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The Citizen, 2012-01-05, Page 9THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2012. PAGE 9. Sports The Wingham Ironmen snapped a three-game losing streak by scoring a 4-3 shootout win over the Kincardine Bulldogs on Dec. 28 at the North Huron Wescast Community Complex. The Ironmen took a 3-0 lead in the first period and then hung on as the Bulldogs tied the game and defenceman Joel Bowman was the lone scorer in the shootout to give the victory to the Ironmen. Wade Stephenson opened the scoring at 2:25 of the first period with assists going to Aaron Armstrong and Brett Brophy. Drew Shantz made it 2-0 with an unassisted marker at 5:32. Stephenson made the score 3-0 at 13:52 on the power play. Armstrong and Shantz received assists. Ryan Armstrong put the Bulldogs on the scoreboard at 14:07 of the second period. Joel Alton put the Bulldogs down by one at 1:02 of the third period. With 1:26 left in regulation Kincardine tied the score as Shawn Stewart netted a marker. Overtime solved nothing and it took six rounds of the shootout before Bowman netted the winner. The Ironmen outshot the Bulldogs 35-28 and were 1-3 on the power play. “They (Kincardine) never quit,” he said. “We kind of got a little complacent, but we took two points.” After taking the 3-0 lead in the first period, Haggitt said the Ironmen got scrambly in their own end and they had a couple of give- aways. “We kind of got away from what we were trying to do and that happens from time to time,” he said. “We have to get back on the same path. After losing three in a row the win was a big game for the Ironmen. “It was good to get those points,” he said. “In the fairly tight standings we need them.” Forward Wade Stephenson of Brussels said they should not have let the game go to a shootout, the Ironmen should have won in regulation time. “We got the two points after a three-game losing streak, it was a good win,” he said. After being suspended for a game, Stephenson returned with a two-goal performance. “It was nice to rebound and score two key goals,” he said. On Dec. 23 the Ironmen fell 6-5 in a shootout to the Walkerton Hawks in a game played in Walkerton. The Ironmen had a 4-1 lead after two periods, with the score tied at five after 60 minutes of play. Dylan Williams had a pair of goals for the Ironmen. Single markers were added by Travis Donaldson, Armstrong and Nic Carter. Wingham outshot the Hawks 35- 30 and were 1-5 on the power play. On Dec. 21 the Ironmen outshot the last place Goderich Sailors 41-15 but lost by a 2-1 score in a game played at the North Huron Wescast Community Complex. Evan Ducharme was the lone goal getter for the Ironmen. The Ironmen travel to Hanover on Friday for an 8:30 p.m. contest against the Barons and then host the Walkerton Hawks on Saturday beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Complex. By Jim Brown Special to The Citizen Ironmen snap losing streak with shoot-out win over Bulldogs Goaaaaaaal! The Ironmen were able to sneak enough goals past the Kincardine Bulldogs net minder and hold on just long enough to force overtime and eventually a shootout which would result in Wingham snapping a three game losing streak. (Denny Scott photo) Bantams dominate Silver Stick After posting wins over Flesherton, Seaforth, Minto and TCDMHA the Blyth Brussels Bantam Rep squad dominated the Wainfleet Wild, winning the gold- medal game of the three-day-long Kincardine Silver Stick tournament 3-1 on Dec. 30. A superb game was played by everyone as the Bantam team dominated the even strength play and limited Wainfleet’s chances. The only blemish on the score sheet came five minutes into the game after the Bantams had controlled the puck in their opponent’s end for so long only to have a bouncing puck give Wainfleet a break-away and a 1-0 lead. With the faceoff at center ice, Dustin Pennington picked up a turnover at the Wild’s blue line and raced in alone to tie it up. The team settled down and dominated the puck for the rest of the first two periods but couldn’t score again. After a brief pep talk between the second and third period, the Bantam team started the third with lots of energy and kept the puck on the Wainfleet half of the ice, hammering everything wearing Wainfleet’s black and orange colours. The turning point came at the seven minute mark when Arden Coultes flattened a Wainfleet player at the blue line and fed Pennington, who took the shot for Josh Van Soest to tip in. The Bantam squad kept working hard and knew not to let up. That hard work paid off again as, during a scramble in the crease, Trent