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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1999-04-21, Page 21...... Panther rugby and soccer teams have mixed bag week . Page 22 Exeter Minor Hockey honours its best players. Page 23 S Exeter Times -Advocate 1, ‘ t t , t tt t, • _ .._.. SPolrrs Tips! Contact Sports Editor Craig Bradford Tel: (5 1 9) 235-1336 ext. 113 Fax: (519) 235-0766 E-mail: sports©SouthHuron.com Wednesday, April 21, 1999 Page 21 Let the celebrations begin. Lucan Irish forward Justin Mulligan celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during Friday's 5-2 win at Wellesley Lucan took theme -series four gamestto-two and arc the '98/99 OHA Jr. 0 champions. Irish crowned Jr. D all -Ontario champions BycziticiAZTLFd WELLESLEY — There was no doubt which team was the best one on the ice at the Wellesley Arena Friday night. The Lucan Jr. D Irish beat the Wellesley Applejacks 5-2 in the sixth game of their all - Ontario championship series to take the title. After a post -game cele- bration with the OHA Cup in the locker room, the Irish made their way back home on the bus for the traditional fire truck ride through the village. About 300 people waited for the team outside the Lucan Arena to cheer their Ontario champions. Wellesley scored first about five minutes into the first period while on the powerplay. Lucan's Adam Wagner evened the score three minutes later with assists by Mark Phillips and Neal Costello. The Irish went up 2-1 when Andy Marshall scored just 13 seconds into the second period from Scott Wheatley and Neil Judson. Wellesley tied the game at 2-2 by scoring another power- play goal just short of five minutes into the frame. That would be all for the Applejacks offence. Lucan's Justin Mulligan notched the winning goal with eight minutes left in the second period from Chad Greenlee and Phillips. Mulligan made it 4-2 for the Irish by scoring a powerplay goal less than a minute into -the third period with assists by Jason Amey and Phillips. Derek Graansma scored the final insurance goal The cup runneth over. Lucan Irish assistant captain Mark Phillips, captain Mike Jaremchenko, Jr. D convenor Wayne Smith and assistant captains Chad Greenlee and Greg Henderson pose with the OHA Cup the Irish won after defeating defending champion Wellesley Friday night. for the Irish with just over five minutes to go in the game. Lucan's penalty killing unit finally solved Wellesley's potent power- play that scored almost all of their goals in the series. Three killed off penalties, including two in the third period, were key to Lucan's win. Lucan goaltender Mike Boyce made several big stops throughout the game on Wellesley. shots 'that looked like sure goals. The Irish won game five 3-2 in overtime at home Wednesday. Wellesley got the jump on the Irish by scoring first about nine minutes into the game and then took a 2-0 lead four minutes later. Both goals were scored on the powerplay. Lucan got one back when Costello scored with 39 seconds left in the first period from Roy Davis. Lucan and Wellesley played a scoreless second period. It looked like the Applejacks were going to hold on for a 2-1 lead but Mulligan spoiled Wellesley's plans by scor- ing the tying goal with 47 seconds left in the third from Corey Smith. Greenlee scored the overtime winner from Mulligan at 7:53 of the extra frame. The game was delayed with 4:47 left in the first period when referee Rick Singleton got cut badly on the hand from an errant skate blade. Backup ref/goal judge Steve Gould came in to replace Singleton and the remain- ing time in the first was tacked on to the second period. Lucan won game four 3- 2 last Tuesday. Marshall struck for the first goal of the game midway through the first period assisted by Smith. Wellesley and Lucan both scored two goals in the second period. Both Irish goals were scored by Graansma with assists on the first goal by Greenlee A thank you hug. Lucan Irish player ScottWheatley hugs Irish president Ann Hardy following Friday's game at Wellesley. Lucan won 5-2 and are the provin- cial Jr. D champions. •::c�.r. ';:%}.:�}:�:�:<;:; f;;<�,'::•yrFs�:uf,. .: �... !.:.; :.;fir:; t::�::i:r::Li r.•'.•�i::i�:.s'•�yA?Li4 j:y>�a1%'..':..L•:J The champions.The Lucan Jr. D Irish celebrate with the traditional on ice team photo after their 5-2 game six win over host Wellesley Friday.The Irish won the Jr. D all -Ontario final series four games to two. and Wheatley, the helper on the second tally by Scott Phillips. Both teams were kept off the score- board in the third period and Lucan held on for the win. Lucan co -coach Bill Bourne said the turning point in the series came in game four when he and co -coach Jason Bukala changed the line- up to bring in more speed from some younger play- ers. Graansma and Wagner, healthy scratch- es for most of the playoffs, came in to play games four to six on offence and Dave Steer came in to play defence. Graansma scored three goals in the last two games of the series and Bukala said Steer was solid on the blueline. "You play a hunch and it turns out," Bourne said. He said the final series win was a team effort but highlighted the play of Mulligan up front, Smith on defence and Boyce in net. Mulligan scored 21 goals in the playoffs and racked up 91 points in 61 total games this season. Bukala said the turn- around last week (Lucan was down two games to one) was due to his team playing more disciplined hockey by not taking as many unnecessary penal- ties and being patient. Wellesley plays a method- ical system and Lucan needed to stay back and take advantage of any Applejack mistakes. Bukala and Bourne did- n't go to a short bench like many teams do in pressure situations. Bukala said all four lines saw ice time throughout the series. Friday's win showed how much better Lucan has been this season com- pared with their competi- tion. The Irish outper- formed Wellesley at both ends of the rink and when See IRISH page 22