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The Citizen, 1994-11-30, Page 17THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30,1994. PAGE 17. Blyth Midgets earn berth in Silver Stick final By Rusty Blades The Blyth Midgets put together an exceptional effort last weekend as they survived an opening game embarrassment to advance to the Championship game of the Wingham Regional Silver Stick Tournament. Although they were shaded 5-3 in the final, the provided some long lasting memories, as well as a few more grey hairs, for themselves and their many supporters. Blyth battled the first snow squalls of the year last Wednesday opening the tourney against Mildmay. The storm continued inside the Wingham Arena as the locals were given a hockey lesson by the work ethic of the Mildmay team. Every player's effort came up flat as Blyth lost a very uninspired game 6-1. The only bright spot for Blyth came early in the second period as they tied the game 1-1 with a powerplay goal. Chad Haggitt and Joe Johns earned the assists on Peter Craig's screened shot from the point that found nothing but twine. Things wanned up inside the dress­ ing room after the game and the Midgets vowed to show up with guns blazing as the tournament round­ robin continued Saturday in Belmore. A renewed spirit was evident early Saturday morning against Tavistock as the locals rode the shutout goaltending of Michael deJong in beating last season's playoff combatants 6-0. Special teams were the difference as Blyth's penalty killing was unbeatable and their powerplay connected for four of the six goals. Jason Rutledge set up the first two goals of the game before striking for two third period power play markers. Linemates Ryan Chamney and Christopher Howson each added a single goal and two assists. Johns sparked the team with a powerplay goal as linemates Haggitt and Benjie Hakkers earned the assists. Brian Marks completed the scoring late in the third as Blyth gained some respect with this 6-0 whitewash. Greg Toll and Ben Craig played well defensively and defencemen Jonathan Collins with Saved There was a fair bit of this type of action in the Brussels end when the Crusaders gave up a 6- 1 loss at home against Milverton on Sunday night. The weekend was a disappointing one with the team losing on Friday as well to Shelburne. Crusaders drop to 7th place The Brussels Crusaders lost both games played on the weekend and fell to seventh spot with a 4-win, 4- loss record in WOAA Senior Hockey. Friday night Shelburne scored seven consecutive goals to start second period play for a 13-6 win. Trailing 3-1 Brussels had rallied to tic only to see Shelburne go ahead two, Peter Craig and Brad Ander­ son chipped in to the offence with game assists. Blyth's next opponent in the round-robin was Drayton, with Blyth needing a victory to have any hope of advancing to the tournament playoffs. The Drayton boys came disguised as hockey players but did little to prove it as Blyth bombed them 11-1. Drayton racked up 65 minutes in penalties, not including the gross misconduct and match penalty. Blyth's top offensive line didn't disappoint as Chamney notched four goals, including two on the power play, and also earned an assist. Howson counted one goal and one assist while Rutledge showcased his soft hands by setting up all five of his linemate's goals. Johns scored two goals including a beautiful short handed marker, while Tim Cowan, Peter Craig, Mike Salverda and Haggitt also participated in the scoring parade. ■ Game assists were also recorded by Hakkers, Peter Craig, Ben Craig and Collins. Michael deJong and Chris Bromley shared the goaltending chores although they were rarely tested. Although three teams finished tied with two wins and one loss, Blyth was awarded first place in their round-robin as a result of a better goal differential. Blyth faced off against Howick on Saturday evening in Wingham in one semi­ final. The other semi-final featured Mildmay against Chesley. Howick had control as they held a 4-1 late second period lead before Blyth mounted yet another of their patented late game comebacks. They thrilled the many vocal Blyth fans with a Chamney powerplay goal early into sudden victory overtime to advance to the Tournament Championship with a 5-4 thriller. With Howick leading 1-0, Salverda, with help from Brian Marks and Chris Stewart, evened the score on the powerplay late in the first. After Howick built a 4-1 lead, Rutledge and Chamney teamed with Chamney with 49 seconds remaining in first period action. Ron Strome, Tim Fritz, Brian Campbell, Brad Carter and Brent Vandenakker with two were the Crusaders' goal scorers. Sunday afternoon Brussels again gave up a late first period goal, then watched as