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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-12-22, Page 14THIS WEEK IN SPORTS Hawks over Belmont 6-1. Page 16 Two wins for Sherwoods. Page 16 TIMES ADVOCATE port SPORTS TIPS? Contact Exeter Times Advocate Tel: Pat Bolen (519) 235-1336 x113 Fax: (519) 235-0766 E-mail: sports@southhuron.com Exeter Times -Advocate 2004 Huron -Perth AAA Lakers review By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — Each Christmas season the Times -Advocate pub- lishes a story highlighting the Huron -Perth Lakers. This year is no exception and five Laker teams are featured in this special section. The coaches took the time to put down in their own words what they feel are their team's strengths, weaknesses, goals and highlights of this season so far. Here are your 2004 Huron - Perth AAA Lakers... Minor Atom: age level nine year olds. Coaches: head coach Kelly Higgs, assistant coaches Mich Landry and Matt McCann, train- er Pat Conlon, assistant trainer Owen Zorgdragger and manag- er Petra Goetz. Last season's record and playoff result (if any): N/A Current record: four wins, 13 losses and four ties What are your team's strengths? We have a highly skilled, enthusiastic and athletic group of kids. They play an aggressive game, which is exciting to watch, and the kids enjoy all aspects of the game. What are your team's weak- nesses? This is a first year team, com- peting against teams that have had the opportunity to play together previously. It will take time for our boys to become a cohesive unit and learn to play at this level of hockey. Any changes this year? What are they? This minor Atom team cele- brates to date the most success- ful regular season of any previ- ous Laker Minor Atom team. With several games left in the season, I expect even more suc- cess. Any special challenges your players have to overcome? Coming from rep teams where they were relied heavily upon in all facets of the team, the kids now need to learn and adopt a team approach to the game. Tell me briefly about the players from the T -A reader- ship area Tyler McNaughton of Hensall joined the team this year. McNaughton is a highly skilled and energetic defensemen that embraces the competitiveness and aggression the game demands. He has become a strong addi- tion to the team and I expect him to become an exceptional hockey player. What are the team's goals this season? As with all of our Laker pro- grams, we have a high focus on skill development. Our goal for this season, of being competitive, we have reached and exceeded. The majority of our losses have been a one or two goal dif- ference. Our growth, I believe, will translate into many more wins as we head off into the playoffs. What has been the highlight of the season so far? We were able to play at the cooler prior to a London Knights game, and then stayed and watched the Knights play the Laker alumni Cal O'Rielly play for the Windsor Spitfires. Our whole team watched the action unfold from box seats. What is the difference between playing rep hockey and 'AAA'? The speed and the skill. It is also a tremendous learn- ing environment for the kids, where the lessons can be applied to all aspects of their life. Atom: age level 10 year olds Coaches: head coach Todd Goetz, assistants Rick Ringuette, Brad Priestap, trainer Dr Joe Ennett, and manager Robert Watson. Last season's record and playoff result (if any): Lost in two rounds in three straight in playoffs and had three wins and four ties in 30 games in regular season. Current record: 12 wins, four ties and five losses h regular season. We have won our last six games and are first in the east and third overall. What are your team's strengths? We have a highly skilled and balanced team with terrific team unity. We have a very positive and nurturing environ- ment that maximizes the individual athletes poten- tial. What are your team's weaknesses? a gifted, balanced, intelligent and kind group of kids. I believe the future challenges will involve learning how to deal with tremendous success as I am sure their future holds much for them. Tell me briefly about the players from the T- A readership area? Mitchell Vandergunst joined the squad this year from Exeter. Vandergunst is an imposing young man with a devastating slap shot and great strength in front of the oppositions net and in the corners. Ryan Watson is a second year Laker from Dashwood. He is a tremendous asset to our team, a crushing hitter and tenacious player with a very developed skill set. What are the team's goals this season? Our goal from the onset has been to develop highly skilled hockey players and maximize their potential for future suc- cess. However, with that goal in mind the ancillary benefit has been a very developed and bal- anced team, which I expect, will be in the Alliance semi-final and perhaps final this year. What has been the highlight of the sea- son so far? Although we made it to the final of the Sarnia Sting tourna- ment, I would have to say beating the number one team in our league, Elgin - Middlesex, which was previously 16 and 0, would have been the highlight especially since we trounced them 5-1. What is the differ- ence between play- ing rep hockey and 'AAA'? Tyl McNau er ghton Mitchell Vandergunst Considering we have Ryan won our last six games, are averaging six goals for and two against during this period I would say we have overcome our previous weaknesses, which were a lack of confidence and consistency. What did you learn