Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1983-03-30, Page 10Times -Advocate, March 30, 1983 Sports Spotlight By Ross Haugh Ballard unpopular in Saskatoon Harold Ballard .has managed to get his Toronto Maple Leafs into the Stanley Cup playoffs, but, that's not the only news the 'controversial Leaf owner is generating these days. We are just back from a six day holiday in Saska- toon and Harold is becoming a household name in the Saskatchewan city. Maybe he is being treated morelike the garbage in the household. When Bill Hunter made his first moves to buy the St. Louis Blues and move the NHL 'franchise to Saska- toon, Ballard was quick to say where is Saskatoon? and one would need a dog sled to get there. Some of the fans and there ate many rabid NHL fans in Saskatoon are getting back at Ballard. We saw a number of bumper stickers reading, "Who is h--- is Harold Ballard?" In addition, a Hate Harold Ballard fan club has been organized, The membership fee is five dollars and all the money is being donated to one of Saskatoon's three hospitals. • , With a delay of some six weeks since Hunter made his bid to the Ralston -Purina company of Sl. Louis for the.Blues, some of the enthusiasm in Saskatoon is wear- ing a bit thin... We talked to a numher of Saskatoon fans and read several copies of the Saskatoon Star Phoenix about the hockey situation and the reaction is now a bit mixed. The following few paragraphs are from a column written by Phoenix Star columnist Dave Komosky. • "A snag that has dragged on in St. Louis for six weeks is slowly dissipating the NHL dream which was so full of hope in February. But; Hunter has a theory about that, too. "It is always darkest before the storm." New investors are being rounded up in St. Louis to keep the team in Missouri and construction time for the new 1.8,000 seat arena at the north end of Saskatoon is running dangerously tow. Under these circumstances it is difficult :to be positive.' Peter Batoni who has the money in the partnership is not of the Hunter mien. He admited that if negotia- tions for financing can't be completed within the next • two weeks, the whole thing goes under. You won't hear that from Hunter. When pressed for a comment he maintains his sunny.optimism. He will tell you negotiations are continuing and very soon an agreement will. be reached and Saskatchewan can bask in the glory of being part of the NHL. 13ut, the province's hockey fans once optimistic. have turned.t'.)ubtful. They can only live on Dope and promise so long. Now they want results."" We had a. long chat with one of Saskatoon's bus drivers and despite the fact time was running out for at least the 1983-84 season .he was confident an NHL franchise could be successful in his city. • The proposed arena to seat 18;000 spectators would :he built. at the northwest end.of the city, not far from the airport and close to a new bridge which is current- ly under construction to link all parts of the city. Since Hunter made his intentions first known in February more than 15,000 requests have been receiv- ed for season tickets. There are a numher of owners cur- rently in the NIIL would liketo have only a percentage of that kind of interest. - ' Transportation for NHL clubs to Saskatoon should not be too difficult. Our air flight from Toronto Inter- national airport to Saskatoon took only three hours. If. the move from St. Louis to Saskatoon is ever made. Blues general manager Emile. Francis will be getting closer to home. Francis was horn in North Bat- tleford. which is only 90 miles north of Saskatoon. - ..Getting hack to Harold Ballard his controversy with the city of ilamilton over his Ticats was in full swing when we were in Saskatoon and this item hit the front page of the Star Phoenix on March 22. Sports editor John Cherneski suggested Ballard should move the '1'icats to Saskatoon. Included was a . letter from Saskatoon mayor Cliff Wright to Ballard which said in part. "Saskatoon is one of the major growth centres in Canada and our economy is one of the bright spots in the country. In addition, can you imagine the ferocity of your football players after having devoured their pre- game meal of bear steak." Final Junior statistics The final statistics for the 1982-83 season for the OHA Western