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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-02-15, Page 17Wednesday, February 15, 2006 Exeter Times -Advocate 17 Local Bluewater Hawks reach new levels EXETER — The calibre of hockey continues to grow in the Bluewater Hawks Girls Hockey League with local talent representing teams at all levels in the league. Here are profiles of the local players in the league. Team: Atom Coach: Dave MacMillan What are your team strengths? I would have to say we are one of the fastest and best passing teams in the league. Putting the team before the individual is another strength of this team. Any special challenges your players have to overcome? We started our first team meeting and skate on Aug. 12. It took the first four to six weeks for the players to adapt to a much busier pace than they were used to. Our team (12 skaters and two goalies) aver- aged almost three hours of full ice practice every week during the regular season. Last season most of these girls had half ice practice for one hour a week at their local cen- tre. Leaving the comfort and friends of their home centre. This was very short lived and the players take extreme pride in being a Bluewater Hawk and playing at the AA level. They have become a very close group of hockey players and friends. This may sound funny but one of the biggest challenges these young athletes, parents and even coaches had to overcome was compre- hending how good these girls really are. I think it sunk in with one of our first exhibi- tion games against Mississauga, population 461,000. We won the Mississauga game 5-3 and played a second game in Waterloo three hours later and won 3-1. What are the team goals this season? The number one goal, like any team, is to have fun playing a sport that they love. From a coaching prospective player devel- opment, with a big emphasis on the basics, has been my team goal. Items such as proper nutrition/hydration and conditioning have been introduced to the play- ers. This was a brand new team and the first Atom team for Bluewater in three years, with 60 per- cent of our play ers being minor Atom age. Our goal was to be over .500 hockey at Christmas and we were much better than that. From the play- ers perspective the main goal, and they have told me this at team meetings, is winning. They simply do not like to lose, but when they do they seem to learn from it and bounce back. I think they have a healthy competitive nature. What has been the highlight of the sea- son so far? The biggest highlight would have to be our gold medal win at the Waterloo Ravens tourna- ment this season in Waterloo. We beat the host team in the semifinals. The gold medal game was against Burlington, the top ranked AA team in Ontario. The score was 1-1 at the end of regulation time and a five minute overtime four -on -four resulted in no goals, fol- lowed by another over- time three -on -three for five minutes with the same results. By this time the rink was full with spectators and we went into a shootout. It took five shots until Bluewater scored and Burlington was denied. This was the most exciting minor hockey game I have every coached. What is the difference between playing local hockey and AA? Most of the differences would be the same as local hockey versus OMHA AAA, such as time, commitment, cost, sponsors and more trav- el. To put it in prospec- tive, the Atom AA team will have 12 to 18 games (depending how far we go), including two tour- naments (London and Toronto) and an exhibi- tion game before the London Knights and Sarnia Sting game in Sarnia, plus practice and power skating, all in the month of February. This is a busier month than most but we do average more than 15 days a month at the rink. Tell me briefly about players in the Exeter Times -Advocate area? We have two girls from the Lucan area, both minor atom age, Katherine Bailey Brooke Hartwick Katherine Bailey and Brooke Hartwick. Katherine plays defence and is one of the most "coachable" players I have met. She loves the game, under- stands what you want her to work at to improve, and does it. Katherine is a very smart hockey player with deceiving speed and strength. Brooke Hartwick plays right wing and centre for Bluewater and has amazing hands and speed. Brooke has been asked to play a different style of hockey this season and she has impressed the coaches to no end. Along with being our top goal scorer Brooke is a big reason Bluewater had the high- est goals for in our league this season. Both Katherine and Brooke's families have been very supportive of the team. We also have girls from Goderich, Stratford, Forest, Ilderton, Watford, Strathroy, Sarnia, and Mt. Brydges on our Bluewater Team. Team: Peewee Coach: Ken Staniewski Record. League play 10-4-1, tournamentsl3- 4-1, Team strengths: We have a fast skating team who play a very unselfish game. What are the team goals this season? To continue to get bet- ter as a team as the season progresses, as well we plan to make it into provincials and do well there. Any special challenges your players have to overcome? We are a smaller team so we need to rely on our skill and desire to out play our bigger more aggressive oppo- nents. What has been