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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1994-9-14, Page 14Page 14 Times -Advocate, September 14, 1994 Sidelines L AM By Fred Groves See you at the rinks For the next eight months, mom and dad will be sipping coffee, getting up early and"— stamping their feet to keep them warm. Yes folks, it's hockey season again. Hockey is a family sport, just ask any car dealer who sells vans. I think the van was first thought of when this sport was conceived. They are a wonderful mode of transportation true but look inside one of these some- time when you are passing through a parking lot at a hock- ey tournament. There are empty coffee cups, pop cans, wrappers from various fast food restaurants and of course the odd blanket and pil- low in the hack for nap time. Over the past 50 years, hockey has not changed. The main ob- jective is still to put the puck in the other teams' net. The players have gotten bigger and stronger, the network through junior hockey to get them to the big leagues has improved, but the grass roots have not. Every successful hockey player will tell you that it was the original foundation he had in minor hockey that got him go- ing. I have a deep respect for guys who go out in the cold win- ter after winter and saying at the end of the year, "that's it, I've had enough, I'm going to take a year off." They never do, and you love them for it. The Joes, Petes and Harrys are going to strap on the blades and sit hours in their rec room plan- ning practices and game strat- egies. Let's for a second ex- amine your average peewee hockey coach.(< And for the sake of conversa- tion, we'll say he is the peewee rep coach which means he has to start off the season by taking up to 50 kids and selecting the best 13 or 14. Once the two-week stint of to- tal aggravation is over, they be- gin whipping their team into shape. Good coaches have a strategy at the beginning, that is to work with the team, develop them into a fine moulded unit and if and when that is ac- complished, get ready for the playoffs. A wise hockey coach once told me, "the regular season means nothing." Well he is right because if you make the playoffs and are comfortable with what you have on the ice, surprising things can happen, just ask the Vancouver Canucks. Hockey season has started and to all the moms and dads who bindle up the family and head to the rink, to all the coaches who will try and make the best team he can and to all the volunteers who just like the sport - here's wishing you a good one and I'll sce you at the rinks. Have you seen the Jensen brothers from Michigan who play men's doubles tennis? They are quickly becoming fan favourites with their out- landish style which 1 personally think is going to push a breath of fresh air into the the sport which at times can get a little boring. Their dad played pro football with the New York Giants and their twin sisters also play ten- nis. Luke and Murphy Jensen have really built up a reputation as guys who just want to have fun and say heh, "it's just a game." This Week in Sports... • Ladies leagues conclude - page 15 • Panthers return - page 16 Hawks looking for goal production With Shayne Robinson gone, they'll have to search for offence By Fred Groves T -A staff HENSALL - While the defence of the Exeter Hawks may look good for the upcoming OHA Junior Development League season, the question is, where is the offence going to come from. Gone are two-thirds of the best offensive line in the league as Scan McCann is the lone survivor watch- ing brother Todd graduate and Shayne Robinson head to the Lon- don Junior 'B' Nationals. Last year Robinson was the west division MVP and leading scorer as he scored 50 goals and had 66 as- sists for 116 points. Todd McCann had 28 goals and 36 assists for 64 points. "We're not going to find someone to score 50 goals, that doesn'[,exist. We're not trying to replace Shayne Robinson," said new GM -coach Dave Revington. Sean McCann, entering his third season, had 37 goals and 56 assists for 93 points. He and Nathan Burns 27-21-48 will be counted on to pro- vide a lot of offence. Ray Cousineau, who along with dcfenscman Jamie Cornish arc the overagers, played a primarily de fcnsive role last year as he and roo- kie Steve Farquhar were the pri- mary penalty killers. "We need better team defence, the goals against average has to comc down," said Revington. Besides McCann, Burns, Cou- sineau and Farquhar, other re- tuning forwards trying to make the team are Mark Livermore, 13-18- 31; Shane MacDonald, 5-12-17; Scott Smale, 4-11-15 and Lee Gib- bings who saw limited duty last year due to injuries. Revington, who along with Barry Baynham and John Pryde are se- lecting the 1994-95 team, all come over from the Exeter Senior 'A' Mohawks. HAWKS HAPPENINGS Sean McCann • ... retuning scorer Exhibition games: -Sept. 17, host Kincardine, 1 p.m. in Hensall); Sept. 18, host North Middlesex, 2 p.m. (in Hensall); Sept. 23, in Kincardine, 8:30 p.m.; Sept. 24, in North