Junior "D" grouping have been compil- ed by league statistician Ron Bogart: • Of interest to area fans, two members of the Lucap Irish were award winners in the northern division. Paul - Wraith of l.ucan was named the most valuable player and team-mate !pug Latta was selected as the top defenceman. Kevin Albrecht of Tavistock was the division's top scorer with 86 points and Tavistock goalies Maury Saucier and Larry Kropf were best in their department with a goals against average of 3.92. More awards The latest release from the Ohio State Buckeyes hockey team reveals that Exeter native Paul Pooley has been named to the COLA all -academic team for the se- cond consecutive year. (Vinic preview tonight Former NHL star Pat Stapleton will be at the South Iluron Itec Centre tonight, Wednesday to give a preview of his hockey training program which the Exeter Minor Hockey Association has adopted fut' next year. EMHA president Bob Whiteford extends an invita- tion to all coaches, managers and interested parents to drop over to the arena at 7 p.m. tonight to get an on -ice look at Stapleton's program which will he sponsored in part by Pepsi Cola and Tuckey Beverages. 1 Third tilt in Hensall, Thursday Fourth in Exeter, Friday Mohawks edge Sherwoods in shootout in SH final opener If you enjoy your hockey with the emphasis on offence, along with some nifty passing and some hefty hitting, then you'll probably enjoy wat- ching the Exeter Mohawks and Hensall Sherwoods battle it out for the South Huron hockey league crown. -The Mohawks won the opener on their ice, Sunday, outgunning the league cham- pions by a 10-9 count. There were times in the game when it appeared as though the out- come would be settled on the basis of the team getting the final shot. Goals came thick and fast. The Mohawks set the stage for the scorekeeper's nightmare when Brian Mercer knocked down an er- rant pass in the Hensall zone and skated in alone to blink the light after only 12 seconds had elapsed. They upped that to 2-0 on a Brian Taylor goal two minutes later and appeared as though they would blow the Sherwoods right out of the rink as they missed on ANOTHER ONE — Goals came thick and fost•in.Sunday's South Huron league final • in the South Huron rec centre. Brad Taylor gets this one behind. Steve Sararas late in the second. Exeter won the gome by a 1O-9 count. several other good opportunities. However, the Sherwoods scored on a couple of power plays and the teams left the ice with the Tribe leading by a 4-2 count. They made it 5-2 early in the second and then the Sherwoods started to roll, rattling off four straight goals in an eight -minute span to take the lead. It see -sawed back and forth until the final minute of the second stanza when the Mohawks scored three times in 31 seconds to take a 10-7 lead. The Sherwoods pulled to within two at the 8:09 mark of the third on a goalby Rick In- gram and they made it 10-9 with seven and a half minutes remaining when Scott Jesney deflected a shot into the cage off a sprawling Exeter defenceman. The Mohawks missed chances to ice the game and the Sherwoods missed chances to get the equalizer in a crowd -pleasing display. Second game of the set was Oldtimers lose by 3-2 • The Exeter Molting Hawks dropped a 3-2 decision in an oldtimers hockey game Mon- day night at the South Huron Rec Centre. Jack Chipchase notched the first Exeter goal in the first period cin an unassisted effort and Keith Ahrens clicked in the third period on a pass from Jim MacDonald. ' played in Hensall last night and the third game will be in the same place tomorrow (Thursday). The scene shifts to Exeter on Friday for the fourth game at 8:30 p.m. The scoring battle in Sun- day's opener was paced by the season scoring leader of each team. Exeter's Brian Mercer had two goals and three assists, while Jamie Caldwell had three goals and two assists for the Sherwoods. Pee wees are ousted The Exeter Legion. Aux- iliary pee wees were eliminated Iron} the Goderich Young Canada pee wee hockey tournament Thursday as they dropped a 573 decision to the host Goderich team. The Exeter y6ungsters jumped into an early two goal lead in the first three minutes of the game. Rob McKnight opened the Exeter scoring at 2:41 on a pass from Jeff Han- nah and 14 seconds later