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The Citizen, 1995-03-01, Page 13,---wwW1,11.01111 THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1,1995. PAGE 13. Blyth Midgets eliminate Embro in quarter finals The Brussels Crusaders 1995 hockey season came to an end with a 9-4 loss in Southampton Sunday afternoon to the Lakeshore Wintcrhawks. The loss gave the Hawks a 4-1 series win and advances them to the "AA" semi- finals. Lakeshore opened the scoring with two goals in the game's first Continued from page 12 Jeff Carter had a strong game on the point with his teammates feeding the puck back so he could release a wicked high wristshot. Nathan Montgomery, Bayfield's goalie, faced many shots and screened plays. Ken Courtney, captain, managed to skate around It was a wild fmish to the game with Embro taking a penalty with 14 seconds left. Although Embro won the draw and cleared their zone, the Bulldogs quickly countered with one last rush. Stewart passed to Rutledge who fed Chamney. He crossed the blueline and split the Embro defence with a low drive that surprised everyone in attendance. The puck crossed the line with only one second on the clock to send the Blyth players and fans into a frenzy. The Midgets have purchased a new set of "Bulldogs" sweaters with their own money and this series opening 4-3 thriller was a fitting way to christen their new threads. The action continued for games two and three in Embro on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 25 and 26. Saturday in Embro it was the stellar goaltending of Chris Bromley which backstopped Blyth's 4-2 win. Embro opened the scoring 40 seconds into the game but Bromley settled in after a month of inactivity to inspire his teammates to the win. Peter Craig and Salverda assisted on the equalizer five minutes into the game as Marks skated across the Embro blueline and fired a wicked slapshot into the top shelf. Embro took a 2-1 lead four minutes into the second period but Blyth responded late in the period with two goals for a 3-2 lead after two. With five minutes remaining in the second period Mark Wilson sent Salverda in on a breakaway. After the initial shot was stopped Salverda banged in his own rebound as he skated past the net. With two minutes left Peter Craig took a cheap shot after the whistle and retaliated by taking the puck from the ensuing faceoff and four minutes and by the end of the second period held a 6-2 lead. Brussels scored twice in the opening minutes of the third but gave up three late for the loss. Steve Fritz scored twice for Brussels with singles by Brent Vandenakker and Bevin Flett. Ron Strome enjoyed a three assist game. Lakeshore outshot Brussels 45-39 many players but remained score- less. Blyth learned how to shadow effectively. The Blyth Atoms arc now waiting to see who they will meet in the next round. If they continue their strong team work and passing plays they should do very well. Bulldogs slide one past him into score of 4-3, and eventually put skating the length of the ice before deking the goalie to the ice and slipping the puck into the twine tent. Needless to say this set up a wild third period with action swinging from one team to the other throughout. Some second-effort by Chamney with just under four minutes left in the game gave Blyth some insurance. After his initial shot was stopped, he lunged at the puck as he was falling to the ice and whacked the puck over the fallen Embro cage keeper. Blyth would not be denied the rest of the way as they cleared their zone easily after every Embro offensive rush. Top Dog would have to be goalie Chris Bromley who came in cold and did everything that was necessary to help the Bulldogs to a 2-0 series lead. The Bulldogs returned to Embro on Sunday with hopes of completing the series with a three game sweep. Although Blyth built a 3-0 lead midway through the game, Embro responded with their best play in the series the rest of the way as they staved off elimination with a 6-3 come-from-behind win_ Embro opened the scoring five minutes into the game while enjoying a two man advantage but Blyth tied the game with just over five minutes left in the first period. Rutledge set up Peter Craig's point shot that was tipped in at the edge of the crease by Chris Stewart. The Bulldogs took a 2-1 lead