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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1997-12-17, Page 561997/98 HURON -PERTH LAKERS AAA AIWA COREY BENDER MINOR ATOM LANC MAJOR PEE WEE CRAIG OVERHOLT MINOR BANTAM "The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of our- selves to the task at hand" Vince Lombard) 1 Times -Advocate, , December 24; 1997 Page 23, 'AAA' Lakers sailing in their second year The elite hockey organization hopes year two will be as successful as its inaugural year By Craig Bradford T A Reporter CLINTON The Huron -Perth 'AAA' Lakers hockey.club are having a whale of a season and hope to -land some of the big ones come playoff time. In.its second season, the Lakers compete in the highest leyel of competition and its players are among the most skilled in the province. Many of the NHLs and OHL's top- players played 'AAA' hockey at one time including last year's number one NHL draft pick, Joe Thornton. ' This season the"Lakers are fielding teams in the minor atom, major atom. minor peewee, major peewee, minorbantam and major bantam age divisions. There will be. no midget team this season due to not enough responses from committed players. Lakers president Charlie Akey said.. Because of'job, school. and other commitments, midget age players (16 -year-olds) find it easier to play in their hometown minor hockey systems rather than the Lakers busy travelling schedule. "Last year was beyond our: expectations," .Akey said of the inaugural year. "By and large we learned you aren't going to go through a season without some ups and downs." • - • This year the.organization tried to incorporate more details into the fee structure and they added to their reference base by purchasing high per: formatice coaching packages. The .Lakers compete in the 'AAA' Alliance' league (some - teams -in the East Division, others in the West) versus teams. from Hamilton, Kitchener/Waterloo,' Brantford and Cambridge in the East and London, Elgin Middlesex, - Lambton and Chatham in the -West. Last season the minor bantams surprised everyone. by ending up. first in .their division, second overall in the league but were ousted in the playoff semi- finals.' That group of players (with some departures ' and new arrivals) is -first in their division as major bantams with a league record of 14-6-1 and overall record of 25.13-2. if the major ban- - tams Win. the.Alliance title,. they get to go onto the :KOBE Cup (Canadian cham- pionships) in Thunder -Bay later in the season. • -' Though..winning championships- is always the ultimate goal. Akey said their mission is to provide high performance hockey for those young. athletes inter- ested in committing to what it takes to get there. "We hope to_be as -competitive as possible," Akey said. "We hope the kids, develop front year to year." And getting to and staying. at. the highest level of competition is easier said than done. Though cost isn't much of an issue (being a Laker costs about as' much .as being in most local minor hocke,i systems), the trips across southern Ontario can be trying and•each-game is a battle. • "The :AAA.' Alliance League is a very competitive•and balanced league and players find out very quickly that there are no easy games and that they will be challenged to•improye their game every time they hit the ice," major atom coach Wayne Andrews said. He added other challenges to players include the late 'nights after road ' games, learning tei play within certain systems and getting used to playing a team game rather than trying for "individual heroics." Major peewee manager -Dan Overholt said there is a marked difference between local minor hockey rep play and 'AAA'. "The speed and the tempo of all games are much faster in 'AAA'," he said. "You must be physically and mentally prepared for all games. The 'AAA' regular season can be compared to rep hockey playoffs — very intense!" Major bantam coach Roy Gingerich agreed. • "'AAA' hockey is demanding of time and resources," he said. "Fora player needing the challenge of superior competitiven 'ss, no other level of minor hockey can match it." • ' Many executives and parents of players in rep hockey feel 'AAA' hockey 'steals' their best players and therefore is unwelcome competition to their organizations. This is what Akey tells/hose critics.of 'AAA' hockey: "The way I put it back to, them is we are simply giving them a choice to play high performance hockey. We're not trying to 'rob' -anyone." •- . . Minor bantam coach Art Larivee concurred. • "Some day all associations, parents and players •will under - 1111 stand that 'AAA, hockey is not 'us' against minor hockey," Larivee said. "It truly is here for only one reason — to pro- - 9 PERTHvide a natural -hockey progression for players that are Eillwilling and able to compete at the next level:" ' , Larivee said three young men from the major ban- . tam team are rated `in the '98, OHL draft' Jeff Finkbeiner, Nick Gibson and Mike Jarmuth. Akey said the major bantams are scouted "rather heavily" by Jr.' ., , B scouts and Central Scouting because 'AAA' "makes it easier for them" to see the best players under one roof. . Former Laker Scott Chambers of Wroketer is with the Tier