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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1996-10-16, Page 14Page 14 T7111118-AtIvocute, October Ib, 199b 11 15 ee in por ... Irish beat goons from Seaforth - page 15 • Panthers headed for playoffs - page 16 L• - Hype distracts Hawks at home opener Home opener. Huron County MPP Helen Johns and Exeter Mayor Ben Hoogenboom drop the puck for the Exeter Hawks Junior "D" home opener against Ayr on Friday night. Sean McCann, right, takes the face-off for the Hawks. Your View Letters to the editor Hawks work hard "...we do not feel that your report cast our organization in the proper fight." Dear Editor: We, the Executive of the Exeter Hawks, were ,very disappointecr1 that Dave Urlin and the T -A :chose to target the Exhter Hawks in what was an ob- lous no -news report^on the front pager6f the T -A ast week. The Exeter Hawks have worked very hard at de- veloping a first class program for the youth of our community and we do not feel that your report cast our organization in the proper light. As with numerous other functions held at the Rec Centre and Ag building, our volunteers have ex- pressed concerns about underage drinkers and have attempted to work with the Rec staff to overcome this problem. Last season we do not recall a single incident that would hold our team up for embarrassment. To the contrary, we had a great deal of favorable comments from other centers regarding the composurgnd ma- turity of our playersi(: 1 We would suggestto Mr. Win that4he Rec Board devote equal discussion time to operational issues such as getting heat and hot water to the dressing rooms. Sincerely, Exeter Hawks Hockey Club Inc. Tom McCann, President Exeter Hawks holds on to beat Ayr by one goal in a lack -luster performance at home By Chrb Ska)kos T -A Reporter EXETER - The Exeter Hawks took on Ayr Friday night in what proved to be a lack -luster home opener at the South Huron Rec- reation Centre. After scoring three goals in the first 15 minutes of the game, the Hawks quickly lost their spark and allowed Ayr to come within one goal of tieing the game, but held on to win 4-3. Sean McCann scored 18 seconds into the first period off a feed from Chris Kennedy while Brody Co- chlan scored a minute later, assisted by Jeff Glavin and Craig Corriveau. Corriveau notched another before the frame was out with Glavin and Cochlan picking up the assist at 15:11. Corriveau took his third point of the game when he assisted Dan Taylor's goal in the first minute of the second period and it looked as if Exeter was going to steamroll over their bewildered opponents, but the Hawks seemed to lose their momentum for the remainder of the game. Ayr scored in the closing seconds of the first period and after holding Exeter off for the second, they put another two points on the score- board early in the third period and pulled their goalie in an attempt to tie the game. However, the Hawks fended off the six man attack and took turns missing the empty net until the buzzer sounded. Obviously disappointed, assistant coach feftDalrymple was:teeluctant to speak after the game be de- scribed as a "mess". The players couldn't focus on the game past the first period and he suspects the pre- and post -game ceremonies may have been a dis- traction. Friday night's game was Local athletes pull for team Canada Members of the Bluewater tug-of-war team represent Canada for the first time in history at the World -Tug -of -War Championships in Slagharen, Holland DASHWOOD - Four local ath- letes returned recently from Sla- gharen, Holland where they were competing in the World Tug -of - War Championships with team Canada. Blaine Pryce, Rob Hoffman from Dashwood and Joe Vermunt from Zurich earned a spot on Canada's national tug-of-war team while Erich Freiter, also from Dashwood, was the team's coach. The four men are members of the locally renowned Bluewater Tug - of -War team. They were among the 16 other pullers representing Can- ada at the 'international competi- tion held from September 19 to 22. The two part program featured an open class, where any club team could compete, and a closed com- petition featuring nationally repre- sented teams from 24 countries pulling for the world champion- ship. Team Canada pulled in the 640 kg, 680kg and 720 kg weight class in both the open and in the closed divisions. Their best performance took place in the 720 kg class in the closed division where the teats placed higher than Israel, Italy and the United States. }Miter said Canada's per- formance was respectable con- sidering other countries fielded multiple teams such as the host country which boasted more than 40. More importantly, it was the first time Canada's presence at an international competition was rec- ognized by TWIF (the Tug -of -War Intlernadonal Federation). One year ago, the Cahadian Amateur Tug -of - War Association officially became members of TWIF. The inter- national recognition means Ca- Local pullers, Erich Freiter (coach), Blaine Pryce, Rob Hoffman and Joe Vermunt retumed re- nadian pullers can compete world- cently from the World Tug -of -War Competition held In Holland. The four men were among the wide and this was the that time 16 members representing Canada at the International event. Canada has competed in a non - exhibition capacity. Freiter said he and the three other pullers were honored to be among the first to represent Canada as members of TWIF, but Canada has a long way to go before the sport becomes anywhere near as popular as it is in Europe. Freiter said all of