira netting the second goal for the Crusaders
at 2:43 of period three, just 37 seconds after Detzler had
scored for the Monarchs. Dwayne Berrigan assisted on
Oliveira’s goal.
Brussels took nine of the 19 minor penalties assessed
by referee David Wahl. Each team received two fighting
majors, with the Monarchs being assessed a 10-minute
misconduct.
The Crusaders are in Monkton on Friday for an 8:30
p.m. game against the Wildcats, then travel to Milverton
on Saturday, for an 8:30 p.m. contest against the 4-
Wheel Drives.
Brett Fischer and Andrew Tait represented the
Crusaders in the WOAA All-Star game played Saturday
in Milverton. The Crusaders were part of the South
Division team as they tangled with the all-stars from the
North Division.
Blyth Mites
tie first game
There was excitement Saturday
morning at the North Huron Wescast
Community Centre.
The Blyth Mites were very keen to
have their first game of the season
against Wingham, With a little
equipment help and a “pep” talk
from their coaches Brian Wightman,
Jeff Howson and Steve Howson they
were off to the ice.
The , game went back and forth.
The score was 4-4, then 5-5. Blyth
continued to play hard chasing the
puck around the ice, no small featt
for three-four- and five-year-olds.
The fans cheered very hard for the
kids and with a few waves to the
crowd they continued to put the
puck in the net.
The final score was 7-7.
The next game is in Zurich
Saturday, Jan. 15. Go Dogs Go!
UANDRIEL EXCAVATING Inc
Installers of: Septic systems, water lines, sewer lines, farm drainage,
open ditches, farm ponds
Simon VanDriel - 482-3783 or 1-877-532-4394
• Excavating • Bulldozing • Backhoeing • Trim Dozer
Trucking » Loader Rental * Skid Steer • Mini Excavator
We are Suppliers of: Gravel, top soil, stone, sand, fill & compost