HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-12-16, Page 31Sports
Entertainment
Birth & Death
Notices
Church News
Sports Editor Gerard Cr ,i ,�► wesnet.com
; ^°8 Y 3 ..?iza 4 A-.: `ar.'
- :i.. wc..T.ca..,...... x;
The Goderich Signal -Star
.::
"edries ay, december 16, 2009
on-line: www.goderichsignalstar.com
Bazinet behind the bench for rest of season
Gerard creme
signal -star staff
The Goderich Pirates are looking to
benefit from a three-week hiatus fol-
lowing an eight -game winless streak
and the resignation of head coach, Gra-
ham Hamilton.
General manager .for the senior 'A'
club, Trevor Bazinet, has stepped up
into the coach's role, and said the game
is very different behind the bench.
"You're definitely involved in the
game a lot more," he said. "Keeping
things going, making sure you had the
best guys on the ice."
At home on Friday night, the Pi-
rates took on the first -place Tilsonburg
Thunder, netting just two of 13 power
play attempts in a 7-3 loss.
"When you receive that manx chanc-
es on the power play, you've got to
make your percentages better," Bazinet
said. "Tilsonburg showed why they are
in first. They take advantage of other
people's mistakes."
Dave Meriam notched three points
with a goal and two assists, while Matt
MacPhee and James Gartshore each
found the mesh on the power play in
the first period.
In Milverton Saturday, Bazinet said
a short bench and a lax approach after
the first period saw a 2-0 lead reduced
to a 6-4 loss for the Pirates.
Dave Little opened the Pirates' scor-
ing assisted by Mike Gillen on the
breakaway, followed up by Scott Ja-
mieson. Both goals were short-handed
and Bazinet said a more aggressive
penalty -kill line was proving effective.
"It was nice to see (Jamieson) score,"
Bazinet said. "He's been in a slump for
a while."
In the second period, the Four -
Wheel -Drives kicked in, scoring three
unanswered goals in the second and
three more in the third.
Rounding out the Pirates' scoring
were Sean Burton on the powerplay,
assisted by Jamieson and Gillen, and
Gillen off Burton.
The troubled Pirates are sitting at
3-12 this year, and Bazinet said the
season does not reflect 'the talent be-
hind the bench. However it is a build-
ing year for the club, with a mix of
seasoned vets and new players. Bazinet
said one of his biggest challenges will
be to get some lines set and build on
the team's chemistry heading into their
post -holiday, pre -playoff stretch.
"For us to be 3-12 right now, I
wouldn't have expected," he said.
"We're better on paper than our record
shows. We have to try and be more of
a team."
Photo by Denny Scott
James Gartshore makes the transition from defence to offence Friday night, trying to stuff one past Bryan Hince of the
Tillsonburg Thunder at the MRC. Gartshore played "his best game of the year" against Milverton Satruday, according to
general manager and interim head coach, Trevor Bazinet.
A strong performance by the check- away from the .rink and get ready to
ing line Milverton helped out, as did go in the New Year," Bazinet said. He
the decision to move James Gartshore said he hopes the team comes out of the
to forward from his defensive role. gate ready for action in the New Year to
"Gartshore played his best game of avoid ending up in the `B' division:
the year," Bazinet said. On the slate for the Pirates' last five
'A couple of late additions to the regular season games are a couple of
team's defensive lineup will see local matches against the Clinton Radars and
boy Devin Johnston and Adam Rudd of a `make -or -break' game against Thed-
Niagara Falls beefing up the point. ford.
"We've got our work cut out for us - "We're trying to keep everything
we're off three weeks, take some time positive, even though we lost eight in
a row," Bazinet said. "It's frustrating
losing, but going into this weekend...
there were a lot of things that will carry
us forward going into the New Year."
Meanwhile, the search continues for
a new head coach. Bazinet will com-
plete the remainder of the season be-
hind the bench, however the club has
stated it will begin searching for a new
coach for next year at the end of this
season.