the members on team Canada were from Ontario as other provinces don't have or- ganized associations. "We would have liked to have had representation from other prov- inces but we couldn't find any or- ganized leagues," said Freiter. However, he is optimistic tug-of- war will catch on now that Canada can compete in the international circuit. "'This will help promote the sport and get it growing to the level it's at in Europe," Freiter added. A stumbling block to that has been the media. Even thoughthis was the first time Canada par- ticipated competitively in a world championship, there was no cover- age from Canadian media. Even in Holland, daily papers placed ar- ticles on the event in the back pag- es of their sport sections. Despite the lack of attention at home, Freiter said the trip was worthwhile because the members on the team were exposed to a high calibre of talented pullers while gaining experience in the inter- national forum. While they were there, team members witnessed a world record pull between Ireland and Spain. Both teams were dug in for 55 min- utes and 17 seconds setting a new world record for the longest pull. Freiter pointed out, that endurance is just as important as strength in this team sport. The members on team Canada, however, did not return empty handed. Freiter said they will bring the lessons learned in Holland back to their home clubs to help prepare Canadian pullers for future com- petitions. "Each team had their own style and used different tactics, it was very educational," said Freiter. "We'll try to adopt some of the techniques we've seen." 1 also billed as a homecoming for last year's players who received their championship rings for the 1995-96 season in a private cer- emony after the game. Prior to the game, a league cham- pionship banner was unveiled at centre ice and local dignitaries MPP Helen Johns and Exeter May- or Ben Hoogenboom were present to drop the ceremonial puck. It was also the first time the Hawks stepped on to the ice with their "new look" uniforms and their de- bute appearance was well at- tended by fans who ex- pected a win. "There was too much going on to- night," o- night," said Dal- rymple about the hype. Player Jason McBride agreed. "It was a factor but we have a long way to go and the guys have to look past that," he said. The team's shoddy performance on the ice didn't take anything away from the reception after the game as a large number of people stayed to watch last year's players receive their rings. McBride, who was captain last year, said it was an honor to put a championship ring on his finger, but he promised those wearing them would not get caught up in the hype again. "We can't live in the past any- more, we got our rings now it's time to look forward," he said. "Other teams are going to want to beat the defending champions and we have to be ready for that." Exeter vs, Burford Friday's win over Ayr may have been their worst effort of the sea- son, but Sunday's game against the Burford Bulldogs was their best so far as the Hawks bludgeoned Bur- ford 8-2 and spoiled their home opener. The game was tied at one until the second period when Exeter ex- ploded for five goals and then notched two more in the third. Geoff Mayer claimed the team's first hat trick and was assisted on all ' three goals by his trigger man Brody Cochlan. Ryan Chamney also assisted on two of his goals. Dan Taylor, Joey Mac- Donald and Ben McCann als„ scored and Sean McCarin' puiiipea in two goals, one on a power play and one while shorthanded. Dave Farquhar, Chris McDonald. MacDonald, Jason Rutledge, Chris Kennedy, Greg Goodwin and Mike Bowerman also assisted the goal scoring spree. "It was different (from Friday's effort), they were .focused on the game," said Dalrymple. "It was the best 60 minutes we've played so far." The Hawks remain undefeated in the Junior "D" league and will put their 4-0 record to the test on Fri- day when they host Mitchell for an 8:30 p.m. game at home. Beaming with pride. Jason McBride, below, hoists the championship banner presented to the Hawks by league officials at centre ice prior to Friday night's home opener. South Huron runners race in "mega -meet" KITCHENER - The South Huron District High School Cross Country team participated in a "mega -meet" at Chicopee Ski Hills in Kitchener on Thursday. The competition featured more than 80 schools with as many as 250 runners in each race. Despite the stiff competition the South Hu- ron runners did exceptionally well. The midget girls finished loth overall with Erin Robilliard leading the way placing 17th. She was followed by Kristen Brooks, Fallon Oiler and Brenda Elford. All of the girls finished in the top one-third of the race. Coach Joe Fulop said this was a good indication of how they will do at the Huron -Perth meet next week. In the junior girls race, Mandy Rolph overcame a poor start to fin- ish in the top hall The junior boys had a strong performance placing seventh. Christian Stuckless was 14th out of 300 runners, Dan Snell was 34th and Dave Robilliard 44th. Matt Szabo, Shawn Stuckless, Matt Knox, Matt Verhoog, Joey Forrester, Brian Harrigan and Tim Hundey all pushed hard to be the 4th counting runner. "lits group is likely the strongest junior boys squad from South Huron in over 20 years," said Fulop. The junior boys have their sights set on a Huron -Perth champion- ship and Fulop believes their chances are pretty good, however, they're toughest competition will come from a strong team from Madill. - "Wednesday's race at Madill will settle this rivalry," he said. i