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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1983-04-06, Page 8Page 8 Times -Advocate, April 6. 1983 Sports Spotlight By Ross Haugh A couple of times during a year we mention that the sporting scene gets pretty well mixed up with different activities and that is particularly the situation at the moment. This week, the National Hockey League playoffs get underway in an attempt to get a Stanely Cup winner from 16 aspiring teams and major league baseball kicks off the 1983 season. As far as the Stanley Cup hunt is concerned, most rabid hockey fans have their own favourites, but there are at least five teams with a logical shot at taking the battered old trophy home. The New York Islanders are still the defending cham- pions and will have to be reckoned with. The overall league champs, the Boston Bruins are a top contender along with Wayne Gretzky and his Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers were sort of humiliated a year ago, so look for a stronger showing from that corner. If one wants a little longer shot at the odds how about the Montreal Canadiens and the Chicago Black Hawks. The Canadiens have a lot of experience and that can be very important in short playoff series. In Chicago, Orr Tessier has proven he can get any of his teams fired up for playoffs and if Tony Esposito and Murray Bannerman play to their potential the Hawks could be dangerous. We lean towards the Hawks to take it all mainly because of the scoring power of their top line of Savard, Secord and Larmer. In short best -of -five series' anything can happen in the opening round, but, this time around we shouldn't have the same type of upsets as a year ago unless one comes from the Toronto Maple Leafs. In the opening round, it should be the four division winners from Boston, Edmonton, Philadelphia and Chicago emerging without too'muchtrouble. • The defending champion Islanders although only finishing a couple of points ahead of Washington have handled the Capitals quite easily in recent outings and. should continue to do so. The Leafs - Minnesota series could be one of the tougher to call. The Leafs have been charging back in recent weeks and could prove pesky, but, we go with Minnesota in four games. We also call the Philadelphia Flyers over the New York Rangers and in probably the toughest decision to make it will be a tossup between Buffalo and Quebec. How about Quebec in five despite their lower finish than the Sabres? The other opening round matchup has Calgary going against Vancouvel'. Shut your eyes on this one and make a guess. How about Calgary unless the terrible towels come out .of hiding again in Vancouver. - Assists are enough The 125 assists picked up this year by Wayne Gret- zky of the Edmonton Oilers were enough to win him the NHL scoring championship without worrying about the 71 goals he was able to score along the way. Peter Stasny of the Quebec Nordiques was second in the overall scoring race with 48 goals and 76 assists for 124 points, one short of Gretzky's assist total. - The 125 assists for the Oilers famous No. 99 establish- ed a new NHL record for helping set up successful shots at the opposing net. To coach regional team Terry O'Rourke of South Huron District High School will be one of the coaches for southwestern Ontario regional teams in the Chiquita junior department program. O'Rourke who took the South Huron senior boys to a Huron -Perth championship this year for the first time in 20 years will coach the girls team. Clinics for prospective players will be held in nine locations during the next two months. Players selected from these camps will gather in London and the regional teams will be named. The chosen clubs both boys and girls will compete in the Chiquita program July 17 to 24 in Waterloo and the Ontario Summer Games September 2 to 5 in Sudbury. Good tourney The first annual recreation hockey tournament spon- sored jointly by the South Huron Rec Centre and the Stephen township arena was held over the Easter weekend and proved to be very successful. Organizers Frank Funston of the. Stephen arena and Cam Stewardson, facility manager at the Exeter arena are already planning their second edition next year with expansion to 32 teams. The 16 teams this year provided a lot of exciting enter- tainment at the two area ice palaces. The Crediton Shogun team won the "B" champion- ship, Seaforth took the "C" title and K Brand of Mount Forest downed the strong Mitchell Staffen's entry to win the "A" grand championship. Organize T Ball Harry Stuart and Tom M Cann tell us they are organizing a T -ball league for boys and girls under the age of eight for this summer. Registration will be held this Saturday, April 9 at the South Huron Rec Centre from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The fee is $10 which includes the purchase of a T-shirt for each competitor. Over to the diamond By the time this issue hits the street, most of the ma- jor league teams will have had their initiation into