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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-04-16, Page 27`11 Wilkinson na Coach of Year at WMU Former Goderith resident guides team to NCAA and took on assistant coaching positions at North Dakota and, later, Bowling Green, before coming to Western Michigan in 1982. The team recorded an 11-23-2 record in its first year under Wilkinson but he im- proved the team's standing the following year. with a 22-18-2 winning season and a berth in the CCHA tournament champion- ship game. It also marked the, first time in seven years the team earned a spot in the playoffs. The 1984-85 edition of the Broncos finish- ed third in the league standings with an 18-13-1 conference record and an overall mark of 22-16-2. It also marked the. first time the team held the home ice advantage in the playoffs. Wilkinson, 38, is no stranger to the CCHA title as the Bgwling Green Falcons won the title while he was defensive co-ordinator in 1982. The team also reached the quarter- finals of the NCAA that same year. In 1979, Wilkinson was an assistant at North Dakota and for seven years pervious to that, he was an assistant coach at St. Lawrence University. A graduate of St. Lawrence with a bachelor's degree in physical education, he played centre and defence and led the team in 'scoring in 1968 and was captain and most valuable player of the 1970 team. He earned his masters degree in education from St. Lawrence in 1976. Bill and his wife, Mary, have three sons - Peter 13, Mark 7 and Bryan, 3. BY DAVE SYKES Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan and Bill Wilkinson seem to complement each other. Wilkinson, a former Goderich resident, has coached the WMU Broncos hockey team for the past three years, steadily im proving the team's record in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. But the 1985-86 season was undoubtedly the most rewarding and successful for both the team and Wilkinson, who was selected as the leagtte's Coach of the Year. The prestigious award was given In deserved recognition of Wilkinson's efforts as he • guided the Broncos to an enviable 32-12 seasson record; won the CCHA playoff championship and coached the team that set over 45 records. In early March, the Broncos won its first playoff championship, defeating Bowling Green 4-3 in triple overtiine in- the semi- final at Jot Louis Arena and then knocking off No. 1 ranked Michigan State, 3-1 in the championship final. tion and third in the four-tearri western The win capped a remarkable season for division of the NCAA. Wilkinson and the Broncos and the cham- In a telephone conversation minutes pionship propelled the team in .the NCAA before the team left for Cambridge, Mass hockey championships. Just one of eight to play Harvard, Wilkinson told the Signal - national teams to reach the NCAA tourna- Star the season was "rewarding one" for ment, WMU lost its two -game total goal himself and his players, who established series to Harvard in Boston by scores of 4-2 WMU as one of the nation's top collegiate and 7-2. The team, which led the nation in hockey teams. goals, shorthanded goals and power play percentage, was ranked seventh in the na- BILL WILKINSON The Goderich native played hockey at St. Lawrence University in the late 1960s Susan's just starting to cook on her skates Each year the Goderich Figure Skating Club rewards one of its top skaters with the Marion Mills Award. Awarded to the most -improved skater, the trophy is emblematic of progress, growth in the sport and effort. If love of the sport, diligence and dedica- tion are criteria for the award, then this year's winner, Su§an Cook, could easily be a repeat recipient. The 15 year-old has been skating with the club for nine of the 10 years her family has been in Goderich after:: no, ving from `Woodstock. A foot probeidelined her from serious, competition last year and _ while she skated to keep her muscles in Lakes International competition in London Marg and Brenda Dupee and Guy Gordon in Januar; by winning a gold medal in the of London. Junior silver ladies compulsory elements While Ale will be content to chock up her first ear) of coin etitive skatingto ex- Asand silver medal in the freeskate segment. Y 1? a member of the Goderich club she has perienc Susan hopes to eventually ad - won all senior events including freeskate vane the Canadian championships. pairs, dance, freeskate and 'open senior "This will be my first year at the novice freeskate. She was also a winner in the level and I don't expect to make it this dance category with partner Jennifer year. I need the experience," she said: "I Huyck. hope to keep skating for a while. It's an ef- fort sometimes but the people at the arena ,� In a competition in Sarnia in March, and in the club put themselves out for me." Susan racked up. - h ala . ' •ht f One of only three or ffpar" local skaters to pterpretative la a- , ='aeon ; e reach the novice le of competition; • flight and a fifth'• i• bhowiiigea Susan often skates in the early morning freeskate. In a 13 club inter -club competi- hours on the weekend when hockey games tion in Mitchell in March she' won the in- have run their course. shape, her lack, of mobility was termediate. interpretative ladies class, An accomplished seamstress who makes frustrating. • finished second in senior prepared solo and and sells skating costumes, Susan •is com- Thi ate were different ullyt in v year and Cook copped a third in the dance with Jennifer. milled to putting in a solid effort to realize competed successfully various competi- third tions which ultimatel ed to,her reaching The competitions continue with Scar- her goals. the novice competitive. her g oals. level.. It's just one borough Skate April 25 27 and six -hour -a- She understands that the road is long pal in her overall plan to make skating a day summer skating sessions in Toronto .V and littered with hopefuls but maybe her career. • success this year has provided the nudge -, . Cook distinguished withh pro Dave Mathewson. guished herself in the Creat _Cook has been groomed locally by pros she needed. Coaches John Hodges ,and Brian Rumig display the Paul Rivers Memorial Award, presented for the first time this year in memory of the late Paui Rivers to his teal,, the Novice A's. The award will be presented annually to the Novice player displaying personali- ty, perseverance and dedication. (photo by Susan Hundertmark) Novice A runners-up in the Listowel tournament were awarded at the Goderich minor hockeybpnquet last.Sunday. Displaying the trophy are David Lumley, Mike McBride and Jason MirtaiTh4photo by Susan Hundertmark) ; ' r 4yf. Mitchell defeated Goderich 6-5 to win the Huron -Perth championship Wednesday in Seaforth,. (Photo by Andy Bader) Belles lose final game 6-5 to Mitchell It's almost too bad that a winner had to be declared in the Huron -Perth Belle championship final series between Mit- chell and Goderich. The teams were evenly matched as evidenced by the scores in the three games of the final series where the largest margin of victory in any one game was three goals. Mitchell eyentually won the league championshipdefeating Goderich 6-5 in the third and deciding game of the title series in Seaforth Wednesday. The game, ' much like the three -game series, was close and hotly contested to the end. Mitchell scored the winning goal with just 40 seconds remaining in regulation time despite p otests that the scorer was in the crease. Goderich had apparently scored a siatth goal but it was disallowed with the referee ruling the scorer was in the erease. Goderich won the first game of the series on home ice in March with a 104 victory but Mitchell rebounded with a 10.7 win in game 2 to force the third and deciding game played in Seaforth Wednesday. Steve Atchison, Jeremy Grasby and Kelly McDonald display the Pee. Wee B's trophy for the Huron -Perth Houseleague tournament presented at the Goderich minor hockey banquet last Sudday. (photo by Susan Hundertmark) The Legion hockey Zone C1 Pee Wee trophy anti the Young Canada Week runner-up trophy were presented to Tim Harrison, Lobate' Ittunig and Brian Lane at the ,minor hockey ban- quet. (photo by Susan Hundertmark)