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Times Advocate, 1993-12-15, Page 18Page 18Times-Advocate, December 15,1993 L� 7� /) R'rs Mohawks short on energy, stung by Hornets Dan Schwetz of the Exeter Mohawks was on top of Aylmer's Brent Barker during third period action Sunday night. Also tan- gled up are Hornets' Darrin Semple and Todd Broomhead of Exeter. THE LEGEND OF BATTLESHIP BOB KELLY BATTLESHIP KELLY is the player I want to play for my team. Where did he play last year? This was a question I put to the Sports Editor .of the:DEMOCRAT Cl1RONICLE OF ROCHESTER,, HANS, TANNIFR.. HANS said, "let ,fie leak it up„in :.the; spats; guide.” As HANS was flipping through pages, my thoughts went back to ROBERT J. KELLY otherwise known as BATTLESHIP, named because he used to sink a lot of guys. Big, ranging 6'2", lean and mean, and I do mean mean. No mercy given, arms so long they reached to his knees. I was anxious for a good team. THE ROCHESTER AMERI- CANS were in danger of folding, and because they had been in the AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE for 30 years that would have been a shame. I had made a comeback at the age of 36 with‘the AMERKS, and when the coach was attacked by the fans, he quit and made me coach. We won more than we lost, and almost made the play-offs. I remember the G.M. bringing me into his office and saying "We're making a change in your department". I'm thinking "gee, whose the poor guy in my department?" Unfortunately, it was me. Life was toughof r me that summer, I couldn't get a job anywhere. I phoned the G.M. of VANCOUVER, BUD POILE and wondered if I could get a job. He said, "if you were your brother, I'd hire you." Lovely, so you get the point, l was in bad shape. I get a call, eight business men had bought THE AMERICANS and would I like to coach? Would I? I'd crawl through broken glass for the job. Only S5,000 they said. "Done" says I, "and I'll be G.M. too, same money just give me a chance." "How many players do you have?" I asked. They answered me "one". I asked "who?" They said, "you". I think to myself whose got the best information on hockey players? The newspapers, and why not go to the source to find players. HANS TANNER, the sports editor, whose finally found where BATTLESHIP played last year, PORT HURON. but the ru- mor io that he got suspended for punching out the coach. Lovely my t HANS says he's owned by the NEW YORK RANGERS, so 1 get in my car and drive to KITCHENER, ONTARIOiwherc the RANGERS are training, and found to my sorrow that the RANG- ERS were going to send BOB to BALTIMORE. I drove home, now depressed. f, Late one night, a week later during our training camp in ROCHESTER, I received a call from THE NEW YORK RANGERS director of personnel DE - NIS BALLASKUY. "You still want BOB KELLY?" "Would I?" I'd go through the broken glass routine to get BOB. They sold BATTLESHIP to us for $7.500, the best $7,500 ever spent by any club. BATTLESHIP changed the whole camp. Every guy grew a foot, because they knew BOB was. there to back them up. The press Loved him, the fans loved him, and he put the fear of GOD in the other teams in the exhibition games. 10 TO It 1 X tilt Grit itith r.: Now until Christmas NO TAX (Sale items not included) {Sport Pen lac Cal' 282 Main St. Exeter Tel./Fax 235-1334 - GACCIKOWMOURCINKACCOMMICIRA nit Was - 1 Busy weekend ahead as seniors face Mudcats, Dolphins By Fred Groves T -A staff EXETER - On paper they look real good, but getting the Exeter Mohawks to ice a full and healthy lineup may take a little longer. Sunday night with a few nagging injuries and some key people out of the lineup, the Mohawks dropped an 8-6 decision to the visiting Aylmer Hornets. The loss dropped Exeter's South- western Senior 'A' Hockey League record to 6-4-2. Last night, the Hor- nets hosted Bothwell and the win- ner of that game would move into a tie for second place with the Mo- hawks. Missing on Sunday were for- wards Jon Butter, Wayne Urbshou and Jamie English along with de- fensemen Greg Ryan and injured Dale Timmermans. Centre Craig Oster who was a big offensive weapon two years ago is expected back any game now and he'll be a big, big help. "That's four or five top notch guys not here. We look extremely tough in the program but you can't throw the program on the ice and expect to win games," said Exeter coach Dave Revington. The Mohawks have got a very busy week ahead as they travel to Bothwell on Thursday and host Dunnville on Saturday and the next night take on the league leading Dorchester Dolphins. Both games are at the South Huron Recreation Centre. "If tonight is any indication of how we're going to play from now until Sunday. I'd be thrilled to win two games." Although it was 1-1 after the first period the Hornets went ahead 3-2 after 40 minutes. In the final period, the Mohawks trailed 7-3 at one point but managed to come back and make it 7-6. Most of the Exeter third period goals came as a result of puuing a lot of pressure on the Hornets and causing a little commotion away from the play. The fifth goal saw Mohawks' Dan Schwetz cause sone disturbance and on the sixth goal Kevin McArt- er tangled up with Darrin Semple. This was perhaps the most physical the hosts had played all night. "We never played the body all night. We never plugged up the neutral zone and we gave up about eight two -on -ones," said Reving- ton. Poor outing: Exeter goalie Rick Pikul had an uncharacteristicaly poor game and after six goals he was yanked in favour of Trevor Hunter who the Hornets scored on with the first shot. Pikul has started eight of the Mo- hawks' 12 games thus far and when asked if perhaps if the veteran puckstopper was geuing over- worked, Revington said, "he's a goaltender that likes a lot of work. He didn't have his best game but he wasn't alone." Aylmer scored one shorthanded goal when captain John Osborne took a long two-line pass up the middle and went in all alone on Pi- kul. In senior hockey, the red line is eliminated when it comes to off - sides. Also scoring for the winners were Jim Gegeny and Mike Teeple with two each while singles came from Mike Haines, Ryan Thompson and Jim Parfitt. Answering for the hosts were Jacques Beaulieu with two, Greg Murray, Todd Broomhead, Dean Schram and Richard Hawkias. Cen- tre Tim Shields had three assists. Beaulieu's second goal came off of a nice pass from Greg Snyder who was pinned against the boards by Semple and was given a penalty after he lashed out at Snyder after the goal. Mohawks nroments:...While Ex- eter did dress 16 skaters, Jeff Shipley, McArter , Stefan Camire and Rob Warren were all hurt- ing...Beaulieu now has 10 goals just two behind Joe Scherer with 12...Times-Advocate Mohawks' three stars from Sunday's game 1. Tim Shields 2. Beaulieu 3. Barry Baynham... than ve years ago we' asked for the o portunity tp earn your ,011 uness. To the hundreds of people who gave us that chance we sincerely thank you. All of us wish you a safe and happy holiday season. We look forward to serving you in the years ahead. Rick Frayne Ron Rader - Bruce Hodge Dave Barty Margie Austin Holiday Hours: Closed Friday Dec. 24 Monday, Dec. 27 Friday, Dec. 31st • • • • fi 4111 Le, Takacs Derrick Becker Allen Rolling, Rifer .EXETER TOYOTA J Exeter 235-2353 • 1-800-265.0677 r • • • t