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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-01-14, Page 21Sports Entertainment Birth & Death Notices Church News Sports Edito Gerard Creces email:gsssports@bowesnet.com Wednesday, January 14, 2009 on-line: www.goderichsignalstar.com • Photo by Gerard Creces Greyhound goalie Pat Cronin has to keep a close eye on Richvale's Ken Harrington during the 'AB' finals of the annual Goderich Rec. League tournament. Hockey Nights take straight 'AA's in rec league tourney Gerard Creates signal -star staff For thirty-one years, the annual Rec. League tournament has been taking place on Goderich ice, and this year 16 teams laced up for 28 games of hockey at the Memorial Arena. The tournament ran Fri- day, Saturday and Sunday, Jan 9-11, and saw teams from London, Kitchener, Rich- mond Hill, Exeter, Blyth and Goderich among others take the ice. "We had a good crowd," . said Kins- men treasurer and longtime tournament mainstay Grant Gnay. "The teams really seemed to blend well together." While Goderich fielded the Jets, Grumpy Miners, Nothing Special and the River Rats, Gnay said there were few teams without one or two Goderich influences. "That's a tough number to come up with," he laughed. "About half our teams had some sort of Goderich connection." The tournament sees many repeat visi- tors - from town or otherwise. London and Richmond Hill have been returning for. 10 years to play in the tour- nament, as has Kitchener. And the reason is... "The hockey," Gnay said. "They come down to play some good hockey... have a weekend getaway." With 28 games over two and a half days, there was plenty of good hockey at the Memorial in a short period of time. In the 'AA' division, Exeter provided both teams. Gord Inc. and Hockey Nights squared off after battling through the tournament ranks and in the end, Hockey Night had the extra stamina needed to eke out a 4-3 win. . • It was hard-fought though, with the game going into three-man shoot-outs af- ter a scoreless 10 -minute overtime. It was a chippy game for the 'AB' fi- nal, as the Greyhounds of Blyth defeated Richvale in a heated 5-3 effort. On the 'BA' side, it was all Goderich, with the Jets over Nothing Special, 2-1. Vying for the 'BB' were the Bush- whackers and the Discount. Habs: -The Bushwhackers took the division 5-3. The tournament and dance raised funds for the Goderich Kinsmen Club. Gnay said the money they take in will be going to the Mind and Body campaign, as well as fulfilling the Kinsmen's pledge to the CT Scanner. "It's going back to the community's needs," he said. Gnay said on and off the ice, the players got along very well, and many teams ex- pressed interest in next year's tourney. Gnay said thanks are in order for the many volunteers that helped make the tournament a success, as well as the YMCA staff and the Girl Guides for sell- ing food. The fundraising goal for the tournament is $3,000, and while final figures weren't available as of press time, Gnay said they are confident they met their mark.