from the inaugural year? It was a growth year. We had to take a bunch of exceptional individuals and turn them into a team with a selfless philosophy. Any changes this year? What are they? We added nine highly skilled players and dropped some that had difficulty adapting to the speed. The addition of Joe Ennett and Brad Priestap to our existing coaching staff has resulted in a tremendous learning environ- ment for the athlete's and the coaches. Any special challenges your players have to overcome? We are very fortunate to have Watson AAA is comprised of the top 16 or 17 kids from 29 different centers. So obviously there is a sharp increase in caliber of the play- ers, not only on our own team but also those teams we face. From a child's perspective, there are two or three times the ice time, and the opportunity to play against international com- petition. Additional comments: We travel to Ottawa over the holi- days to compete in the interna- tional Bell Canada Cup. Teams from Russia, Finland and all over Europe and North America compete for the unoffi- cial world Atom championships. Minor Peewee: age level 1 1 year olds Head Coach: Dave Partridge, assistant coaches Steve Bedard coach Jeff McIntosh andmanag- er Dave Dykxhoorn Last season's record and playoff result (if any): Regular season nine wins, 21 losses and two ties for 20 points (finished eighth in the league and fourth in the Eastern divi- sion). We lost best of five first round series in five games to Cambridge Hawks (all one -goal games) and lost to Hamilton Reps in the second round best of five in the third overtime of game five. (all one -goal games also. It was a great final game and an even greater season.) Overall record 15W - 40L - 3T. Current record: Regular season 14W - 5L - 3T = 31 points (ranked second in the league and first in the Eastern division). Our overall record is 26 wins , nine losses and five ties. We are trying hard to capture home ice advantage and the Eastern Division title. What are your team's strengths? This team is blessed with an incredible work ethic. Very few nights does this bunch of kids ever get 'outworked' by the opposition. Our team is current- ly sporting the second best goals against record in the 11 team league. Although we can boast of one of the top goaltending tandems in the league, it can certainly also be attributed to a solid effort by the forwards and defense in our own end. What are your team's weaknesses? We have too many Toronto Maple Leaf fans on the team. Obviously some of the kids aren't setting their sights high enough! What did you learn from the inaugural year? It takes mountains of hard work! This is this team's third year in the league and we've improved every season while enjoying the journey! Any changes this year? What are they? The team was expanded from twelve skaters and two goaltenders to fifteen skaters and two goal - tenders, as well as five roster changes. The team added more depth, character and scoring. The new faces have been a welcome addition and have con- tributed where expected. Any special challenges your players have to overcome? The biggest adjustment for any of the new players joining the team this season is the pace of the game. Even though some of these kids have been the top players on their respective community teams, the move to a regional All-Star team is a big jump. It usually takes a player 10 to 20 games and sometimes the whole season to get acclimatized to the speed and skill level and all of our players go through this adjustment. Tell me briefly about the players from the T -A reader- ship area? We have four players from the T -A's readership area. #1 Jake Partridge, .South Huron Minor (Exeter) Jake the 'Snake' as he's called by his teammates is in his third season with the team. He is a butterfly style goal - tender with a flashy glove hand, who enjoys his teammates and their times together. Partridge leads his team in wins, while sporting a goals against average of 2.23 per game. When he isn't partaking in laker activities he's usually attending his brother's Bantam games or wrestling his pal 'Snoopy'. 'Snake' says Laker hockey is second only to the 'Habs'! #9 Jordan Kadlecik, South Huron Minor (Grand Bend) This fast skating left winger's nickname is 'Kadzy', who's also in his third season with the team. He is a hard shooting winger who is a solid back checker. Kadlecik is quite a card, and one of the top three 'jokesters' on the team who can usually be found in the center of most of the 'high -jinx' going on in the dressing room. The rumours persist that 'Kadzy' is quite a lady's man at school ! #14 Christopher Pfaff, South Huron Minor (Exeter) 'Buzz' as he's known to his teammates, is in his first season with the AAA team. Pfaff has adjusted well to the advanced level of play and is playing left wing. Likely the best face-off man on the team, the coach won't let him play Jake Partridge Jordan Kadlecik Christo Pfa pher ff center until he decides to stop cheering for the Yankees! He notched his first AAA goal in a 4-2 win over the Boston Patriots while competing in the Junior Pics Fall Invitational Tournament in Boston, Mass. last month !!! #20 Dylan Bedard, BCH Minor (Hensall) The flying frenchman, or 'Frenchy' as he's called by his team, is definitely the spark plug of this club. Although not 'big' in stature (4' 6"), nobody plays tougher. Most nights at the rink you can hear the spectators murmuring about that little #20, and the coaching staff is sure there isn't See LAKERS page 15