HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1991-11-06, Page 17Field hockey team to provincials
Panthers win WOSSA
EXETER - The higher you climb
up the ladder, the harder it gets.
South Huron District High
School girls field hockey team
edged Medway Cowboys 1-0 here
on Saturday afternoon to win the
Western Ontario Secondary
Schools Association title.
It's the 11 th such championship
in the past 13 years for the Pan-
thers, so winning isn't that big of a
surprise. But the Cowboys however
were a surprise.
Controlling the game throughout
the first half, Medway could not get
past a' tough South Huron defence.
The only goal of the game came
with about five minutes left in the
half when winger Becci Farquhar
hit the ball across to the goal where
Tina Campbell managed to get her
stick on it and score.
"They dominated, but for some
reason they didn't get very many
shots," said Panthers' coach Jim
Workman.
Both teams went undefeated in
the two day tournament as the Pan-
thers beat Parkhill North Middlesex
2-1 and Mitchell 2-0. Medway
blanked Ingersoll 3-0 and overtook
St. Marys 3-1.
"I figured it would be Medway
and us. The only team to have beat-
en them this year is us, twice," said
Workman.
In the second half, Medway con-
tinued to put the pressure on but
sweeper Melanie Jones, goalie Ton-
ya Riehl and the rest of the defence
prevented any goals despite the fact
the Cowboys had several short pen-
alty corners.
"We practice the penalty comer
with our own forwards and de-
fence. It's important to get someone
to the line quick."
Medway had trouble getting a
shot away as the Panthers were on
them immediately.
Today the Panthers pack up their
bags and head to Richmond Hill
will they will once again be in the
Ontario Federation of Schools Ath-
letic Association finals.
Heading into the three-day 16 -
team tournament, the Panthers are
ranked in the top four. Last year
they were eliminated fairly early
but the year before brought home
the provincial title.
"We've practiced ourselves out
but we'll work on some strategy
stuff," said Workman about the
team's plans earlier this week.
Winning OFSAA is not out of
South Huron's reach.
"We have competed against most
of the teams. It's the team that per-
severes the most."
Hopefully the Panthers will be
coming home with a gold medal
and looking forward to another ride
on the fire truck.
Celebrating were Brenyn Baynham, left; Tina Campbell, Shannon McBride and Darlene
O'Rourke seconds after they won WOSSA on Saturday.
League names top player, all-stars
EXETER- For the second con-
secutive year, the Most Valuable
Player and Manager of the Year in
the Western Junior Baseball
League are from Lucan.
The top player was Steve Nixon,
the shortstop of the Lucan club
while Walter Parkinson was named
the top manager.
Making the first all -start team in
the balloting which was done by
the seven managers, the statistician
and the commissioner were Exet-
er's Mark Russell, first base; Gode-
rich's Mike Hunter, second base;
Nixon, shortstop; St. Marys Greg
Blackler, third base; Goderich's An-
drew McLarty, left field; Exeter's
Fred Gregus, centrefield; St. Marys
Scott Bickell, right field; Lucan's
Gregg Boshart, lefthanded pitcher;
Exeter's Scott Russell, righthanded
pitcher; Exeter's Dave Schwindt,
catcher.
Second all -start team were: Bo-
shart, first base; Lucan's Brad
Coughlin, second base; Goderich's
Bob Lumly, shortstop; Lucan's
Chris Smith, third base; Dash -
wood's Jason Heywood, left field;
Goderich's Brad DeWys, centre
field; Lucan's Stacey Evans, right
field; Exeter's Fred Gregus, left-
handed pitcher; St. Marys Chris
Blackman, righthanded pitcher;
Goderich's Chad Papple, catcher;
St. Marys Bill McGirr, Goderich's
Tom Fox, manager.
Chrissy O'Toole hugs Becci
Farquhar in celebration.
Dontwony_.
Hawks' fans,
it's early
by are the Exeter Hawks, who looked so promis-
ing earlier, sitting with a 4-7 record?
When this topic first came to mind, I thought
of ripping the club part from tice ce surface up.
There is a lot to criticize, but step out of the situation
and take a good look. Do they need to be reminded they
lost seven of their first 11 games? No they don't.
As noted by co -coach George Pratt, it's early and it's
not time to push the panic button yet.
The Ontario Hockey Association has renamed the Jun-
ior 'D' league and it's now called the OHA Development
League. The idea being to give the 16 year-olds a taste
of travelling and a higher calibre of play before they ad-
vance to Junior 'B' or maybe beyond.
Both the Hawks and the Lucan Irish are developing.
Although some members of the executives may not like
the term, because it may mean it's just like a farm club
for the big league baseball teams and can't be taken that
seriously.
Well, this is serious stuff. Ask the John Bells or the
Clint McCanns how they feel about their hockey.
The Exeter Hawks have a long standing tradition of
putting a winner on the ice. They know how to recruit
and they know how to
win. They're a good or-
ganization.
So why have they had
trouble putting the puck
in the net, and keeping it
out the first few games? .. by
They have lost four Fred
players which, in any Groves
opinion, you can build a
hockey team around.
They are J.P. Cousineau, Jason Heywood, Jim Dickins
and Jeff Dalrymple.
Cousineau, a university student made the St. Marys
Lincolns as a 20 year-old. A rarity since the Junior 'B'
clubs are all looking for the youngsters like Heywood.
An EMHA product, Heywood has more than a little po-
tential.
Jim Dickins suffered a major injury a couple of years
ago and played only part of last season. He's a team
leader, he hits like a big truck and he's an outstanding
corner man.
Dalrymple is a heavyweight. Not just in size but by the
way he plays. Last year's captain, "Bix" is probably one
of the best defenceman ever to come out of the Junior 'D'
league.
Dickins and Dalrymple will hopefully be returning to
the team which would take a lot of pressure off of guys
like Allan Blommaert and Doug Clark.
The Hawks are always contenders, they always will be.
The reason for this is a strong minor hockey system and
a few dedicated individuals like Wayne Dickins and Al
Quinn who pretty well guarantee a contender with any
team they are involved in.
A two coach system in Exeter is a question mark?
Whether it works is only known by those who huddle in
the dressing room before and after ti game. _.,'
It worked last year, they go(to ffie division final. And
this fall with John Kernick absent due to a car accident
and his wedding, Pratt has been handling the bench.
Both these guys have hockey experience and it will be
no surprise when they do turn the team around.
But it's early. Don't be worried. Remember that all but
a couple of teams make the playoffs and everything is
different in the playoffs, it's a whole new season.
Playoffs... wait this is only November, so why worry.
sidelines
The local arenas will be very busy this month starting
this weekend as the Zurich Minor Athletic Association is
hosting a peewee -bantam tourney. On November 16-17
the Exeter Minor Hockey Association have their novice,
atom and peewee event and the following weekend is the
Exeter Minor Ringette Association's annual tournament.
Not exactly as
illustrated
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