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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2005-02-10, Page 9THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2005. PAGE 9. Jim Brown Jim Class Wheeler tied for first in GAA How about hyping the Grey Cup The Canadian Football League is unique in North America. Not only that, it’s Canadian. The CFL has been around longer than the NFL, and the Grey Cup is one of the oldest competitive trophies in North America, along with the Stanley Cup, the Memorial Cup (both hockey) and the America’s Cup (yachting). And, what do Canadians think about the CFL. Apparently they’d rather lose it and have Canadian cities, especially Toronto, compete in the NFL. After all, the NFL competes for the Super Bowl, which is the most watched event on television. A 30-second commercial on the big game cost $2.4 million. With New England winning its third Super Bowl in four years they are probably considered a dynasty. And, with a 24-21 decision over Philadelphia, it was probably one of the better games played in the 39- year history of the event. If Canadian brewing companies, large and small, spent as much money on the Grey Cup game as they do the Super Bowl, the CFL would not be beset by financial difficulties and the league could even expand. During the past number of years, the CFL has talked about expansion. While the Maritimes seems to be the number one destination for a IOth team in the league, other cities mentioned most recently include Quebec City and London. The only drawback is that none of the three locations has an ideal stadium, although if the Maritimes were awarded a franchise there has been talk of getting a proper stadium within five years either in Halifax or Moncton. Halifax would be the ideal location, with its larger population base, but Moncton is more centrally situated. The CFL evolved from the game of rugby and there is still evidence of that around, at least there has been in the recert past. There was a senior football league in the province called the Ontario Rugby Football Union. At one time there was the ORFU and the Northern ORFU. I remember teams from North Bay, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie and Kirkland Lake competing in the NORFU. I first remember North Bay being called the Rough Riders, but then become the Tiger Cats. However, in the early 1970s, the East York Argonauts were added to the NORFU schedule as they did not have a league to play in. Who knows from where the NFL evolved — perhaps European football (soccer), hence the 11 players. Back in the 1960s, the CFL was divided into two divisions and did not play an inter-locking schedule. There was the Big Four league — Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal and the Western Canadian Football League — Winnipeg, Saskatchewan, Calgary, Edmonton and British Columbia. The CFL has withstood difficulties in the past and hopefully will withstand this crazed notion, mostly from people in Toronto, that the NFL should expand to the Ontario capital. Although the overall attendance for the CFL has been on the increase in recent years, the game is more widely accepted and promoted in Western Canada than it is in the east. But, if Canadians aren’t careful, this unique Canadian game will go the way of the Quebec Nordiques, the Winnipeg Jets, the North Bay Centennials, the team behind the Avro Aero and the dinosaur. After not playing for seven consecutive games, Brook Wheeler of Brussels came up big for the Colgate Raiders as they played the seventh ranked Mercyhurst on Sunday. Wheeler turned aside 43 shots, including a pair of third-period breakaway opportunities, to backstop the Colgate women’s hockey team to a 3-0 decision over Mercyhurst. The day before, Mercyhurst ran its win streak to eight games, with a 4-1 decision over the Raiders. Mercyhurst became the third ranked school the Raiders have been able to defeat. Against ranked teams, the Raiders are 3-9-1, having defeated Providence, Brown, Mercyhurst and playing Princeton to a draw. With the BROOK WHEELER win, Colgate improved to 12-13-2. The weekend effort moved Wheeler, a sophomore, into a two- way tie for first place amongst ECAC goaltenders with a goals-against average of 1.70. She shares the mark with junior Roxanne Gaudiel of Princeton. Junior Kate Lane Dartmouth is eighth with a GAA of 2.16. Wheeler is first for save percentage at .947 and is ninth in winning percentage at .455. She has recorded three shutouts. / With their 1.70 GAA, Wheeler and Gaudiel are tied for fifth nationally, and Wheeler has the second best save percentage in the country. Novice Bulldogs win 2 of 3 The Blyth Novice Bulldogs won two of the three games played in league competition last week. After suffering a 10-4 setback at the hands of Milverton on Jan. 31, the Novices edged past Minto 3-2 in a game played at the Blyth and District Community Centre last Thursday then romped to an 8-0 decision over host Wingham on Sunday. Alex Peters and Trystan Weber scored three goals apiece in the decision over Wingham. Spencer Stevenson scored twice and added an assist. Dylan Bromley and Wyatt Carey had two assists apiece, with Mike VanWyk earning one helper. Peters scored two goals, including the winner with under four minutes to play in the game, as the Novices edged Minto 3-2 on Feb. 3. Dalton Richmond netted the first goal for Blyth. Earning single assists were Braydon Whitfield, Weber, Carey, Mike VanWyk and Matt VanWyk. Dalton Carey earned the victory in the Blyth goal. Peters scored three goals in the loss to Milverton in a game played in Milverton. Bromley had a goal and two assists, with Wyatt Carey and Stevenson each collecting a pair of helpers. Richmond and Whitfield had one assist apiece. Matt VanWyk took the setback in the Blyth goal. Brussels Midgets lose in OT The Brussels Midgets find themselves down by one game after losing 4-3 in overtime to Zurich in game three of their WOAA semi-final series. The game was played Sunday evening at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre. Game four in the series was played last night. Wednesday, in Zurich, with game five, if necessary, going Sunday at 6:30 p.m. in Brussels. The teams were deadlocked at 1-1 after the first period, with Chase Chapman scoring for Brussels, with help from Greg Bowers and Tate Stephenson. Brent Wheeler gave Brussels a 2-1 lead in the second period, with the assists going to Chris Jutzi and Shayne Cochrane. Matt White made it 3-1 for Brussels in the opening minute of the third period. Wheeler earned the assist. Zurich scored with more than five minutes in the game and then netted the equalizer with 1:15 remaining in regulation time. The winning goal was scored a 1:50 of the 10-minute overtime period. * • Licensed Septic Installations 4 • Screened A Field Topsoil 4 Bark Mulch • Sand • Gravel Fill * Backhoeing * Bulldozing’ • Excavating < ■ * Loading A Hauling m John McKercher Construction Ltd. UANDRIEL EXCAVATING Inc. • Excavating • Bulldozing • Backhoeing • Trim Dozer Trucking • Loader Rental • Skid Steer • Mini Excavator We are Suppliers of: Gravel, top soil, stone, sand, fill & compost Broomball The Rebels scored a 2-1 decision over the Yogis in women’s division playoff action of the Blyih Broomball League last Thursday evening at the Blyth and District Community Centre. (Jim Brown photo) Installers of: Septic systems, water lines, sewer lines, farm drainage, open ditches, farm ponds Simon VanDriel - 482-3783 or 1-877-532-4394