Clinton News-Record, 1984-02-08, Page 14Wi.C3cE 14—CLINTON NEW �'.S- geORDR W ,DN B.DAY, FEBRUARY 8,1984
Sports
Rpurt on Sports
By Rod Hilts
Junior C preview
This year's Central Junior C playoffs just
won't be the .same without the Clinton
Mustangs. This season the Mustangs
stumbled to their worst record since the
team's inception into Junior C in the late
1960's. The team won only six out of 30
games this year - finishing rock bottom in
the six -team league. The biggest battle the
Mustangs experienced all season was with
the Walkerton Black Hawks. Walkerton won
the battle and finished one point ahead of the
Clinton.
Clinton and Walkerton missed the fourth
and final playoff position by more than 15
points.. .
- -Last=weekend-the-leagueawa.rds-banquet-
was held in Hanover and as anticipated the
first -place Wingham Ironmen cleaned up.
High -flying Ironmen left-winger Troy
Pocaluyko was named rookie of the year
and top scorer. The native of Howick
Township netted- .35 goals and added 3t
assists for 69 points in 30 games. Pocaluyko
played a big part on Wingham's number one
line that included Rick Scimgeour and Team
Captain Kevin Coultes.
Wingham's goaltending duo of Rob
Schistad and Mike Campbell were presented
with an award for the best goals -against -
average of 4.10 a game.
Ironmen Peter Goodall . was named best
defenceman of the year. -
Rugged right-winger Larry McPherson of
the Kincardine Kinucks was named the
league's -most valuable player. McPherson's
presence on the ice was always seen in the
form of goal scoring and.bone-crushing body
blasts.
The voting for the player awards was done
by each team. The teams were asked to vote
for three players in each category and were
not allowed to vote for members of their own
team.
Playoff action
The playoff match -ups will be interesting.
The Wingham Ironmen will faceoff against
the hard-hitting Hanover Barons. The other'
series will feature the battle of Highway 21
with the Port- Elgin Bears entertaining the
Kincardine Kinucks.
According to Clinton Mustang sources the
Wingham Ironmen talked "over con-
fidently" at the awards banquet on Satur-
_..day_.. Ozer_ confidence .and..a.number of other
factors could lead to their downfall in the
playoffs..
• It's no secret that if a team plays physical
against Wingham, they can beat them.
Wingham has a small -sized team, that is
loaded with fast . skaters: To defeat the
Ironmen, . a team must bump and grind
them. You'll' rarely win a shoot-out with
them. .
Also, in the four times Clinton faced them,
their scoring seemed to be limited to their
one big line. Shut down that big line and your
chances of knocking off the Ironmen
drastically increase.
The Hanover Barons should give
Wingham a good battle, provided they have
a full roster. It has been reported that the
Barons have seven players on the mend and
this could be the difference in this series. If
the Barons exhibit the tenacity that has
earned them the reputation of being a
physical hockey club, the series will go to
thein. If not, the Ironmen sharpshooters
will rip holes in the Barons' armor.
Bears nervous?
After talking to Port Elgin Coach Jim
Tombros last week, I discovered that in-
juries could hamper the Bears chances of
winning the championship. Tombros said he
had four defensemen out for the remainder
of -the season. This eould-de€init-elyhurt-Port
Elgin's chances, especially against teams
like Kincardine and Wingham, that possess
a lot of fire power. Tombros said he didn't
envy the team (Wingham) who faces
Hanover in the first round.
"Whoever plays Hanover will be tired
after. that series. It will be physical," he
said.
Despite the status of their defenseman,
the Bears have the most balanced lines in
the league. Port Elgin is the type of team
that can adapt to any style of play. Their
size allows them to rough it up, if need be,
and they have an abundance of diggers that
can score goals. .
The Kincardine -Port Elgin series should
go to the Bears, with coaching being a
factor. Tombros has turned the Bears into a
contender, from a team that last year
finished near the league basement. His
winningattitude and coaching success with
-the OWen-SoundJ-uvenileslast season has
obviously rubbed off on the Bears.
When the chips are down in this series, the
Bears have to be favored.
. f.
