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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1994-9-28, Page 14Page 14 Times -Advocate, September 28, 1994 This Week in Sports... • Panthers win all three- page 15 • Ringette holds promo day - page 16 Sidelines r By Fred Groves Let Bs give young players a shot at big leagues Why do they call it the OHA Junior Development League when the majority of teams don't want to develop younger players? Three years ago the league de- cided to take on a new image complete with a logo which was an attempt to shake the old at- titude of Junior 'D' hockey being nothing more than a league filled with fights. It was also to get rid of that stigma that 'D' was the lowest calibre of hockey behind 'C, 'B', 'A', and Major 'A'. If you look at pre -season games, there isn't a lot of difference, if any, between 'D' and 'C. The Junior Development, League has a rule which states each team can only sign four players who are 16 -years -old or younger. My question is if we want to label it 'development', first of all get rid of the overager rule and second, make the num- ber of younger players un- limited. "When there is opportunity and if they are physically and mentally prepared, they should be able to play," said Exeter Hawks' coach and general man- ager Dave Revington. The Hawks had a bunch of youngsters in their training camp including bantam -aged de- fenseman Mark Bell, midget - aged Bill Hodge and speedy for- wards Craig Corriveau and Ste- phen Township's Jeff Glavin. If these players didn't make the Hawks they would be head- ed back to minor hockey where no doubt they would be a big ad- dition to those teams involved. But, my point is, if the player has got ability, let's develop him at a young age. Let him play the highest calibre possible and give him a shot at making it to the big leagues. The league and the majority of it's teams however don't seem to agree with me on this one. "They had a discussion at the general meeting and they want to keep it at two over-agers and four I 6 -or -under. We don't want to rob the bantam -aged teams," said OHA Junior Development League convener Wayne Smith. Deep down inside, if a bantam coach saw somebody like Bell trying to make a junior club, he'd wish them all the best for the future and get on with what he has to work with. When the Junior'B' scouts, and there are a lot of them, come to the rinks looking for talent they are keeping their eye on the youngsters, the 15 and 16 year- olds who are making an impact, that's who they want. Chris Haskett played half-a- ycar with the Lucan Irish, went to Listowel Junior 'B' and is now with the OHL's Niagara Falls Thunder. He was spotted when he was young, what would have happened if he didn't gett ex- posure with the Irish because of his age? Rules and regulations shouldn't stand in the way of a player's future. • Hawks end pre -season undefeated By Fred Groves T -A staff PARKHILL - It's pretty tough to evaluate a hockey team when, for the most part, they are either play- ing shorthanded or with the man advantage. While the Exeter Hawks of the OHA Junior Development League won all four of their pre -season games, some final selections will be tough as they get ready for Sat- urday night's regular season opener against the host Pt. Stanley Lakcrs. Friday night, the Hawks cruised to an 8-1 win over the offensively inadequate Junior 'C' Kings in Kin- cardine. The next night in Parkhill, Exeter beat' the North Middlesex Stars 7-4. Both games, along with the two other pre -season games (one against both these teams), were filled with penalties. Friday saw three Hawks' veterans, Steve Far- quhar, Sean McCann and Nathan Blight ejected for fighting. In both games, the scorekeepers filled two game sheets to record all the penalties. The game against the Stars definitely had a pre -season flavour to it. "You couldn't develop a flow, it was too chippy," said Exeter coach Dave Revington. "There wasn't any more than two consecutive passes. It's tough to evaluate players." In the four pre -season games the Hawks proved they can do it all; score as they averaged 6.25 goals, keep the puck out of the net as goalies Chris Lyndon and Darren Kints gave up a stingy 2.75 goals against average, and play a physical brand of hockey if need be. "Exhibition gaines don't mean anything to mc. We're just trying to figure out who is going to make this team," said Revington. Against the Stars, the visitors had a quick 2-0 lead. Second -year Na- than Burns got his first of three just 34 seconds into the game and then rookie Craig Corriveau connected and it was 2-0 after 20 minutes. Mark Livermore got one past Aa- ron Lucas just 38 seconds into the middle frame before Star s•' veteran HAWKS HAPPENINGS Pre -season top scorers G A P Jeff Glavin 2 7 9 Craig Corriveau 2 4 6 Nathan Burns 4 1 5 Sean McCann 1 4 5 Steve Farquhar 0 5 5 Season opener: Saturday - in Pt, Stanley, 8:30 p.m. Home opener: Friday October 7 - Lucan at Exeter, 8:30 p.m. Steve Bax got one back. After Kints started in net for the Hawks, Revington put Lyndon in with the Stars facing off deep in Exeter's end and enjoying a powerplay. The cold Lyndon had three go past him and it was deadlocked at four after 40 minutes as Kevin Ley - ten, Pete Gallagher and Chris Dow- nie scored for the Stars. The Hawks came to life in the third, blanking the Stars and watch- ing as Burns got the hat trick after rookie hopeful Chris McDonald popped