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Huron Expositor, 2004-12-08, Page 1212 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, Dec. 8, 2004 Sports Local OHL'ers playing in 'mini -NHL' By Jason Middleton Expositor Staff They might not be making the big bucks they'd make playing in the National Hockey League, but two local Ontario Hockey League players say that since a lockout began in the NHL earlier this year their league has helped fill in the void for hockey fans. This season, 18 -year-old hockey players, Tyler Doig, of Seaforth, and Cal O'Reilly, of Brucefield, are facing off in a league known as one of the best amateur leagues in North America. "It's like a mini -NHL right now," Doig said. "If feels pretty good playing in front of a lot of fans. Both players agreed there are more fans coming to watch OHL games during the NHL lockout. "I think it's benefitted a lot of places once people realized there's more likely not going to be a NHL season this year," Doig said. During an OHL game, Doig and O'Reilly said, attendance can range anywhere from 2,000 to 10,000 fans. "It's pretty neat when you play in London with 10,000 fans. It looks like an NHL rink almost," O'Reilly said. "It's a pretty neat atmosphere and it's just.a lot of fun." So far, in his first season in the OHL, Doig has played 27 games for the Guelph Storm and has gotten nine goals and seven assists. "Coining here 1 had a lot of expectations of myself just hoping for a chance to prove that I could play in the league," said Doig. Submitted photo Guelph Storm centre, Tyler Doig, of Seaforth, has played 27 games for the Guelph Storm and has gotten nine goals and seven assists. Seaforth member of Mitchell Meteors scores big at recent regional tourament By Jason Middleton Expositor Staff Seaforth native, Sarah Johnston, helped lead her team, the Mitchell Meteors, to victory at a recent Regional Silver Stick championship tournament as top goal scorer. The Mitchell Scotia Bank Bantam `B' girls hockey team won the regional qualifier recently in Saugeen Shores by sweeping the tournament with a 5-0 record. Johnston, the team's captain and the only Seaforth member of the team, scored two goals in the semi-finals, one in the finals and at least one in the round robin section of the recent tournament. "I think we really did good," Johnston said. "We tried our best." For four years Johnston has been playing hockey and she eventually hopes to a get scholarship to play university hockey. The Mitchell team will head to an International Silver Stick Tournament in Trenton in February. HURON EAST FIRE DEPT. SEAFORTH STATION WOULD LIKE TO THANK KEN ANDERSON SALVAGE FOR HIS DONATION OF VEHICLES TO HELP MAKE THE EXTRICATION COURSE SUCCESSFUL Without Ken's assistance, this course would'not have been possible In his second season of OHL play, O'Reilly, who plays for the Windsor Spitfires, has strapped his skates on for 31 games and has scored 11 goals and has gotten 23 assists. "It's going really well. We're number one in our division, I'm one of the top scorers and I'm getting lots of ice time," said O'Reilly, who was the top rookie point -getter for the Spitfires last year. Although Doig did play in the OHL for a few games last year, he says that playing in the league took a little while to get used to. "It's obviously a few steps above Junior B," he said. "It took a while to get used. to the pace, the size of the guys and how fast the games are. Once you get used to it you can get pretty comfortable with the play." "It's great hockey," O'Reilly, a former player on the Junior B St. Marys Lincolns, said. "It's just a great experience." As for his future, O'Reilly said that he would like to "improve every year and see where it takes me." "It's always been my dream to play pro hockey somewhere and if not the NHL, then in Europe," said O'Reilly. "Definitely the NHL is my top goal." WROOTS STUDIO BOUTIQUE Ceramic Crafts and Gifts Come see our award winning creations featured at the Royal Winter Fair and the CNE We offer plenty of unique gifts for everyone on your list • Ceramic dinnerware and Gifts • Jewellery • Stoneware Castings • Folk Art • Painted Furniture and more 169 Ontario St., Clinton 482-1444 Green Giant Vegtables 341.398mi Tide Laundry Detergent„.vt 1.,y:.699 24-37 USE McCain Juices or Drinks 499 OPEN 'TIL 8PM EDNESDAY DEC. 8, 15 & 22 TO HELP YOU ENJOY THE HOLIDAY SEASON! 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