Clinton Mustangs end season in league basement
By Rod Hilts
It's been a very, very trying season for
everybody," -Head Coach Bob Zimmer said
following the Clinton Junior C Mustangs'
final game of the season - a 5-1 home -ice loss
to the Port Elgin Bears. "The team lost a
manager, trainer and coach last year. Com-
mitments by some of last year's players
were broken. Commitments that were made
by coaching staff and some executive
members were broken, and this led to a bad
year."
Friday night's loss gave the Mustangs a
season record of 6-21-3, the worst in the
team's history. Clinton finished last in the
six -team loop, one point behind the Walker-
ton Black Hawks.
The Port Elgin -Clinton game was easily
the most boring game of the season. The
Bears held a 2-0 lead into the third period
and coasted for most of the final 20 minutes.
Eight minutes into the game, Port Elgin
opened the scoring on a garbage goal. Bill
Jacques, who scored three on the night, got
credit-forthe-opener ashis-shoit deflected off
a. Clirtori de€enserari's--skate --past= Terry
, Bean': Lush and' Jim Binns assisted on
the goal. Jacques put the Bears up by two
goals with 38 seconds remaining in •the
period. The goal carne when Jacques was
allowed to cruise out of the corner and take
two shots on Bean from point blank range. ---
. Optimists' Sports weekend
Sports enthusiasts take notice! The
Clinton Optimist Sports Weekend kicks off
Friday with an OBA women's and men's
broomball tournament. The games will run
Friday night from 7:30 p.rn. to 1 p.m. Action
continues on_Saturday with, -games running, -
from 1:20 p.m. to 1 a.m.
On Sunday, a Cross Country Poker Ski
Rally will be held with registration from 1 to
2:30 p.m. at the arena. Also on Sunday, an
Optimists' Tri -star hockey contest will, be
held. Registration time. is 2 p.m. in the
following age categories: 5-7, 8-9, 10-11. and
12-13. Prizeswill be awarded to the winners.
Come out and make this weekend a family
affair.
Clinton was outshot 14-6 in the period and
played like a team that had missed the
playoffs - with no effort or desire.
The second period was scoreless,
however, the Mustangs had some good scor-
ing opportunities. Clinton was on the
powerplay three times in the period but
were unable to beat goaltender Todd Root.
In an effort to shoot some enthusiasm into
the roster, Coach Zimmer inserted
defenseman Wayne Smith to right wing.
The Mustangs came close in the closing
minutes, when Brent Daw was robbed from
in close. Daw, ,playing his final game as a
junior, burst up the wing and let a wrist shot
go that trickled wide off the pads of Root.
Port Elgin increased their lead to three
goals in the final frame when Gary Tucker
connected on the powerplay. While Grant
Garrow was in the penalty box serving a
holding penalty, Jacques spotted Tucker
alone in the slot. Tucker took the perfect
pass from behind the net and drilled a snap
shot past the stick of Bean.
One; minute -and- 10 seconds later, Kevin
Lee- seorod-;for the -Mustangs.- Lee -pickerug
Garrow's rebound and backhanded it over
Root, who was on the ice out of the play.
Brad Hymers also drew an assist on the
goal. "
The Bears buried Clinton's chances of a
comeback at the midway .point of the.period.
The Clinton Mustangs ended their season on a losing note as the Port Elgin Bears slashed
them 5-1. Clinton finished last in the league with only six wins in 30 games. (Rod Hilts
photo)
•
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482-3934
Doug Bartlett hammered the nails into the
coffin when his 20 -foot wrist shot sailed past
Bean's blocker, just inside the post. Lush
and Richard McLay assisted.
Jacques scored his third of the game with
36 seconds left. After Lush was foiled on his
attempt to score, Jacques snared the loose
puck and slapped it between Bean's pads.
Coaches' Corner
Following the Mustangs' final game,
Coach Zimmer chose his words carefully in
describing the future of the Clinton fran-
chise.
"I think if we're going to have a team next
year, we've got to run it differently. We
have to show more class. We nickle and lim-
ed ourselves to death," he said.
"On a positive note we had some kids that
improved a lot this season. Hopefully next
season we'll be stronger with the experience
we got this year."
