Times Advocate, 1991-09-04, Page 13EMHA product with Junlor
Heywood
signs with
St. Marys
Lincolns
By Fred Groves
ST. MARYS - It may be just a
few short miles from Exeter to St.
Marys, but Jason Heywood took a
big leap last week.
The Exeter native who suited up
for the Exeter Junior 'D' Hawks
last season, has signed with the St.
Marys Lincolns of the Western
Junior 'B' Hockey League.
Heywood, 17, had a goal and a
pair of assists Friday night as the
Lincolns dumped visiting Listowel
Cyclones 6-1 in the Lincolns first
pre -season game.
After Friday's game, Heywood
noticed there is a big difference in
the two levels of hockey, Junior 'B'
is a lot faster. Although he was pri-
marily a centre with the Hawks,
against the Cyclones, Heywood
played right wing.
"That's where they were weak.
I'll play wherever it's open, they
like my size," said the six foot -one,
175 -pound Heywood.
St. Marys coach Dave Mac-
Queen said he has lots of returning
centers and is almost certain Hey-
wood will be playing right wing.
"Our depth up front is at centre.
We had a talk with him to see if
he'll play right wing and he said
he'd be willing to try and he hasn't
looked bad there atall,' said Mac-
Queen.
St. Marys was only looking for a
handful of rookies as they had 15
returnees. So, making the lineup
will be pretty tough but Heywood
was one of the Wadoidhs they
signed.
"We like his' skadng ability, his
strength and his size," said Lin-
colns president Marty Thomson.
"He'll fit into Junior 'B' quit well."
Heywood is a hard worker on the
ice, and he was not overly surprised
he made the Junior 'B' club. The
first workouts this summer were
well attended
"I did alright there," said Hey-
wood of his performance at the roo-
kie camp. "They had a good turn-
out, about 70 guys."
"I thought I deserved it," he said
of signing. "I worked hard"
MacQueen said he was told by
general manager Paul Marsh, that
Heywood had a good growing sum-
mer.
"He grew a Lilo and put cm ine-
'B' club
Defenceman Jamie Cornish, right, was aggressive Friday night as he helped the Lincolns to a
6-1 pre -season win.
good muscle. His skating has im-
proved," noted MacQueen.
Not only did Heywood get three
points against Listowel, but he con-
tributed with another goal against
St. Thomas Stars in a 4-4 tie on
Saturday.
"He's coachable, he's played his
way onto our team,' said Mac-
Queen.
One of the biggest adjustments a
Junior 'B' player has to make is aca-
demics. Most players, Heywood is
an exception, have to move away
IMO,- d�
Heywood said he is going to con-
centrate a little more on his school
work in an attempt to get a scholar-
ship.
The Lincolns also have defence -
man Jamie Cornish tryipg to fill
one of a possible three spots on the
blueline. Although MacQueen said
at times Cornish has looked tired
on the ice, the Lincs are still inter-
ested.
"Jamie's looked very good at
times. We're still interested and go-
ing to give him every opportunity
to make the team."
St. Marys has nine more pre-
season games including tonight's
contest in Listowel at 8 p.m. and to-
morrow night faceoff against the
Stars, in St. Thomas at 7:30 p.m.
Derek Shackleton who shone
with the Hawks last season and
played a few playoff games for the
Lincolns a year ago is vying for a
place on the team as is J.P. Cousi-
neau a speedy Exeter centre.
MacQueen said however he is
looking for a full commitment out
of both.
Jason Heywood tried to backhand this one into the Listowel
net.
-^t r-. sem- T • • n i l R
Canada Cup
where's the magic?
I et me for a week
wander awaythe local scene and
touch on the recent
edition of the Canada Cup.
As expensive as sports are,
at any level we must question
whether or not this tourna-
ment is necessary. Myself, I'm
tom between giving it a
thumbs up (I do have tickets
for next Wednesday's sem-final game), or saying it's a waste
of time.
