HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1992-04-29, Page 17QNA d velotpmentLeag se inais
Irish need a full game to best Trojans
- By Fred Groves
LUCAN - Sixty minutes.
If the Lucan Irish want to beat the
Thamesford Trojans and win the
Ontario Hockey Association Junior
Development championship they
are going to have to play a full
game of hockey.
So far, in ,the first three games,
they've played•• good periods but not
good games. The result has been a
two -games -to -one lead for the Tro-
jans in the best -of -seven series.
Game Four was played last night
in Thamesford. (see below for rest
of schedule.)
Sunday, the Irish had a very
strong third period, but lost 3-2.
"We play 20 minutes. Today we
didn't even play 20 minutes," said
Lucan coach Ken Needham. "We
weren't skating, we were flat."
Thamesford led 1-0 when Bill
Huitema got past Chris Chater
along the boards and went in on
Bob Szabo and scored between his
legs.
Lucan had a powerplay for six
minutes early in the second period
but failed to capitalize. It was 2-0
for the visitors when Scott Bowers
connected on a powerplay. Jacques
Lavailliere scored what proved to
be the winner.
The Irish came to life when Oreg
DePrest carried it in and Jon
McEachem let go with a quick shot
which beat Steve Blanchette on the
short side.
DePrest set up both Lucan goals
and came very close to scoring
twice himself as the puck slid
through the goal crease on a couple
of good opportunities.
"We were shooting a lot but not
at the right places," said DePrest.
"Nobody was ready, it seemed like
we were dead."
McEachem seemed to get the
Irish and the crowd fired up after
the goal when he laid out some big
checks including one on Craig
Dundas which sent him crashing
through an open door on the Tha-
mesford bench.
The Irish put a lot of pressure on
in the final 20 minutes and pulled
to within one when Chater scored
just 2:42 into the third period.
Irish 6, Trojans 4
Three goals in the first period
helped the Irish in Game Two, Fri-
day night in Thamesford.
A long shot by DePrest, a Tim
Hayter shot that bounced off the
post and went in, and a Steve Strid-
er goal off of a rebound gave the
Irish a 3.0 lead
With five seconds left in the first
period, Rob Growthers put the
home team on the board and it was
3-2 early in the second when Hui-
tema scored.
Paul Woodburn gave Lucan a
two -goal cushion when he stole the
Lucan Irish forward Darren Neil was sent to the ice by a Thamesford defenseman during
Wednesday night's OHA Junior Development game in Lucan.
puck at the Thamesford blueline
and went in to beat Neil Harding on
the backhand.
"I think 1 was further out and he
couldn't get to it," said Woodburn
of the goal.
Friday's game was a rough one as
DePrest was knocked down and
kicked in the stomach which
brought a match penalty to Josh
Lewis. In the second period, Tha-
mesford's John Rechill wrapped his
stick around Darren Neil's neck and
pulled hard, good for two minutes
in the box.
"Both teams were rougher. It was
a better game, faster," said Wood-
burn.
Brian Schuyler scored one of the
nicest goals of the playoffs in the
third period when he stole the puck,
got knocked down but after Hard-
ing made a save, Schuyler shot the
puck high into the twine from 20
feet out.
Thamesford pulled closer on
goals by Jim Howard and Bill Pan-
apoulus but Brad Bowers scored
into the open net for Lucan.
Trojans 5, Irish 3
Lack of bodies hurt Lucan in the
opener as they built a 3-1 lead but
lost it as they ran out of gas.
With seven players out of the
lineup for various reasons, ranging
from school commitments to play-
ing in a tournament in the U.S., the
Irish struggled in the third period.
Lucan got on the board first when
DePrest scored on a long rush but it
was tied up in the second when La-
valliere snuck between defensemen
Dean Haymond and Kevin Leitch.
Snider regained the Irish lead
with a quick shot and Jon McEach-
ern gave the home team the lead
when he shot from the corner and
the puck bounced off Trojans' net -
minder Scott McKnight.
With 31 seconds left in the mid-
dle frame, there was a collision
around Lucan goalie .Bob Szabo
which saw referee Dave Whaley
hand out a rash of penalties but no
game misconducts.