Michie got the puck to Quintin Sjaarda who pushed it to the back of the net with 2:52 left in the third. The Bantam team could feel the banner now but knew there was still some hard work left. The entire squad did their job for the last three minutes and net minder Matt McNichol didn’t even have to make a save. The buzzer went and the team had a banner to bring home. The Blyth Brussels Bantam Rep team next takes to the ice on Jan. 27 against the Shelburne Wolves as part of the International Silver Stick being hosted by Forest. The puck drops at 12:45 p.m. at the Warwick Township Arena in Watford. Novice LL ties BCH The Blyth Brussels Novice Local League team ended its year with a 1- 1 tie against the BCH Ice Dogs on home ice on Dec. 31. Kal McNichol scored the only Blyth Brussels goal in the contest. Previously the team took to the ice against the Goderich Sailors in Blyth on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, but were edged out by the Sailors 4-3. It was a close game and both teams were skating coast to coast. Blyth Brussels scoring privileges were awarded to Jeffrey Walden (2) and Mitch Townsend. Although these goals were unassisted they had lots of help from the whole team. The team next takes to the ice on Jan. 7 when they face off against the Zurich Thunder at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre at 10 a.m. Ontario is helping Bayfield and 28 other communities create smarter solutions to protect water – one of the province’s most valuable resources – and to provide safe, reliable clean drinking water to Ontarians. The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) is developing an innovative rural stormwater management model thanks to a grant of $700,000 through the Showcasing Water Innovation program. The model will also be field tested in five high priority watersheds along the southeast shore of Lake Huron. This program supports projects with innovative and cost-effective ways to improve drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems. Ontario has the highest standards for clean water in North America and has gone on to develop water technologies that are used around the world. Partnering with business on water innovation projects is a key component of the McGuinty government’s plan to become the continent’s water innovation leader by 2015 and create new clean jobs for Ontario families. “We are seizing the opportunity to become a leader in water technologies. By tapping into our made-in-Ontario expertise, the McGuinty government is protecting our water resources, creating green industry jobs and providing water technology to the world,” said Jim Bradley, Minister of the Environment. “Today, the Province of Ontario has shown its commitment to a new and truly rural initiative to better understand how stormwater systems work in rural Ontario … This leading-edge work has not previously taken place and it will now fill a gap in understanding the nearshore water quality of Lake Huron. This better information will make it possible to implement improved strategic actions that protect water quality,” said Jim Ginn, Chairman of the ABCA Board of Directors and Mayor of the Municipality of Central Huron. Provincial government helping protection project WINNERS of the 5th Annual Grey Firefighters Association Christmas draw were: 1st - $1,000. Sam Fretz 2nd- $500. Kianna Yates 3rd - $300. Sharon & Ralph Darlow 4th - $200. Ian Pearson 5th - $150. Debbie Rathwell 6th - $100. Donna Iredale 7th - $75. Don Gibson 8th - $50. Chuck Terpstra 9th - $25. Roland Dyke We also wish to give a heartfelt thanks to all the hardworking non-firefighters who helped sell our tickets. The draw wouldn’t have been so successful without you. See photos from the Brussels Santa Claus Parade on our website at www.northhuron.on.ca Returning player helps boost Lightning to win Continued from page 8 Davidson (2), Kelly Garrow (2), Kailyn Soers (2), Dollee Meigs, Harley Westman, Kelly Gribbons, Miranda Lantz and Hailey Herman. Bantam call-up, Miranda Lantz did a stellar job all tournament with some excellent two-way play and picking up an assist on the game winning goal in the gold medal game. The Lightning got a boost in the playoff round when they welcomed back third-year veteran player, Brittany Hymers after missing a month due to illness. Tight checking defensive play and solid goaltending continues to lead the Lightning to wins with both Shea Tiley and Stephanie Sluys each picking up two shutouts. After a break for New Year’s Eve, the Lightning will be returning to action when they participate in the Guelph Thunderstorm Tournament this weekend.