I remember watching the 1972 version of the Canada Cup, I
was in grade six and a good portion of the classrooms in our
school were in what they call an open concept. There were
eight classes and a library in this one huge room.
More than 200 of us huddled our little chairs together and
watched as Paul Henderson scored the winning goal. The
room went crazy because all of us, teachers and students
alike, had been following the series very closely.
It wasn't a tournament, just the Soviets against our beloved
heroes from Canada in an eight -game series.. Ken Dryden,
Tony Esposito and Eddie Johnston were the goalies and they
were outstanding.
I kept the poster with all their faces faithfully over my bed
and dreamed I was Paul Henderson scoring that winning goal
and having the entire nation ready to give me a hardy hand
shake.
It seems however, the excitement that I had then and the
electricity that surged through every household has either
dwindled or disappeared entirely.
When Henderson became immortal, Eric Lindros the next
superstar of the National Hockey League wasn't even bom
yet. But I guess that's how we get our history, remembering
and hanging on to the past.
There are several reasons I can't get turned on by this year's
Canada Cup. First of all it's a tournament which means there
are five other teams in it. ,
Back in 1972 it was our boys against what, at the time,
seemed to be the bad guys from communist Russia. We've all
heard of Vladamir Tretiak, the great Soviet goalie who could
have been a star in the NHL but my favourite Soviet forward
was Valarie Kannalov. I'm probably spelling his name wrong
but to remember such a fast skater and offensive threat when I
was only 11, I think is impressive.
The Olympics, world championships and a host of other
events make you wonder which one is the crowning of the
true champion. The Olympics is supposed to be for non -pros,
that's why the Soviets always do well because they don't have
a pro league.
If we want a Canadian team that is truly representative of
the finest hockey players in the world, it has to reflect that. A
squad that does not include defenceman Ray Bourque, centre
Mario Lemieux and goalie Grant Fuhr is not, in my opinion,
the best we can put together
There is nothing wrong with a Russ Courtnall, Steve Larm-
er or Theoren Fleury, but those guys are not in Lemieux's
class. Probably the best forward line rn the world of Lemieux,
Wayne Gretzky and Steve Yzerman has been denied the
chance to show off to the rest of the world.
I am a hockey fan, in fact I'll probably see over 150 games
of every level imaginable this year but the Canada Cup does
--not rate hishospatifJ1ri fthlw to do.'
The unity that broiiglit l children together, stating
at a small TV screen and screaming "Go Canada Go", I am
afraid to say has at least vanished from this Canadian.
We need to have the Canada -Russian series brought back
and put a little hockey magic back into our lives. A Canada -
US matchup would no doubt save a few dollars on the travel-
ling expenses but we see the American players go head to
head with our boys every night of the week in the NHL.
The Soviets do send over teams that play the NHL clubs in
exhibition series but there is nothing at stake. It's not either
nations best and the games are just played to generate a few
dollars.
It's not the same and neither, I'm afraid to say is the Canada
Cup.
sidelines
by
Fred
Groves
Thor.' no mask
DISCOV
R
E
H
TALS
R
INTRODUCING
PICKETT
ROD
�■ R
NEW
MODEL FOR
1991
CALL TODAY OR STOP IN & LET OUR SALES REPS
EXPLAIN ALL THE FEATURES OF THE "NEW"
1991 PICKETT ONE-STEP ROD CUTTER
"ONTARIO'S EXCLUSIVE DEALER" •
CALL.
REGARDING
FUTURE
DEMONSTRATIONS
IN YOUR AREA
FREE
-4711111.
'RENT -ALL
Delivery and pickupon
all rental equipment
Mount Carmel
237-3456, 237-3457
1-800-265-2901
(519) 615 Main St. S., Exeter Ont. Fax (519)
235-2121 1-800-265-2121 235.2791
24 Hour Emergency Service
1-800-2654117
pager number 1658
PICKETT
1