The final period belonged entire-
ly to Thamesford as Jim Howard
scored just 13 seconds into the peri-
od and it was even at three when
Randy -Wilcox kept Szabo off
guard. Jeff Publicover scored the
winner on a backhander and Hui-
tema got one into the open net.
Lucky charms:...Defenseman Ed
VanKerkoerle along with forwards
Brett Revington and Paul O'Shea
are having a good series for the
Irish...Game Five is Thursday in
Lucan at 8:15 p.m. and if necessary
Game Six will be played in Tha-
mesford at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and
Game Seven is scheduled for 8:30
p.m. in Lucan on Sunday.
HUREX R TNCTIVTD.
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more information
Equipment and Tools
(North of OPP station on Hwy. #4)
235-0918
There Is life
after hockey
While Lucan Irish
goalie Bob Szabo
and Jon McEachem
were in the midst of
their Ontario Hockey Associ-
ation Junior 'D' season I
asked them their thoughts
about the future.
For the past two seasons,
plus a third when he arrived
for the playoffs, Szabo has
been the anchor of the Irish defence.
McEachem, a veteran on the forward line will be missed for
his toughness and his ability to get the big goal at the right
time.
Both arc overagers, (21 years -old) both have played their fi-
nal junior hockey games.
While neither has the longevity of defenseman Kevin Leitch
who will be entering his sixth year for the green and white if
he returns next fall as an overager, they have become fixtures
not only in Lucan but around the league.
"There is life after hockey," said Szabo while going through
his regular ritual of peeling off his heavy equipment.
He was named to the First AU -Star team for the west divi-
sion this year, which was no surprise. In a rebuilding year, the
Irish have depended on his even temperament and his ability
to keep the puck out of the net.
Several times over the past couple of hockey seasons, I
have heard many a spectator question why Szabo did not go
farther in hockey. Some even feel he could have had a good
shot at a Junior 'A' club.
He did have a tryout with the then London Diamonds (now
Nationals), of the Junior 'B' level.
"It just didn't work out. I didn't get much ice time. It makes
you wonder how far I could have gone."
It's no secret the Irish brass will have to do a lot of recruit-
ing in the off season to replace Szabo. He's surprised the Irish
made it to the finals this year with all the young players they
had.
"I'm surprised. It was supposed to be a rebuilding year. This
year Welt playing for everyone. We don't want to let anyone
down."
Szabo says it's time to get on with his life and maybe go to
college. And what about Senior hockey?
There are B _ lot of teams nearby in Dorchester._ Ex_eM
Aylmer and Ir4Sersoll.
"It's a lot of time and effort. I haven't thought about it."
Love to' hate: If you are on the other team, McEachem is
the guy you hate.
You tease him of his weight, say he's slow and if you are a
fan there are a lot of names you can call him.
But he has always been among the scoring leaders on the
eam.
I, and several others no doubt, have questioned his overly
tggressive behaviour. Like when he rips off an opponents hel-
met and throws it at them.
I guess, it's just big Jon's style.
But that style also means doing his best whether some think
so or not. He'll be missed.
And what about future hockey plans for McEachem?
"I don't know where I'll be. A friend of mine is in B.C. I
might go there and play senior," he said.
McEachem knows,if he wants to keep playing hockey, there
are going to have to be aome.changes in his life.
"I'm going to try and Stint down by 30 pounds. Dila, exer-
cise, some rollerblading." --te!'"‘
When asked, M Eachem and Szabo say they'll miss the
same thing about hockey, the team itself.
Riding the bus, late nights together, the joys and laughs in
the dressing mom.
"I wish I could be around another year," said McEachem.
He coached midget house le 'hockey in London this
winter and who knows, that could be vitt: way of -keeping him
in hockey.
But no matter where he or -Szabo end up next year whether
it's in British Colombia or some deserted arena just playing a
little pick up hockey, they'll alwaysbe a part of the Irish.
Interesting, a letter sent out to persepctive new players from
coach Ken Needam asks the question - "Can you carry on the
tradition"?
Picking up where Szabo and Masa= have left off will
be tough.
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