cap- tain Jon O'Connor converted a pass from Jeff Chipchase. Before the first period end- ed Goderich tied the score on successful shots by Jim Kel- ly and Scott Garrow. After a scoreless second period, Garrow and Bill Trebish counted for Goderich. Midway through the final period ` Jon O'Connor registered the final Exeter marker on a pass from Stever Anderson before Scott Gar - row closed out the game scor- ing for Goderich. NOT THIS TIME — Hensall goalie Steve Sararas sprawls to make this save in Sun day's first game of the South Huron league final, while below he moves to stop a shot by Brad Taylor. n SH semi-final Hensall ousts Buckeyes The Hensall Sherwoods doubled the score 8-4 on the Zurich Buckeyes Thursday night in the deciding game of the South 1luron intermediate hockey league semi-finals and earn the right to meet the Ex- eter Mohawks for the l'ague championship. . Four straight unanswered Ilensall goals in the second 20 minutes of play after Zurich took 2-1 first period lead clin- ched the win for the Sherwoods. Darryl I'ostill and Wayne Thiel were the first period Zurich marksmen with assists going to Scott Consilt and Rick Moody while Ken Varley replied for the Sher - woods on a pass from captain Dave Kinsman on, a power la p Lloyd Allan fired three suc- cessful shots for the Sher - woods in their high scoring se- cond period: Dwight Consill picked up assists ori all three goals and Dave Kinsman helped on the other score. The other Sherwood marker was notched by Rick Ingram with Consitt and ` Kinsman assisting. The Sherwoods jumped in- to a 7-2 lead by the .eight minute mark of the third period on goals by Dwight ('nnsitt and Jamie Caldwell. The only assist went to Dave Kinsman. The Buckeyes bounced back with a istir of power play goals in the last seven minutes of play. Scoring were Glenn •Zirk converting a pass from Kris Bedard and Jeff O'Brien on a three-way coM- bination with Dan'Lagerwerf and Kris •Bedard. The final I Iensall score with 41 seconds left was fired by Ken Varlet' on a play started by Jamie -Caldwell and Alf Taylor. The Buckeyes took 18 of the 28 minor ix'nalfies handed out by referees Tom Millar and George 'Tryon. Exeter and District Men's ctx% Recreational Fastball League An organization meeting will be held Wednesday March 30 at the EXETER INN AT 7:30 p.m. Team representatives and interested parties make Van Tuckey intentions known. Mike Soldan Treasurer President, 235-2045 1 TAKE THAT — Exeter defenceman Rick. Lindenfield and Hensall's Ken Varley get sticks and gloves up in a pushing duel beside the Mohawks net in Sunday's South Huron league championship opener at the rec centre. Brian Taylor contributed three Goals for the Mohawks. while brother Brad had two. Singles were added by,Barry Baynham. Mjke Desjardine and Brad Daters. Desjardine picked up three ,.assists as did Jeff Fuller. while Doug Fletcher and Dave Atthill had two each. Singles were recorded by Rick Lindenfield, Tom Ryan and Baynham. Scoring one each for Hen- sall in addition to the third period tallies by Ingram and Jesney were Brian Baker, Alf Taylor, Dave Kinsman and Bryan Maher. Kinsman. Maher, Baker and Ken Varley had two assists each and singles were contributed by Taylor, Terry Bedard and Greg Campbell. The game was a bit on the chippy side and featured some heavy hitting at times. The stiffest check came in the first period when Exeter defenceman Jim Guenther levelled Maher at the Hensall blueline. Exeter Minor Hockey Assoc. Golf Tournament Sat, May 28 Sponsored by Kentucky Fried Chicken S20.00 per person - dinner included To register - Call Rec Centre 235-2833 or Simon Van Dam 235-0351 after 6:00 MEETING NOTICE Exeter and Area Junior Hockey Association Election of Officers • Wednesday, March 30, 1983 8:00 p.m. South Huron Rec Centre Nomination Committee Ralph Batten Tom Murch Gerald Willis 229-8831 235-1633 235-0887 Must be a card-carrying member to vote Memberships Available at Door or from executive 11111111111r- [anRoiRn TIRE DON'T MISS THE GREAT SAVINGS Early Bird SURPRISE'. SALE Thursday Only, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. DOUBLE COUPONS ON ALL PURCHASES Plus Further Discounts on In -Store Specials \ um= TIRE (IlflhlDIRfl TIRE P S x 0 t 1 ATE .114 Mt,in St Exeter 5,0 RE ?.15.0160 1 1