2inuner isolated a .couple of events in the
season that adversely affected his club.
"A'ouple of personal vendettas dampen-
-ed the spiritso1 this team from hospitality-
night
ospitalitynight on," he noted.
Zimmer added that he'd like to retain the
coaching reigns of the Mustangs next season
but said that decision will be left up to the
team's Board of Directors.
Playoff match -ups .
The first -place Wingham Ironmen will
face the Hanover Barons and Port Elgin will
enjoy home -ice advantage in a series with
Kincardine.
Final standings
Wingham Ironmen
Port Elgin Bears
Kincardine Kinucks
Hanover Barons
W
19
17
16
15
Walkerton Black Hawks 6
Clinton Mustangs 6
L T PTS
8 3 41
8 5 39
11 3 35
12 3 33
20 4 16
21 3 15
'Stangs stats
G A . PTS
19 19 .38
4 --27--:31_.
14 7 21
13 6 19
4 13 17,
3 13 16
5 10 : 15
7 8 15
6 6 12
3 8 11
4 4 8
4 4 8
2 5 7
3 -4. 7
3 3 6
2. 1 3
3 .0 3
0 3 3
1 0 1
0 0 0
Tom Smith •
—Brad Armstrong
Brent Daw
Dean Armstrong
Daryl Madge
Brad Hymers
Grant Garrow
Randy Marriage
Sean. VanDongen
Jeff LeBeau
Kevin Lee
Shawn Rehbek
T-TonyGibbings -,
Jim Mathers
Wayne Smith
Scott Bailey
Mark Rowe
David Wright
M-Daniiy Horton
M -Bob Dupee
T - no longer with team •
M - Clinton Midget
The Clinton & District
Snowmobile Club
wish to thank anyone who,
helped In any way with the
poker rally January 2
SPECIAL THANKS
to Scruton Fuels for the
use of their premises
AND TO THE
FOLLOWING FOR THEIR
DONATION OF PRIZES:
Burgess Dept. Store
'Wench; I.G.A.
Mct(erlla-Millen
Corrle's Red i White
Leis of Clinton Ltd.
Beckers
B.P.. Royal .Maintenance,
Balli Mitch Furniture
China Palace
B lue Fountain
Herman's Men's Wear
B eattle's Furniture
Mac's Milk
Dixie Les Chicken
Campbell's Men's Wear
Pepl's Plzsa
New Orleans Pizza
Royal sank
Credit Union
Clinton Gas Bar
Haugh Tire
Rank of Montreal
H. Lobb & Sons Ltd.
Paul Kerrigan B.P.
Carter's West End
Cyangrnld
Oliver Macintosh
Topnotch Feeds
Milton Diets Ltd.
Co-op Ssaforth
U.A.P. Automotive
Dale Pump & Service
Agromart
Pepo's Restaurant
Fleming Feed.Mlll
John Wise Insurance
Benmlller Inn
Ailan Finch
Don't Forget!
REGIONAL RIDE
Saturday, February 18
starting at the
Blue Fountain at 9 AM
CLINTON OPTIMIST CLUB
Winter
figitsl/Ca�.aiva//
THIS WEEKEND: FEBRUARY 10-11-12
CLINTON OPTIMIST •
BROOM BALL
TOURNAMENT
(OBA sanctioned)
MENS' AND LADIES'
TEAMS
BEGINNING . --
FRIDAY
_FRIDAY FEB. 10
7:30 pm -1:00 am
SATURDAY FEB. 11
1:20 pm -1:00 am
"Come out and
enjoy some good
competitive
Broomball"
CONTEST
FOR YOUTH
AGES: 5-7; 8-9
10-11; .12-13
HELD AT: CLINTON ARENA
DATE:
FEB. 12, 1984
gTR,BTION TIME:
2:00 PM
CROSS-COUNTRY
POKER
SKI RALLY
K
4
A
At
PLACE: CLINTON ARENA
DATE: SUNDAY FEB. 12
REGISTRATION TIME:
1 pm -2:30 pm
PRICE. 2.00 Hand or 3/$5.
--Great prizes-
-Everyone Wlekome®