Times Advocate, 1994-02-23, Page 14Page 14 Times -Advocate, February 23, 1994
SPORTS
,/1111ior '1)' playoff previews'
Other series:
Lambeth vs. Mt. Brydges
Mitchell vs.
North Middlesex
Final Standings:
Mitchell 35-3-2
Lucan 27-11-2
Exeter 23-14-3
Mt. Brydges 22-17-1
Lambeth 20-15-5
Seaforth 18-18-4
Alvinston 13-26- I
North Middlesex 7-31-2
Belmont 5-35-0
Hawks' captain Dave
Dalrymple left;
and rookie
Steve
Farquhar
will bea
big part
of the
playoffs.
by
Fred
Groves
Hawks vs. Centenaires
EXETER - The key to stopping the Exeter Hawks this year is simple -
shut down the most highly offensive productive line in the OHA Junior
Development League west division.
Centre Sean McCann is flanked by brother Todd on the left and the west
division's top scorer, Shayne Robinson on the right side. Robinson is ex-
plosive and when he breaks into full stride and extends that big stick, more
times than not he scores a goal.
Exeter has three good scoring lines as the number two trio of rookies
Nathan Burns at centre, along with Mark Livermore and Jon Schiedel on
the wings has been a very pleasant surprise.
"We definitely have offensive strength as far as putting the puck in the
net goes," said Exeter coach George Pratt.
What most third lines are supposed to do is kill penalties and since the
Hawks spend a lot of time in the box, that puts a lot of weight on their spe-
cial teams.
The Hawks have a lot of role players on this year's team and that will be
a big plus in the post -season.
"Each guy knows who is going to score the goals and who is going to do
the checking," said Pratt.
Veteran Ray Cousineau who in the past has been used more offensively,
along with rookie Steve Farquhar are the first guys on the ice when the
refs arm goes up. But this duo can also score and they've put some impres-
sive numbers up.
The Hawks biggest problem this year has been giving up too many
goals. They've got the firepower up front, but this team has trouble keep-
ing the puck out of their own net.
They've got seven defensemen so Pratt has moved Nathan Blight and
rookie Brian Gardner up front. It's worked as both are very physical as
they patrol the wings.
On the blueline, neither Dave Dalrymple or Jamie Cornish have shown
the ability they have in the past and they'll have to concentrate on the task
at hand. They can dominate if they want to.
As far as goaltending is concerned, this is where the Hawks are the
weakest. Second -year puckstopper Kirk Durand has simply let in too
many goals and rookie Chris Lyndon hasn't had enough work to get him
playoff sharp.
Game One: Tues. in Exeter, 8:30 p.m.
Game Two: Fri. in Seaforth, 8:30 p.m.
Game Three: Sat. in Exeter, 8:30 p.m.
Game Four: Sun. in Seaforth , 3 p.m.
Game Five: Fri: Mar. 4 in Exeter, 8:30 p.m. (if necessary)
Game Six: Sat. Mar. 5 in Seaforth, 7:30 p.m. (if necessary)
Game Seven: Sun. Mar. 6 in Exeter, 7:30 p.m. (if necessary)
Irish will take on the Flyers
LUCAN - Tonight when the Lucan Irish host the
Alvinston Flyers in Game One of the OHA Junior
Development League west division quarter -finals,
8:15 p.m. they'll go in with confidence.
In all five meeting between the two clubs this sea-
son, the Irish have won all five. Not surprising con-
sidering they finished second in the division with a
solid 27-11-2 record.
What has plagued the Irish this year is lack of
consistency, although that may seem hard to believe
with their record. This is a hot -and -cold team which
sometimes has it and other times does not.
There are 10 rookies on this team and two of them
are part of the most offensively productive line.
Veteran centre Greg DePrest among the top in divi,
sional scorers, is flanked by newcomers Rob Davis
and Dwayne Price.
Coach Ken Needham has also received significant
contributions from Travis Stinchcombe and big
Mike Reid. On the blueline, veterans Ed VanKer-
koerle, Keith Robson and Craig Brown will lead the
way back there.
The Irish recently acquired defenseman Jamie
Hicks and with Colin Kowalchuck out, he'll be
counted on to do a lot.
Kowalchuck has a broken thumb and that must be
a popular injury as that's what will keep Jeremy Je-
mec and Shawn Fairweather on the shelf.
Goaltending is the key to winning the playoffs. A
hot goalie will win the big games and really boost a
team.
While Steve Watson and Stuart Ashton do not ex-
actly live up to the ghosts of Irish goalie's past, they
have been in the top five in goals against average in
the west.
"We've been blessed with good goaltending in the
past five years, but now that they're average, people
start pointing fingers," said Needham.