with just over two minutes remaining in the first while enjoying a powerplay. Rutledge cashed in with a rebound of Stewart's shot by putting the puck up into the roof of the goal. The Bulldogs increased their lead to 3-1 with six minutes remaining in the second period while playing with Trevor Fortune taking the loss. Last Wednesday in Brussels, Lakeshore gained a 3-1 series lead with a 3-1 win over the Crusaders. Lakeshore opened the scoring early but the Crusader powerplay quickly replied on a Brent Van- denakker goal. The Wintcrhawks regained the lead on a misplayed shot late in the first, then added an insurance goal with four minutes remaining in the second. Trevor Fortune stopped 35 shots while Brussels had 34 attempts on the Lakeshore goal. While Brussels didn't advance they can be proud of their disciplined on-ice behavior as Lakeshore had only three powcrplay opportunities in the five game series. with a two man advantage. Jonathan Collins fed Peter Craig who split the defence and hammered a howitzer from just inside the blueline. Blyth ran out of steam late in the period and Embro exploded for three late goals to take a 4-3 lead into the third frame. They notched two more tallies in the first five minutes of the third to gain an insurmountable 6-3 lead. With their backs to the wall Embro came through with their By Rusty Blades The Blyth Midget Bulldogs are going to try to complete their own miracle on ice and it has nothing to do with their current playoff series. At season's end they will be travelling to Lake Placid, New York to compete in the Lake Placid Cup Midget hockey tournament. This is the same site that hosted the 1980 Winter Olympics where the United States hockey team won the gold medal in what was become known as 'The Miracle On Ice'. The tournament is slated for April 13-16 in picturesque Lake Placid with Blyth trainer Allan Craig organizing the trip on behalf of the Bulldogs. The tournament package cost per player includes the team entry fee and team functions as well as a wide variety of game awards and momentos. Mr. Craig said, "When this idea was first discussed some of the parents felt that the cost, after an already long hockey season, would be difficult to handle. However, the exuberance of the Bulldog players was matched by their willingness to work towards this goal. They unanimously vowed to fundraise to help alleviate the trip costs for the players to ensure that ALL team members would be able to participate." A fundraising committee, headed by Karen Stewart and Ailene Salverda, was formed and the team was booked into this international tournament. Money-makers to date have included 50/50 Cash Draws at Bulldog home games and a sold- out NHL Winning Goal Draw with the winners based on the time of the winning goal of the CBC televised Saturday night hockey games. The Bulldogs also helped the Blyth Legion Ladies Auxiliary cater to two recent dinners and received a healthy donation for their efforts. Their biggest fundraiser will be a 'Relive The Dream' reunion hockey game scheduled for March 17 at 8:30 p.m. at the Blyth and District Community Centre, which has generously donated the ice rental. The match will feature the CRUSADER PLAYOFF SCORING GP G-A-PT PIM Steve Fritz 5 2-5-7 2 Dean Wheeler 5 3-3-6 0 Tim Fritz 5 3-2-5 0 Tom McDonald 5 2-3-5 0 Corey McKee 5 2-3-5 0 Dave Murray 5 1 -4-5 0 Ron Strome 5 0-4-4 2 Jeff McKee 4 1-2-3 0 Bevin Flett 5 1-2-3 4 Bent Vandenakker 5 2-0-2 8 Brian Campbell 5 1-1-2 0 Rick Boon 5 0-2-2 2 Derek Cooper 2 0-1-1 0 Jason Papple 2 0-0-0 2 Bob Lumley 3 0-0-0 0 Mike Betties 4 0-0-0 12 Trev Fortune 4 0-0-0 0 Karsten Carroll 5 0-0-0 0 Brian Ten Pas 5 0-0-0 0 GP AVER W-L Fortune 3.5 5.60 12 Lumley 1 6.00 0-1 Cooper .5 10.58 0-1 first series win. Blyth still leads the series 2-1 with pivotal game four being hosted by the Bulldogs tomorrow evening, Thursday, March 2 at 8:15. They could use everyone's support to neutralize the boisterous Embro fans. QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Bulldogs player Chad Haggitt, encouraging his teammates during the third period of game one in Blyth. "Come on boys, let's pump it up. Nobody beats us in our own pound!" tenacious Midget Bulldogs against the 1971-72 OMHA All-Ontario Champion Blyth PeeWees. Ken Stewart, who played on the team and