Huron Expositor, 2006-02-22, Page 8Page 8 February 22, 2006 • The Huron Expositor
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Down two games in the playoffs, confidence
still high in Exeter players from. Seaforth
Jeff Heuchert
After finishing the regular season
on a nine game unbeaten streak,
falling two games behind in their
opening playoff series against the
Lucan Irish, is not what the Exeter
Hawks had in mind.
But, as defencemen Joe Nesbitt
and Darcy McCutcheon, both of
Seaforth, say, "The playoffs are far
from over."
"When we're playing good we can
win. I didn't feel like they (Lucan)
out -worked us," says Nesbitt about
the opening two games.
In fact,
Nesbitt says "I
think we can win
it all."
It's that kind
of confidence the
Hawks have had
to feed off of all
season long.
Injuries have
taken their toll
on the team,
leaving the
bench depleted to
well below the
average of 20
skaters at differ-
ent times.
"We played
with 12 at points
(in the season)
and we're still
playing and still
banging," says
Nesbitt.
McCutcheon
says, if they can
stay healthy and
get on a roll, they
will be tough to
beat.
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"I think we have potential. If we
want to play we can be one of the
best in the league," he says.
And, while Nesbitt and
McCutcheon did not like seeing
their teammates injured, it did pro-
vide them with the .opportunity for
more ice time.
Nesbitt says at the beginning of
the season the coaching staff asked
him to step up and be a leader for
the younger players on the team.
Nesbitt did just that, being hon-
oured as the Most Valuable:.
Defenceman in his division, for the.:
second year in a row.
He finished tied for sixth in -the
league for points by a defenceman,
with eight goals, 24 assists for 32
points.
He was also voted onto the mid-
season All-Star team, but, passed
up the opportunity so that a
younger player on the team could go
instead.
Also earning a trip to the All-Star
game, McCutcheon says modestly,
"My play was not too bad."
"I played solid defensively - I kept
the puck out of the net," he says.
McCutcheon finished with four
goals, nine assists for 13 points.
He says if their first two playoff
games have taught them anything,
it's that you cannot underestimate
any team in the playoffs.
"We give them (Lucan) a lot of
respect. Just because they're lower
(in the standings) we still knew it
was going to be
tough," he says.
Nesbitt says
the team. is
fueled by their
desire to not,
just advance to `.
the second
round, but by
whom they could
play if they get
there.
"(The Mitchell
Hawks) put us
out last year and
they've had
bragging rights
all year," he
says, adding
that they'd love
to exact some
revenge on
Mitchell, most
notably on the
four Seaforth-
area players on
the team.
With Game 3
in their playoff
series with
Lucan going
tonight, Nesbitt
says they are
confident they can make a come-
back, as long as they stay healthy.
"We know if we can be 100 per
cent, easily, we can take it. If we
look after ourselves, we can do it."
EXETER
HAWKS
Joe Nesbitt;
Darcy
McCutcheon
Scoreboard
SHUFFLEBOARD
Feb. 15
Men's high: Hank Dorssers 5 wins
Ladies high: Grace Corbett 4 wins.
it" ALS LABORATORY GROUPA
Drinking Water Testing
Do you own/operate a public facility and provide drinking water to the public?
(Church, Community Centre, Restaurant, Motel, Bed & Breakfattt, Gas/Service Station, Campground/Trailer
Park, Resort, Sports Complex)
Does the Safe Drinking Water Act (Regulation 252/05) affect you?
For more Information, please contact Darlene or Dan at:
ALS Laboratory Group -London
309 Exeter Road, Unit 29
London, ON, N6L 1C1
Phone: 519-652-6044 Toll Free: 1-800-668-9878
Webslte: www.envirotest.com
BOWLING
Seniors
Feb. 17
Men's high single: Steve Hook 233
Men's high triple: Steve Hook 567
Men over 200: Steve Hook 233, Claude Stewart
203, Hank Dorssers 202.
Men over 600: none
Women's high single: Grace Corbett 195
Women's high triple: Grace Corbett 539
Women over 175: Grace Corbett 195, Shirley
Stewart 188, Anne Copeland 175
Women over 500: Grace Corbett 539
See SCOREBOARD, Page 9