the highlight of the season so far? Winning the Guelph Thunderstorm Cayley and Kitchener Fallfest tournaments and beating some of the stronger Toronto along the way to winning the championships. What is the difference between playing local hockey and AA? The speed of the game is much faster. We have a more balanced, higher skilled group of players. Tell me briefly about players in the Exeter Times - Advocate area? Cayley Mercer is a left wing who works hard at every practice and game and is also a quick learner. She has very good puck control skills and sees the ice very well. She is currently the second leading scorer on the team with 20 goals and 16 assists for 36 points. Team: Bantam Coach: Peter Graham Current Record: 25-12-3 What are your team strengths? Skating and passing. We try to play a high tempo offensive style that utilizes our overall team speed. We take very few penalties and try to encourage offensive cre- ativity. What are your team weaknesses? Our rel- ative youth as compared to other Bantam AA teams. Eleven of our 15 play- ers were born in 1992 so most teams are a full year older than us. This means our size is a disadvantage against most teams. Any special challenges your players have to overcome? Our players come from four different counties so many have over one- hour drives for games and practices. This requires signifi- cant dedication among both the kids and par- ents but the commitment level has been rock solid. What are your team goals this season? One of our goals was to play over .500 hockey for the year and so far we have exceeded that. What has been the highlight of the season so far? We won the Guelph Bantam AA tournament in January against some of the top teams in the province. Mercer The excitement that was created by having such a young team win a top tourna- ment was very gratify- ing. What is the difference between playing local hockey and AA? The major difference is Carly Mercer Emily Pryce the commit- ment level. The players and their families have committed to an elite level hockey expe- rience that spans eight months of the year. The kids practice nine hours per month and play up to 70 games a year. The majori- ty of the play- ers are look- ing to take hockey to the "next level" which usually means capturing a U.S. scholarship. Tell me briefly about players in the Exeter Times -Advocate area? There are two area players on the Bantam AA team. Emily Pryce is a second year bantam who is always working hard. She battles hard every shift and you can always count on her to give you 100 per cent. Her smile and Katie Stewart laughter are con tagious and she truly is a coach's dream. She is always willing to learn and tries to do whatever you ask of her. Carly Mercer is a first year ban- tam but leads the team as the captain with her intensi- ty and desire. She leads the team in points and sets a fine example for the rest of her team to follow. Her hard work and competitiveness shows every time she is on the ice, whether at practice or a game. These two players are a real asset to the team and Exeter and area should be proud of their accomplishments. Team: Intermediate Age Level: technically 21 and under but realis- tically 15 to 19 Coach: Scott Merrifield Current Record: League 17-3-5. What are your team strengths? Team speed, defensive pressure in all zones and a few players who are true "finishers." Any special challenges your players have to overcome? Playing at the highest level for athletes this age means huge logistical commitment. Our club has a goal - tender who commutes from Pickering and a position player who hails from North Bay and is boarding in the London/Exeter area. Our players travel to our home rink in Strathroy from commu- nities across Southwestern Ontario including London, Thamesford, Chatham, Sarnia, Seaforth and Mitchell. What are the team goals this season? A provincial champi- onship. What has been the highlight of the season so far? The first was a two win, one loss exhibition tour against NCAA pro- grams at Boston University, Northeastern University and Quinnipiac University. The second was a tournament win at the Brown University (Rhode Island) Showcase. And the third was a tourna- ment win at Stoney Creek Showcase featur- ing the best U19 teams in Ontario. What is the difference between playing local hockey and AA? Commitment, commitment and commit- ment - financial and otherwise. Tell me briefly about players in the Exeter Times - Advocate area? Kate Stewart joined this club three years ago as a rather gangly ninth forward. Since that time, she has gradually estab- lished herself as one of the premier players in Ontario. She is a prototypical power forward. Imagine Todd Bertuzzi with pig- tails and you have Kate Stewart. She is a strength play- er with excellent hands and a pure scoring touch and one of the most coachable players that I have ever had the plea- sure to coach. Ashley Bruxer joined our club this year on defence after two stand- out seasons with the Bluewater Midget AA's. Always a strong skater, Ashley has picked up her game to another level. She may well be the most improved player on our club since September playing the most difficult position there is on the ice. Ashley Bruxer