HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2006-01-04, Page 12Page 12 January 4, 2006 • The Huron Expositor
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Egmondville's McGrath makes wise
choice returning to Wingham Ironman
Jeff Heuchert
Switching leagues to return for a
third season with the Wingham
Ironmen of the Western Junior C
Hockey League, is shaping up to
have been a. very good decision for
Greg McGrath of Egmondville.
The Ironmen are currently 24-4,
and atop the league standings, with
only nine games remaining in the
regular: season.
McGrath, age 20, says he expected
the Ironmen to be as good as they
are before the season even started.
"I'm not really surprised. We've
had a really strong team the last
few years," he says.
"We have four strong lines, and
when we all work together we have
great chemistry."
Last season the Ironmen were
league champions, and lost in the
semi finals of the All -Ontario play-
offs.
This eason, much
of the onmen team
has s ayed intact,
with th%' majority of
new players arriving
last season.
McGrath decided
to return to the
Ironmen after play-
ing one season with
the St. Mary's
Lincolns in the
Western Junior B
Hockey League,
mainly because of
one -reason.
He wanted to be
eligible to play for the Ironmen next
season. The rules. state that to play
Junior C hockey at the age of 21,
you must have played with that
team for at least the previous sea-
son.
McGrath says there are some big
Greg McGrath
differences between
the . two levels of
hockey.
"The big
change (in Junior C)
from Junior B is it is.
not as fast; but it's
more aggressive," .he
says.
He adds that
there is also more
checking, than stick
work.
Playing
defence has not lent
itself to many scor-
ing opportunities for
McGrath, but that's
fine with him.
He says his point total is not
what's important.
"Pima defensive defenceman," he
says.
Through the 27 games McGrath
has played in, he has tallied only
Jeff Heuchert photo
Left to right: Shawn Moore of Benmiller, Richard Haney of Seaforth, and Matt Huether of Seaforth,
all attempt to take control of the puck as it's up in the air. The three were taking part in a scrim-
mage game at the Seaforth arena Dec. 29 as part of the hockey school.
three assists.
And while McGrath says he would
like to contribute more points for
the team, he is credited with an
impressive plus/minus of 21.
Plus/minus is the difference
between the number of goals scored
by the Ironmen, to the numberof
goals the other team has scored,
while McGrath is on the ice.
His 42 penalty minutes places him
fifth on the team, but that's nothing
alarming to McGrath.
"I've been known to get penalties
in the past," he says, adding that his
job is to hold the other team from
getting to the net.
McGrath says he expects the team
to finish high in the playoffs, but
says it is going to be tough, especial-
ly with the Kincardine Bulldogs
only seven points behind in the
standings.
Scoreboard
HOCKEY
Atom II Local League
Dec. 27
Exeter Tournament
Seaforth 4
St. Mary 0
Goal scorers: Luke Melady, Owen
Taylor, Michael Kramers, Scott
Malone -
Coaches' comments: Shutout Zac
Vulders
Seaforth 3
South Huron 2
Goal scorers: Owen Taylor, Matt/
Coyne, Darcy Williamson
"A" CHAMPIONSHIP
Pt. Edward 3
Seaforth 1
Goal scorer: Matt Coyne
Coaches' Comments:
Tremendous effort from all players
to reach the A finals.
Tyke
The Tykes played in Strathroy this
week and met some tough competi-
tion and lost three close games.
Great round robin tournament
with four evenly matched teams.
Bradley Vincent played goal for all
three games.
Dec. 27
Mount Brydges 7
Seaforth 5
Goal scorers: Jake Finlayson 3,
Kasey Harrison, Jack Henderson.
Dec. 28
Point Edward 5
Seaforth 4
Goal scorer: Liam Melady 4
Dec. 29
Overtime Loss
Ilderton 3
Seaforth 2
Goal scorers: Jacob Campbell,
Holdyn Lansink
Pee Wees
Dec. 28
Seaforth 1
Drayton 8
Goal scorer. Dean Johnston
Dec. 20
Blyth 3
Seaforth 3
Goal Scorers: Alex Melady, Luke
Harrison, Dean Johnston
Dec. 23
Seaforth 5
Mitchell 4
Goal Scorers: Paul Doig 2, Alex
Melady, Scott Selvey, Dean
Johnston