the 1983 season unless the weatherman divines otherwise. If grapefruit league games are to be used as any criteria to pick World Series contenders, it would be very easy. The Montreal Expos and the Chicago White Sox came up with the best records in their respective leagues. We will present our selections and the reasons why next week. United Press sports editor Milt Richman surprised a lot of people by picking the Toronto Blue Jays to finish first in the American league east. That sounds like a smart fellow to us. Oust Sherwoods four straight Mohawks capture SH title first time The Exeter Mohawks skated off µ4th their first South Huron Hockey League title, Friday, when they scored a 6-1 triumph over the Hensall Sherwoods to take the final in four straight games. After taking the opening game of the series on home ice last Sunday by a narrow 10-9 count, the Mohawks won two straight on the ice of the league champion Sherwoods and then wrapped it up in F'ri- day's battle at the rec centre before a large audience. It was only the second time the Mohawks made it to the league final. The big losers in the quick four -game wrap-up may have been area hockey fans, who were just getting introduced to the high calibre of play in the final series between the two teams packed with former -junior puck stars. The Sherwoods were hur- ting with the lass of Terry Caldwell, out with injuries sustained in a motor accident, and in Thursday's -third game they lost defensive ace Dave Kinsman when he suffered three broken ribs. However. the Mohawks were the dominant team in all four contests, unleashing a devastating passing attack that kept the Sherwoods off guard. In Friday's final encounter. the Sherwoods took a 1-0 lead in the first when Jamie Caldwell skated around a defender from beside the net to beat Doug Fairbairn. The Tribe evened the count early in the second when Luc Gagnon bit the mark and they scored the eventual winner at ttte 12:59 mark when Brad Taylor blinked the light. Exeter gave themselves some quick breathing room early in the third with two goals in the first four minutes and they added two insurance markers near the mid -way mark to. pull the game out of reach. Brad Taylor added his se- cond of the game and the other third period snipers were Brian Taylor, Mike Des= jardine and 'four Ryan. Barry Baynham, who played a solid. defensive game, was the top play - maker with three assists, while picking up avair each were Jim Guenther, Brian Taylor and Gagnon. Brad Daters helped out on one. The game was a bit on the chippy side as the Mohawks sat out 15 minors and Hensall had 12. The playoff champs scored twice on the powerplay. • Fairbairn played a steady game between the pipes for the Mohawks to get the win in his only appearance in the series. Start quickly In the third game in lien - sail, the Mohawks took a 3-0 lead in the first and built it to 5-0 by the end of the second and then coasted to the win although the Sherwoods made it close at the end as they tried to get back into the series. The Exeter crew also won the penally parade in convin- cing style as they sat out 14. while the Sherwoods took on- ly four. However, Hensall managed to score on only one powerplay opportunity as goalie Tom Steeper and his mates displayed a strong penalty -killing performance. Tom Ryan paced the scor- ing attack with a pair of goals and adding singles were Jeff Fuller. Luc Gagnon, Brian Taylor and Jim Guenther. Drawing assists were Rick Lindenfield, Gagnon, Brian Taylor, Brian Mercer, Brad Daters and Ryan. Al Taylor scored a pair for the Sherwoods and notching one each were Jamie Caldwell And Rob Pryde. Rick Ingram drew a pair of assists and singles were recorded by Caldwell and Taylor. Win at the buzzer The Mohawks got a goal from Brian Taylor with only six seconds left on the clock in a l0 -minute overtime to post a 7-6 win in the second game of the series played in Hen- sall, Tuesday. Taylor deflected Jim Guenther's shot into the cage. The teams started out on a fast offensive pace and the Mohawks took a 5-3 lead in the first. After a scoreless second period, the Sherwoods rallied to score three in a row in the first seven minutes of the third to take a 6-5 lead. Brian Mercer knotted the count with just under three minutes remaining to set the stage for Taylor's overtime winner. his second tally of the night. Other snipers in the game for the Mohawks were Jeff Fuller, Brad Taylor, Tom Ryan and Luc' Gagnon. Brian Taylor assisted on three tallies and Ryan had a pair. Notching single assists were Guenther, Baynham. Mercer. Dave Atthill and Gagnon. Jamie Caldwell was again the scoring leader for the Sherwoods with a pair of tallies. Blinking the light once were Dwight Consitt, Brian Baker, M 'Taylor and Ken Varley. Dave Kinsman had three assists, while Lloyd Allaq and Caldwell had a pair. Helping out on one goal each were Varley. Al Taylor and Terry Bedard. Aimee Soccer Registration at the South Huron Rec Centre Sat., Apr. 9 & 16 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. cost: $15.00 per child Maximum per family s30.00 New registrants bring 1. photocopy of birth certificate. L 2. small picture to at- tach to player's cord Exeter and District Minor Soccer Association GM HURON MOTOR PRODUCTS SALES — SERVICE — LEASING Is Now Located At: 518 Main Strut Exeter, Ont. Please role our new tel.pbone nu,nber $1.235.0363 General Repairs Parts and Accessories Pontiac Buick Cadillac GMC Trucks MOHAWKS WIN SOUTH HURON TITLE — The Exeter Mohawks won the South Huron intermediate hockey league championship by defeating the Hensall Sherwoods four straight in the final round. Back, left, trainer Bev Burch, Dave Robinson, Barry Baynham, Jim Hensall and Blue Crew Guenther, Rick Lindenfield, Jeff Fuller, Doug Fletcher, Brion Mercer, manager Dan Brintnell and coach Jack Chipchase. Front, Doug Fair- bairn Brad Taylor, Mike Desiardine, Tom Ryan, Brian Taylor. captain Brad Daters, Luc Gagnon and Tom Steeper. T -A photo two back for 10th year in Ree ball The Blue Crew and the Hen salt Legionnaites ►rill celebrate their 10th con- secutive season in the Exeter and district men's rec hall league. The league which started with players in blue jeans playing an eight game schedule, has grown steadily to 13 uniformed teams play- ing an exciting 27 game schedule. 'l he budget for the league will reach the seven thousand dollar mark this Season. From these meagre begin- nings 10 years ago the Exeter Rec League has become a, well respected force in Huron • County towns where invita- tional tournaments draw Then,. The Derby flip Shakers Signing up for soccer, softball fly Lynne Farquhar The March Break '•Ilolidi► Happenings" program pro► ed'to he popular with area youngsters. Thank yous go out to all those who helped supervise an event or kelt score for bowling. Your hell; was certainly appreciated. A special thanks goes to Gabby Mol for donating two mornings of his time to drive the youngsters to swimming in Vanastra. With the ice coming out this week our thoughts are now focussing on summer activities. Roller skating nuts should dust off the skates this Week. Opening night is Friday. April 16 at. the Iter:('entre. Soccer registration for Ex- eter and area youngsters li set for Saturday. April 9 and Sat. April 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Rec ('entre. Exeter Minor Softball is also holding registration for boys and girls. To sign up he at the Rec ('entre on Sal . April 9 from 10 a.m. to 12 or )Thursday. April 1.1 from 7 to 9 p.m. Age categories this year are as follows: juvenile/midget (girls only) 1964, 1965. 1966; bantam 1967, 1968. 1969; per wee 1970, 1971. 1972: atoms 1973. 1974, 1975: 1- ball - hall 1976, 1977. were last yea! 's Zurich tourney champs , while the Blue Crew were runners-up. The Chiefs were the A cham- pions in Exeter while Ustorne were Lucan A champs and the Blue Crew Lucan 13 champs. All teams fared well in inter -town tournaments. This year's Rec League should be even better as 1Wo new Lucan teams join in. Ilea rn-Wa lby a nd the ('asohols as well as a new Ilensall entry balance oIf the entry at 13- teams. At the executive level Hike Soldan. Ken Bergman. Jim Pfaff. 1.:n•ry Taylor and mark ('ronyn will handle the organization of the league. Two major tournaments are planned this summer with teams from Goderich, Clin- ton. Seaforth. Zurich, Hensall and Lucan. The Exeter GETS SH TROPHY South Huron hockey league presi- dent John Snell presents the championship trophy to Exeter Mohawks captain Brad Daters. T -A photo. Exeter and District Men's c,D Recreational Fastball League FINAL Organizational Meeting Exeter Public School Staff Room WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6 7:30 p.m. "All entries void past this date" Van Tuckey Treasurer Inesimiesamiamor Mike Soldan President, 235-2045 r league tournament will ge August 12, 13 and 14: In addi- tion the Blue Crew will -host their tournament July 8. 9, 10. This year should be every bit as exciting for fans and supporters are reminded that it is a free evening of enter- tainment, Mondays and Wednesdays at the diamond! Mothers Motors Are pleased to announce the appoint- ment of Bob Lammie to our sales staff. Demo Sale 1983 Plymouth Reliant Wagon Cloth Bench seat with centre arm rest, automatic, power brakes, power steering, 2.2 litre 4 cyl. dual remote mirrors. rear window wiper and washer, electric heated rear win- dow, luggage rack, P175/75R13 W.S.W. Michelin tires, deluxewheel covers. 5/80 war- ranty. '10721.15. Demo price 59875°0 *fee.964091&41- Mothers Motors "Your Dual Line Chrysler Dealer 136 Main St., North, Exeter 235-1525 I Ik1',1 1, anrlgr InN�S Mete got ChrYsler IeiselN� Notice of Annual Meeting Exeter Minor Hockey Association Wed., April 13, 1983 South Huron Rec Centre 8 p.m. All hockey parents, coaches and managers urged. to. attend Coffee and donuts served Before we plant our petunias we're having 'a TIR SAL E E 1 • Check our Great Buys 1 ;4; Mr %Sol ;:tefofeTt4 I\ _I •bbiks•9S�oJ SP y's ,1A1. Exeter <SUNOCO} Sun Service 544 Main St., S. 235-2244