Game One: Wed. in Lucan, 8:15 p.m.
Game Two: Fri. in Alvinston, 8:30 p.m.
Game Three: Sun. in Lucan, 2 p.m.
Game Four: Tues. Mar. I in Alvinston, 7:30 p.m.
Game Five: Wed. Mar. 2 in Lucan, 8:15 p.m.
Game Six: Fri. Mar. 4 in Alvinston, 8:30 p.m.
Game Seven: Sun. Mar. 6 in Lucan, 2 p.m.
Note: Games five, six and seven are if necessary.
•
Mohawks drop opener, bounce back to take lead
By Fred Groves
T -A staff
EXETER - Six goals in the sec-
ond period was the difference Sun-
day night at the South Huron Rec-
reation Centre as the Exeter
Mohawks trounced visiting Petro-
lia Victorians 8-3.
After dropping the opening game
of the best -of -seven Southwestern
Ontario Senior 'A' Hockey League
playoff series, the Mohawks
bounced back to win two straight.
Exeter •was down 1-0 after the
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Thursday, March 10, 1994
At the Exeter Legion
William Street
presented by
411€n S
Senior ,
' hockey
first period but when the horn
sounded at the end of 40 minutes,
the scoreboard was showing a huge
6-1 lead.
"We haven't gotten together as a
playoff team," said Exeter coach
Dave Revington of the slow start.
"We're not in sync and a lot of
guys haven't played in a month."
In the opening game played
Tuesday in Exeter, veteran Kevin
McArter was given a gross miscon-
duct. The Mohawks opted to buy
his suspension back and it paid off
in hig dividends Sunday as he had
two goals and an assist.
"He's an important guy," said
Rcvington. "Since he's been here,
and in junior, he's been a danger-
ous player in the playoffs."
Big Grcg Murray had a goal and
an assist while Craig Oster, Grcg
Snyder, Greg Ryan, Jon Ruder and
Jacques Beaulieu also connected.
Answering for the visitors were
Dave Miller, Greg McEachern and
Lance Marcy.
The key to several of the Mo-
hawks goals, including Buder's
which went under the crossbar and
Beaulieu's shorthanded marker late
in the game was strong forecheck-
ing.
"When a team forechecks well it
can really show the weaknesses in
the other team's defence," said Rev-
ington.
Kevin Luckhurst started in goal
'for the Vies, but Greg Stock came
on to start the third. Stock made
some hig saves including point
blank on McArter.
Rick Pikul, in his ninth season
with the Mohawks, picked up his
second straight playoff win in net.
Although the Mohawks have a
slim one game lead in the series, it's
still a long way from being over.
"They've got good goaltending
and six or seven key guys," said
Revington.
Mohawks 4. Vics 3
With a better lineup than they
had for Game One, the Mohawks'
got the winner late in Friday's
game.
Jacques Beaulieu got the winner,
a powerplay marker. Also scoring
for Exeter were rookie defenseman
Greg Ryan with two and Greg Mur-
ray.
Vies 5. Mohawks 2
If the Mohawks could be consid-
ered a car last Tuesday night, it
would be one held together with
wire and chewing gum.
The motor was slowly humming
the first period in Exeter but then
the wheels fell off and the Mo-
hawks came to a sudden stop.
Stefan Camire had his back to the
boards when he scored on a long
shot and the only other Mohawks
goal, coming early in the second
period saw Owen Lessard score
into a wide-open net.
The Mohawks went deep into the
hockey ranks and called up Brian
Gardner and Jamie Cornish• from
the Junior 'D' Hawks. Both were
physical especially Gardner who
just a year ago played midget hock-
ey.
There was some excitement in
Some confusion
As of Tuesday morning, the Exeter Mohawks
were still uncertain of when future games in
the OHA Senior 'A' series with Petrolia will
be. Although the OHA president was making
a decision, ice time availability in Petrolia
seemed to be the problem.
this contest as McArter and Dennis
Mesion tangled within five minutes
of the start of the game and after
referee Rick Singleton slapped
them both with gross misconducts
the altercations seemed to continue
in the hallway.
Both teams rushed off the ice and
towards the hallway but nothing
more developed.
Mohawks moments:...Sunday
was one of the best crowds of the
year and the fans really put their
support behind the Mohawks...T-A
Mohawk three stars from Sunday:
I. Kevin McArter 2. Grcg Murray
3. Greg Ryan...
Seaforth Centenaires
Sat. Feb. 26
South Huron Rec Centre
8:30 p.m.
Exeter goalie Rick Pikul was not quick enough on this shot
during last Tuesday night's game. However, he and the Mo-
hawks rebounded to win two straight playoff games against
Petrolia.
..1