Milverton scored four unanswered in the second enroute to a 6-1 win. narrowing the lead in the dying moments of the second period. Howson, Rutledge and Chamney teamed up two minutes into the third with Howson burying the puck to bring Blyth to within a goal. The intensity continued as Collins and Chamney assisted on Rutledge's equalizer with just over six minutes remaining in regulation time. The game ended 4-4 but Blyth got the break they needed as Howick was penalized in the dying seconds of regulation. The emotional roller coaster ended one minute and 30 seconds into the sudden victory overtime period. Toll fed Rutledge, who did the spade work, before Chamney backhanded a loose puck past a fallen Howick crease keeper. Bedlam reigned supreme as this thrilling 5-4 overtime win swept Blyth into the Silver Stick championship game Sunday afternoon against Mildmay. This game was another heart Runners-up an impressive show once again at the annual Silver StickThe Blyth Midgets put on Tournament in Wingham this past week making it to the championship round. Back row, from left: trainer Al Craig, Ben Craig, Mike Salverda, John Collins, Peter Craig, Ryan Chamney and Coach Doug Chamney. Front row: Brian Marks, Chris Howson, Chris Stewart, Mike deJong, Brad Anderson, Joe Johns and Tim Cowan. Absent were Greg Toll, Jason Rutledge, Chad Haggitt, John Armstrong, Benjie Hakkers, Chris Bromley, Coach Kevin Lee and Manager Neil Salverda. Atoms top Bayfield Steve Fritz broke the shutout bid early in the third while Mike Chapman led the Milverton scoring parade with a two goal, one assist game. The game played in less than two hours saw only 12 minutes in penalties called. The Crusaders are at home to Wellesley Sunday night at 7:30, then travel to Tavistock Monday night. stopper but the Midgets couldn't duplicate the previous day's heroics falling just a shade short in losing 5-3. Blyth played catch up hockey all afternoon as Mildmay built a 2-0 lead before the locals got on the scoreboard late in the second period. The line of Howson, Rutledge and Chamney did the damage while enjoying a power play with Rutledge getting his first goal of the game. Mildmay increased their lead to 3-1 halfway through the third frame but Blyth responded less than one minute later. Rutledge picked up his second goal of the game as Toll sent him in alone on the Mildmay goal tender. Mildmay took a 4-2 lead with three and a half minutes left in t he game but, again, Blyth fought back. With just under three minutes remaining Rutledge scored his hat- trick goal as he drilled home a Peter Craig cross ice pass deep in Continued from page 16 Justin Rinn and Wilson. Goderich got their lone goal late in the third for a final score of 3-1 for Blyth. On Nov. 23 the stormy weather didn't seem to bother the Blyth boys as Bayfield came to town. Blyth outscored their opponents 8- 2. Anderson got his first goal on some nice passing from Michael Bernard and Rob Archambault. Anderson struck twice more, once unassisted and the other assisted by Shaun Henry. Bayfield managed to score two goals before the end of the first to make the game close. Blyth's Anderson scored two more goals in the second. His first one was assisted by Michael BRUSSELS CRUSADERS VS WELLESLEY Sunday, December 4 7:30 p.m. Game Sponsor: "Blueline Club BILL SCOTT CONSTRUCTION Belgrave 357-2289 the opposition zone. Blyth pressured for the equalizer but they were constantly denied and Mildmay salted away the Championship with an empty net goal with fourteen seconds left for a 5-3 win. Over the years this team has displayed some of their best hockey at the various Silver Stick tournaments and this year was no exception. Michael deJong was sensational between the pipes as he gave this team the chance to win with some very acrobatic saves. All team members can feel the pride as they survived an opening game loss, regrouped and finally came together as a team with their effort in their final four tourney games. Congratulations to the Midgets for providing yet another Silver Stick memory and earning the well deserved title of 1994-1995 Wingham Regional Silver Stick Tournament Finalists. Bernard and Nick Courtney and the second by Jeff Carter. At the 9:38 mark of the third Anderson put Blyth ahead by one more, this one assisted by Michael Bernard and Jeff Carter. Then Bernard scored with assists going to Nick Courtney and Derek Cook. Jeff Carter then scored from a faceoff won by Anderson. A good game was played by all the boys. The 1994/95 Blyth Atom team members are: goal tender Ryan Lee, Nick Courtney, Michael Bernard, Derek Cook, Rob Archambault, Martin Sturzenegger, Jeremy Hanna, Matt Anderson, Jeff Carter, Shaun Henry, Devin Shannon, Tyler Wilson and Justin Rinn.