II Jr. A , Durham Huskies after 'some time with Listowel Jr. B Her)sall's Barry Parsons , 'played some exhibition, games this season with St. Mary's Jr. B; Brandon Martin went to the Listowel Jr. B trainingcamp; and .Finkbeiner along with four other bantams went to the Stratford Jr.,B training camp. ' "It's a forum for the kids to show how good they are," Akey said. "We believe, justifiably,. that the exposure M this level is dramatically increased because of the competition," Larivee said. ' ' " . ' There is also a social aspect to 'AAA; that is different than focal rep hockey. While rep players play with schoolmates and people in their hometown, `AAA' players find, players. they played against in rep hockey, people they disliked on sight, as teammates,- Akey said: , "It breaks down barriers. and it's a whole -new social experience for thie kids;" Akey said. `AAA' COACHES SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS OF THE 1997-98 HOCKEa6 YEAR r9 MINOR ATOM 9 Th'e minor aloins may he 0-18 this season as of Dec. 18. but ,ich Dale Howard sees a ipi of positives about his team .. t 1 ie start of the,scason the minor atoms wcrc.liising'l—o'(he competition with scores like 23-0 now the final buzzer sounds with the team only a few goals down. Howard slid.- .-We haven't won'a league game yet hut•we're getting closer every game:" he std. :We've had to conte a long way:" With .13 plavcrs'shoiwini up for.tryouts. Howard hail 'solicit more play- ers to get Membership up to the current 15. The prohlein. Howard said, is playcrs . tend to stay in their small centres at=such a young age rather than 115 for the elite level ;md all the travel that entails. .. Though Lakers •coaches don't necessarily follow tltcirtcam through the ranks of atom to niidgei. Howard plans 10 move up to major atom with the .•cam next e scasoin. • - "I suffered through all the losses and I'd like 10 sec the. wins.".he said. • Team strengths: strong forwards. • Weaknesses: passing and shooting. lack of interest. "We arc working on our , phsili0nal play." Howard said.•' - •'97/98 goals: "To win a couple of games before dtc season is done." he said; The Minor atoms have won one tournament game. ' Highlight so far this season: That tournament ,vin ovci host Brampton in (.h•tiber. • • Local player -with Howard's comment: Chad Snell of Dashvooid — "He's a • good puck, carrying centre:" Corey Bender of; Zurich — "He's an excellent defenceman." MA.iOR ATOM MI • The major atoms switched'from the'AAMC Alliance's East Division to the West Division this season. coach Wayne Andrews said. adding some teams took the - Lakei•s for granted in their inaugural yearand pale)-liir it. The team finished in fifth place in the East acid lost io Hamilton I who finished second) in the Iirs( play- off round although the Lakers•outplayed thein in the.first two games. Andrews .said the difference was Hamilton's strong goaltgndcr. , • • This.year the Lakers are in fourth place in the West SO far.''. • Team strengths: goaltending. tiirechecking and.defensive play: abilityto rise •up to -big games. _ • - . • Weaknesses; goal scoring (finishing) and consistency. .•'97/98 goals: -"To he well conditioned and playing at our peak come playoff • .. time and challenge for the Alliance championship." Andrews said. • • Highlight so far this season: the team has gone undefeated in its line 10 divi- sional tournament games with wins over the licsi place Op their divisions) Lambkin Lightning. Oktoberfest and Chincousv Blues. • Local player with Andrews curninent:.Michael• MacLean of Exeter defensive defenceman." • - N MINOR PEEWEE MI . Assisfan(coach Tim Vanaosterhoul said he ';tint' there arc a hit of good play- ers around the arca during Last season, hut if you don't have Your 17 or so players •all playing well at the same time. you.won't win a game. The major challenge? • "Preparation!" VahOosterhoul said. "We get into a game and only a handfuhof playcrs arc ready to go, and not always the -same ones. If we arc going to he a strong contender in this league. the whole team has to.be.prepared and pumped for every gine. You can't wait for :someone else — there arc no easy games in 'AAA',, . Hc said some Netter playcrs tried on; this ycat and there arc seven new playcrs. ' He added with another couple qualityadditions next season, the minor peewee Laken "could beat anyone." - • Team strengths; "Keeping the puck out of our net," VanOosterhout said. The team's goals against is down from last season. "We arc in every game and have • only been blown out a couple times this year." . • Weaknesses: scoring. "Every goal we gel requires a lot of hard work. We only have one or two natural point men but that should improve with adjusting to the • higher pace of the game." •'97/98 goals; to play .5(X) hockey starting this month, win the first round of the playoffs and go from there. VanOosterhout said. - • Highlights so far this season; beating Chatham 4-0 with Tony Regier scoring a hat -trick and Brooklin Wheeler notching the shut -out. • • Local playcrs with Van4usleth_ottf's comments: Rcgier of Exeter — good point man; Jason Stuckless of Centralia — likes a strong, rough game; Justin Fields of Hensall — good skater; Matt Martin