Middlesex, 8:30 p.m. Season opener: Oct. 1 in Port Stanley, 8:30 p.m. Home opener: Oct. 7, host Luc: 8:30 p.m. Moved on: Dave Dalrymple, Todd McCann (Graduated); Shayne Robinson (London Jr. B Nationals); Jon Schiedel (St. • Marys Jr. B Lincolns): °Kirk' Durand (not returning). "We coine in with a very ob- jective point of view. I think it's good, some of the veterans are pushed. Any player that's been here before, you expect a lot out of them," said Revington. On the blueline, veteran Dave Dalrymple graduates after spending six years with the Hawks. The defence will be anchored by Cornish, Mark Lynn, Jason McBride and Greg Dalrymple. Last year, coach George Pratt, Jr. con- verted Nathan Blight and Brian Gardner to forward and it worked as they brought a lot of muscle up front. "We have what seems to be a pretty good group of defensemen," said Revington. Between the pipes, rookie Kirk Durand won't be back so look at Chris Lyndon who had a 3.78 goals against average in 1,221 minutes to see a lot of work. Revington expects either Exeter Minor Hockey product Darren Kints or Stephen Township's Jason 4111414.1.4 Glavin to make the team. , There were 45 prospects out to the weekend tryouts. "1 thought we'd have 50 anyway but there's eight or 10 others we ex- pect to be around," said Revington. The Hawks have two exhibition games this weekend in Hensall as they will take on Kincardine at 1 p.m. on Saturday and the following day at 2 p.m. host the North Mid- dlesex Stars. Jamie Cornish, left; and Ray Cousineau are the returning overagers to the.Hawks and both will be counted on to play a big role on this year's OHA Junior Development League team. Irish will have tough selections to make Four overagers with DePrest, Riddell, Brown, Moore By Fred Groves T -A staff LUCAN - The biggest decision the new coaching staff of the Lucan Irish will have this fall won't be which rookies to select but rather, what veterans to keep. Last Wednesday coaches Scott Bogan and Jeff Dalrymple opened camp for the OHA Junior Develop- ment League west division team and four overagers arc expected to show up. The first night saw the Irish's leading scoter Greg DePrest, the league's Player of the Year Scott Riddell and high -scoring forward Steve Moore out for a workout with defenseman Craig Brown also ex- pected. Every junior hockey teams is lim- ited to just two overagers. "I think everyone will get a fair and equal shot," said manager Pat Ryan. He replaces Ken Freeman who was with the Irish for a dozen years while the duo of Bogart and Dalrymple take over for Ken Need- ham after five years behind the bench. The Irish compiled a 27-11-2 record last year, second behind the two-time defending provincial champions Mitchell Hawks. Lucan scored 225 goals while allowing 147. While Ryan watched from the bench of one team during the scrimmages and the coaches watched from the stands, the man- ager liked what he saw. "I like the enthusiasm of some of the kids out here. There's a fresh at- titude." Other veterans that were on the ice Wednesday were goalie Stuart LUCKY CHARMS Scott Riddell... on of ur overseers with M Exhibition games: - Sept. 21, host Port Stanley, 8:15 p.m.; Sept. 24, at Porty Stanley, 8:30 p.m.; Sept. 26, host Langotn, 8:45 p.m.; Sept, 28, host Thamesford, 8:16 p.m. Season opener: Sept. 30 at Seaforth, 8:30 p.m. Home opener: Oct. 6 vs North Middlesex, 8:16 p.m. Moved on: Ed Vankerkoerle, Andy Ross, (graduated); David Mancari, (Orangeville Jr. B); Dwayne Price, Shawn Fairweather (St. Marys Jr. 8); Jamie Hicks, (Port Stanley Jr. D), Ashton, forwards Rob Davis, Tra- vis Stinchcombe and Steve Mat- thews and defenseman Keith Rob- son. Lots of goalies: There were 14 puckstoppers out to the opening night and they will try for spots past veterans Steve Watson and Stuart Ashton. Watson had a 3.39 GAA in 1,432 minutes last year while Ashton, playing 973 minutes was 4.07 GAA. •-"I think it's important to have sjrong defence. You build from the goaltending. We're short on num- bers on defence," said Ryan. The Irish basically went with five defenscmen last year in Robson, Brown, Aaron Moran, Ed Van- Kerkoerle and David Mancari. VanKerkoerle, along with captain Andy Ross graduated and Mancari has gone to play Junior 'B' in Orangeville. Last year Needham had the sixth spot on the blueline either filled by Ross, bantam -aged Corey Smith who has signed with the St. Marys Junior 'B' Lincolns or Jamie Hicks who came at the end of the season'' Needham was very high on Hicks who Ryan reported was released by the Irish last Tuesday and signed by the Port Stanley Lakcrs who were tops in the east last year but now re -join the west loop. "He just wanted a change of scen- ery, it was out of the blue," said Ryan. The Irish continued their training camp on Friday were back on the ice Monday and again today. Their first exhibition game is this Wednesday when they play host to the Lakers at 8:13 p.m. Lucan Irish coach Jeff Dalrymple, right; towers over a pros- pect during . Wednesday's opens g night of training camp in Lucan. 1