The Citizen, 2000-06-14, Page 10PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY. JUNE 14, 2000.
In the game
Two Lucknow Kinette teammate move in on the Blyth PeeWee when the two teams met in soc
cer action at the Blyth field on June 14.
Looking good
Village crew was busy in Blyth this past Friday getting things
looking summertime pretty by hanging large baskets of
wave petunias in the business area.
Erom the sidelines
Goalies seldom MVP
By Hugh Nichol
A recent article
in the Hockey
News suggests it
is time tor the
NHL to break tra
dition and select a
goaltender first
overall at the June
goaltender I applaud
the possibility, but realize while the
position is acknowledged as a team's
most important, it is seldom recog
nized as the most valuable and thus
worthy of such an honour.
The NHL record book shows that
outside of Dominik Hasek’s two-
year reign only four other goal
tenders have won most valuable
player awards. True the league
rewards their performance with the
Vezina Trophy but the inscription on
the Hart Trophy reads to the “player”
adjudged to be the most valuable to
his team. Notwithstanding the
achievements of Jagr, Bure, and
Pronger it is hard to imagine the
Maple Leafs winning the Northeast
Division title without the contribu
tions of Curtis Joseph.
This no respect attitude towards
the goaltending union extends
beyond the presentation of individ
ual awards. Patrick Roy, a three-time
Stanley Cup champion, two-time
Conn Smythe winner and the leader
among masked men in earnings
ranks a distant seventh on the
league's list of highest paid players.
And when the NHL rates its greatest
players of all time the only goal
tender in the top 12 was Terry
Sawchuk in the ninth position.
In the last 30 years only 31 goal
tenders have been first-round
draftees and of those only four war
Ilullctt Squirts bats hot
in battle with Goderich Twp.
It was a night of hot hitting when
Hullett Twp. Squirts travelled to
Holmesville May 31 to take on
Goderich Twp.
It was a see-saw battle until the
final inning when Hullett scored five
ranted enough consideration to be a
top five selection.
So why hasn't a keeper ever gone
first overall? Conventional thinking
is that a goaltender takes longer to
develop his skills to NHL acceptabil
ity and the team holding the first pick
is looking for someone with immedi
ate impact. This theory is open to
argument considering that Eric
Lindros and Mike Modano both
remained in junior following their
selection, Joe Thornton recorded
only seven points in his inaugural
season and Atlanta’s Patrik Stefan
was a five-goal scorer in his rookie
year.
Rick DiPietro is the goaltender
many believe will make NHL history
next weekend in Calgary. A member
of the Boston University Terriers
DiPietro is rated the third best
prospect available in a draft with no
consensus number one.
The New York Islanders hold the
prestigious first pick and while they
have no need for a goaltender insid
ers believe general manager Mike
Milbury is willing to deal. Chicago’s
Mike Smith has already stated he
would have no hesitation in drafting
Di Pietro first overall and with the
Black Hawks holding the Kith and
11 th selections a swap is possible. As
well Ottawa is in desperate need of
goaltending and would almost cer
tainly include Alexei Yashin, a play
er Milbury highly covets, in any
trade package.
My own basic instinct is DiPietro
is more possibility than probability
although I am curious to see what
Glen Sather’s first move as manager
of the Rangers will be. Until then
Roberto Luongo will continue to be
the highest goaltender every drafted
going fourth overall in 1997.
to take the 17-11 victory.
Sharing duties on the mound were
Anthony Wilts and Eric Radford
who each struck out one, Derek
Dolmage with two strikeouts and
Julian Bolinger and Joel Salverda.
Blackhawks
first game
a rainout
Sharing a
Healthier
Future™ ,
PdRTicipacrion
The Brussels U-6 Blackhawks are
on the playing fields Wednesday
nights. Their first game on May 24
was cut short due to rain. Nathan
Watson played centre moving the
ball quickly to Brandon Stolz and
Nathan Thompson.
On May 31 Jacob McGavin made
great saves in net with Drew McKee
and Garret Logan moving the ball
out defensively. Derek Wood moved
quickly with the ball to make sever
al goals. Jamee Johnston and
Heather Bone kept the ball passing
forward.
On June 7 Kelsey Smith and
Janessa Smith played great defence
moving the ball forward for Tanner
Cardiff and Evan Smith to keep
passing it forward with a lot of
action. MacKenzie McGavin kicked
the ball back out of our end.
With lots of new players they are
all having a lot of fun learning their
throw-ins and passing.
Graduation
Shawn Conley graduated from
Florida Institute of Tech with a
Bachelor of Science - Bio-
Chemistry on May 6, 2000.
Congratulations Shawn. - Love
Dad, Virginia, Gramma and
sisters.
Graduation
Wanda Martin, daughter of
Lyle and Barbara Martin
graduated with Honours from
the University of Guelph with
a Bachelor of Commerce
Degree, Major Agricultural
Business. She is presently
employed at the Bank of
Montreal in Listowel.
Congratulations and Best
Wishes with love, Mom &
Dad, Grant & Pam & Jeremy.
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