in the winner. Centre Gavin Snell, also trying to make the team, watched from the seats, and pre - dieted a 7-4 Exeter win. With the opener only three days away, Revington is still undecided on what the final ingredients for the 1994-95 edition of thc Hawks will bc. "I don't know what we're missing because I don't know what we've got," said Revington. Hawks 8. Kings 1 Friday night in Kincardine, the visiting Hawks got a very well bal- anced offensive attack as rookie hopeful Jeff Glavin scored twice while Exeter'also received markers from defenseman Bill Hodge, Blight, Greg Dalrymple, Chris Ken- nedy, Bums and Ray Cousineau. Exeter tied the game at one on Hodge's powerplay goal with 28 seconds Icft in the first. The visitors had a 5-1 lead after two as they net- ted three goals in a minute. Kennedy, who played for Wing - ham Junior 'C' Ironmen a ycar ago is a welcome addition to the Hawks as he brings a lot of offensive punch to the team as well as a phys- ical presence. In Parkhill, Kennedy was as- sessed a gross misconduct which might have met a two -game sus- pension but referee Dave Belling changed it to a game misconduct. Greg Dalrymple ... had one pre -season goal Exeter's Bill Hodge, right;. goes heavy into the boards following a solid check by North Mid- _dlesex's Neil Galajda during Saturday night's pre -season game. Irish bow twice to Pt. Stanley Lakers Lucan's leading scorer Greg DePrest could miss a few games By Fred Groves T -A staff LUCAN - With their top scorer on the shelf, the Lucan Irish are go- ing to have to rely very heavily on their defense Last Wednesday night in their pre -season exhibition opener, the Irish were bombed 9-2 by the vis- iting Pt. Stanley Lakers. This game wasn't pretty as both teams only had 11 skaters left come the start of the third period. "I didn't expect that. Once it starts you can't back down. I was surprised how intense they (Lakers) were," said Lucan coach Scott Bo- gart. Trying to impress the coaches with fights and overly aggressive play meant those who did attend the game didn't have much of a chance to watch what the teams could do. The Irish are somewhat handi- capped right now as their top scor- er, overage centre Greg DePrest who had 91 points last year, is sick with possible mono. "We know he's going to be there, he thinks he's going to play Wednesday," said Bogart. The Irish hosted Langton Mon- day and take on Thamesford to- night in their final pre -season game. After taking a pounding last Wednesday, the Irish regrouped and in Pt. Stanley on Saturday night, came up short in a more re- spectable 5-2 score. "We've only had a quarter of our actual lineup in both games," said Bogart who along with co -coach Jeff Dalrymple were still trimming the roster. Lucan returns two dcfensemcn to the blueline this ycar in fourth year Pt. Stanley's leading scorer last year, Scott Faulkner (22), is met by a Lucan defenseman dui Ing last Wednesday's exhibition game In Lucan. Keith Robson and second -year Col- in Kowalchuk who, due to injures only got into 18 games last season. After Wednesday's thumping, Robson said despite a lack of ex- perience on the bluclinc, things don't look that bad. "Everybody is good tempered and want to play," said Robson. Counted on to be a leader and even a candidate to be the captain, he hopes he can teach the newcomers a thing or two. • "They pick up on things I miss. We'll come along as a defensive corps." Monday moming Bogart had some pleasant news to announce as he reported the Irish have signed defenseman Brian Stcifel. The 6'4", 220-poundcr played Junior 'B' in Strathroy a year ago. "He'll fit in quite nicely. He's not just big, he can play too. He'll be the biggest guy in the league." • Referee Steve Gould was very busy last Wednesday night as the gatne was more of a WWF punch - off then it was a hockey game. Vet- erans Steve Matthews, Travis Stinchcombe and rek Greenlee were all tossed. "Everybody was t there trying to show the coach," said Robson. Greenlee was the recipient of a goal stick to the back of the head in the second period as he bumped Lakers' Shawn Scarlett who then reached back and swung his suck into Greenlee. Stuart Ashton started in net for the hosts and gave up two goals in the first period. Lucan Minor Hock- ey Association product Mark Hick- son came on and gave up a couple before a cold Matt Danbrook came off the bench and allowed three goals on three shots and let five pucks get past him. Danbrook was with thc Alvinston Flyers last year and posted a 5.75 goals against average. Lucan has nearly half a dozen hopefuls to share the netminding duties with Jason Glavin. The de- cision will be made before Friday's season opener in Seaforth. Scoring in the pre -season opener for the Irish were Stinchcombe and Devon Prtenjaca. Thc first goal saw Prtenjaca take a pass from Dave Jcnken, knock it down in front of the net before Stinchcombe could get his blade on it. Thc second goal, netted by Prten- jaca was once again in front of the .net and -.pounced on a _rebound which tied the score at 2-2. Travis Stinchcombe ... tough competitor Looking ahead: The Irish took on Pt. Stanley Lakers, losing twice last week but were looking to regroup Monday against Langton and tonight against Thamesford Welcome addition: Added to the lineup is big defenseman Brian Steifel who stands 6'4". Season opener: Friday - in Seaforth, 8:30 p.m. Home opener: Wednesday October 4 - North Middlesex at Lucan, 8:15 p.m. •