has a son playing for the Bulldogs, has been busy locating all the team members. He said. "Although everyone will not be able to attend, it looks like the majority will be returning. Coach Bill Rodger and Manager Charlie Bromley are hoping to coax one more victory out of this special group of boys, although the greying hair and enlarged mid-sections could be an obstacle too 'big' to overcome." Organizers are hoping for a huge crowd to not only support the Bulldogs' fundraising efforts but also honour the group that brought Blyth their first All-Ontario Championship. The bond that develops on a Championship team is something that cannot be easily broken. This will be a time for everyone, including players and fans alike, to share their memories and rekindle old friendships. Bulldogs' Coach Doug Chamney has solicited the support of various hockey teams and organization for donations of merchandise which the Bulldogs will be selling tickets on. The draw for this will be held later in March. With donations arriving daily a final list is far from complete but will include contributions from the London Knights, Guelph Storm, Dallas Stars, The Hockey News, Philadelphia Flyers, Wayne Gretzky's Restaurant to name a few. Several door prizes are also available to be won that night and will include a one year subscription to The Hockey News and a team autographed London Knights hockey stick. Would you like to own a small piece of hockey history? Eastern Sports Canada has donated an Easton aluminum hockey stick personally autographed by Wayne Gretzky, the greatest hockey player to ever lace on a pair of skates. This will be auctioned off to the highest bidder during the second period intermission. Come join the excitement and see who the lucky bidder will be. The 'Relive The Dream' reunion hockey game will be one highlight in a season full of highlights at the local shinny shack. It is hoped that community spirit will help fill the arena to honour the 1971-72 PeeWees and allow the 1994-95 Blyth Midget Bulldogs to meet one of their goals this season - to participate in the Lake Placid Cup tournament. As Coach Chamncy summed up, "This could very well be the last minor hockey season for some of the players and we feel that this trip will be a tremendous experience for these young men. The players will be the life-long beneficiaries and will remember this trip, and the work involved in making it a reality, long after the scores al-lave Continued on page 14 Help It doesn't look good for the Embro Midget goalie as the Blyth the net. The Bulldogs trounced the visitors in this game by a them out of the OMHA quarter final series. By Rusty Blades The Blyth Bulldogs opened their OMHA Quarter Final series against Embro last week. When all the ice chips had finally settled the Bulldogs had taken a 2-1 series lead in games with game four scheduled for Blyth this Thursday, March 2 at 8:15 p.m. Blyth hosted game one on Feb. 20 and played about as solid a hockey game as the fans will see this year. Ryan Chamney earned the biscuit as Top Dog completing his hat trick with one second left in the game to lead the Bulldogs to a 4-3 series opening nail-biter over a bruising Embro squad. Brian Marks assisted on the only first period goal as Chris Stewart banged in his own rebound with four minutes remaining. A power play marker one minute and 15 seconds into the second gave Blyth a 2-0 lead. Greg Toll set up Peter Craig's point shot with the rebound flipped into the open net by Ryan Chamney. Embro kept coming in waves and finally lit the red light with eight minutes left in the period, while enjoying a power play of their own. They shocked the Bulldogs in the final minute as a couple of missed defensive assignments resulted in two goals and a 3-2 Embro lead after two periods. Some intermission regrouping strengthened Blyth's resolve as they played one of their strongest periods of the year in the third. Marks had a chance to tie the contest with ten minutes left but he shot just wide of the net on a penalty shot. Jason Rutledge and Mike Salverda worked with Chamney with six and a half minutes left in regulation time as Chamney pulled the trigger on the equalizer, knotting the game 3-3. Atoms advance to next round Crusaders' season ends in loss Midgets to compete in Lake Placid tourney