of Hensall — very strong for his size; Justin Hayter of Dashwood — very quick goaltender. MN MAJOR PEEWEE MI With a new coach (Marty Becker) and four new players, the major peewees had some kinks to get out shown by their 7-22-7 record. Manager Dan Overholt said • the hie challenge for players is to get physically and mentally prepared before all games. especially against the top teams in the league. "You must he prcpared.tot playhard every game," Overholt said, "They are,all very fast pace'-((.. .r— • rr- _— , • Overholt lauded Becker for his hard work. . , "Marty- hag been a huge asset to this team," he said. "He has worked hard 'with each player individually and witH the team as a whole. He has taught set plays such as breakouts. phsitional play and how to play the game when you,don't have the Ovcrfiolt said a Chathatn coach called the Lakers the most improved team in the league." "And J.Ilal is a direct result of the hard work of Marty Becker," Overhoh said.„ • •'team strengths: speed and aggressiveness. ;Always a very positive team attitude regardless of team record." Ovcrholisaid. All 'players arc willing to learn and improve and Overholt said improvement is showed with each game. • Weaknesses: defensive lapses in their own end: not able to capitalize on the powerplay. ' •'97/98•goals'''To he more competitive than last'season with can team in the 'AAA' Alliance League. • Highlight so far this-season:'strong playin tournaments that shows the Lakers can compete with most 'AAA' learns within find outside the Alliance. • • Local players with Overholt's comments: right wing Kevin Overholt iif Exdter — "Hc enjoys the speed and hard hitting 'AAA' provides:" goaltender Cam Becker of Zurich — shares woiklimd with another second year goalie. both getting a lot of work and improving goals against each game: defenceman Nick Haberer add left • wing Lance Bedard of Zurich — both having strong seasons after returning from bro- ken wrists.. MiNOR BANTAM • The -minor bantams aren't on pace to repeat Iasi season's first place finish in their division finish ai 2-12,2 as of Dec. I.6. Coach Art Larivee said he is trying to institute , new -systems and strategics and -get, the guys to believe in the 'we and us' theory." "As soon as we become individualistic: 'teams' will defeat us, Larivee said. Eight players arc hack With the minor hantams and eight arc new. Larivee said the eight veterans have to learn, how to win if the team is. going to reverse their fortunes. "Anything less than 100 per cent from six'guys every. shift will result in a face-off at centre ice." he said. Eight players are also playing high school hockey and one is an affiliate for the' :rhameslord Jr: D team. •• ...ream strengths: big. strong, physical. great work ethic, good goaltending. • Weaknesses: half of the playcrs arc new, learning new systems. •'97198 goals: "To turn the corner and he competitive with.London and Elgin Middlesex." Larivee said. "We said we could•be there by Christmas and we shall he." 'Highlight so far this season; the Lambton tournament where the minor bantams lost 1-0 games. to the finalists and the champions and -won 3 -.Lover Kitchener.. ' L• • Local players.with arivee's comments; Brayden Lord of Crediton — playing smart. Bard hockey: Alex Kcinp of Exeter — has become a good defensive winger; Aaron Lohh of Bruccficld — leading:scorer; Craig Overholt of Zurich — has broken his leg and wrist sq far this year. ' • • Els MAJOR BANTAM MI The Major bantam• s arc hoping to repeat last year's first place finish'and better their playoff plight after being dumped in the second round in '96/97. They're on the right track with a 25-13'-2 overall record so far this season (14-6-1 in league action). Coach RoyGingcrich said a team of this age group "needs a mix of skill and grit." "Solid goaltending and above-average defenceman arc a must," he said on suc- ceeding. "This team hopefully combines these elements." Team strengths: scoring depth -with set. n playcrs in double digits in goals; ;nubile defence; good team speed; even goaltending: goals for/game is above four and goals against under three. • • Weaknesses; "Against the nip bantam teams in Ontario and Michigan there is more emphasis'on physical play," Gingerich said. "As well, experience at this level is basically limited to just one year." . •'97/98 goals; "This tcam is poised to win the Alliance major bantam champion- ship." Gingcrich said. "This goal only opens the door for further playoff 'opportunities." . • Highlight so far this season. current eight game winning streak in league play; tournaments in Sarnia, Whitby and Waterloo. • Local players with Gingerich's_comments and stats as of Dec. 15; left defence - man Barry Parsons of Hensall — physical, steady (39 GP, I G, 6 A, 64 PiM); right wing Brandon Martin of Hensall — skillful and a good shooter (38 GP, 14 G, 15 A, . 16 PIM); right wing Ryan Groot of Hensall — hard-working, effective checker (38 GP, 2 G, 11 A, 52 PIM); goaltender Luke Westlake of Parkhill — good reflexes, hard -worker (19.6 GP, 2.86 GAA, 2 SO); centre Jeff Finkbeincr of Stephen "iwvp. — speedy. good skills (39 GP, 34 0, 16 A, 56 PiM). AAA PLAYERS HAVE THEIR SAY - Please turn to next page •