Loading...
The Huron Expositor, 1995-02-15, Page 8B -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, February 1d, 11M Cents in thick of wild playoff scramble It's the wild and woolliest stretch drive in many a moon for most teams in the Western Division of the Ontario Hockey Association Junior "D"evelopment League. The Seaforth Centenaires did all they were asked and drilled the Hawks 6-2 at Mitchell Friday night, but still failed to gain ground as the tight playoff race entered the final week of the regular schedule. The Centenaires played a rescheduled game last night (Tuesday) at Lambeth, and play their final game at North Middlesex, which was also snowed out earlier this season, next Tuesday night at 8:30, two days after the Western Division schedule was supposed to end with playoff schedules established. But only three points separated third from sixth with the wool only temporarily settled this Monday inorning, with first-round playoff matchups and home -ice advantage for the four teams in the thick of it still very much up in the air. With four games remaining and 42 points the Exeter Hawks (19- 14(1/OT losses) -3) have a leg up on third and would get home -ice advantage in the first round against the sixth-place finisher. Fourth also gets home -ice advantage against fifth in the opening round. Lucan with 40 points (19-18(1)-1) is now in fourth with two games remaining - Mitchell and Mt. Brydges - and can stay there or climb higher if they win them both. The Centenaires have 39 points and are tied for fifth (18-17-3), assured of their highest placing since the league went to a two -division, nine - team format in the late 1980s, with those two rescheduled games on the road still on tap. Belmont (18-21(2)-1) also has 39 points and a share of fifth by virtue of a 6-1 victory over the faltering division leaders from Port Stanley Sunday. But they are out of games \n) HADER'Willa:.t. I)VOC.t11. ICE MAN - Centenaires goalie Dave Nahrgang was one cool customer under extreme pressure at Mitchell Friday night as the Hawks out -shot Seaforth 42-17 but lost 6-2. It marked the first time since their championship season of 1985-86 that Seaforth has swept the season's series on Mitchell ice, and the Seaforth Juniors enter the final week of their Ontario Hockey Association regular season gunning for the fourth -best record in their 21 -year history. looking very ordinary, having coughed.up 27 goals against in their past four starts. At Mitchell Friday the Centenaires ran into penalty problems right off the bat and played shorthanded for much of the first nine minutes, but broke the scoreless deadlock and got a big boost when Chad Papple scored on a long bomb from the Seaforth side of centre ice at 9:20. Steve Geiger and Kalen Carroll then scored to give Seaforth a 3-0 lead going into the second period. Goaltender Dave Nahrgang proved his mettle as a clutch performer under pressure with playoffs in the wind, by keeping Seaforth in the game, especially late in the second period with the margin narrowed to 4-2, as the Hawks enjoyed a 42-17 edge in shots on net. and can climb no higher. In the event of ties the first formula the league goes to is wins, then .head-to-head records, unless it's a three-way or more tie in which case the OHA tie-breaker formula kicks in, which involves goals for and against. Seaforth won its regular season's series against both Belmont and Exeter, so is assured of at least fifth. The race for the eighth and final playoff position is somewhat simpler. Mt. Brydges is currently in the driver's seat, four points up on the North Middlesex Stars with two games remaining. But the Stars have four games left, so have to win at least three of those four or get the golf clubs out. Meanwhile at the top of the table the Lakers from Port Stanley, who have clinched, are all of a sudden Scott Wright, Jason Hayter and Greg Matthison also scored for the Cents and Mark Mahon and Rob Boville replied for the Hawks. Adam Agar started the game in the Mitchell net but was replaced by Darcy Ballantyne after Seaforth's fifth goal. The win was Seaforth's third on Mitchell ice this season, the first time the Centenaires have swept all games in their arch -rival's rinks (one game was played at Monkton) since 1985-86. Seaforth has never finished higher than sixth since the coming of the nine -team divisions, and is working towards its best record since that championship season. Last season the Centenaires notched their fourth -best record in the team's 21 -year history, finishing sixth at an even .500 with a record of 18-18-4. Elvis Stojko (above), who visited Seaforth in 1993, was named the second top sports story in Canada in 1994. Lloyd Eisler and Isabelle Brasseur were seventh. Eisler, Brasseur among Canada's top sports stories Seaforth native Lloyd Eisler, aid figure skating partner Isabelle Brasseur, have been chosen as one of Canada's top tru sports stories for 1994. Brasseur and Eisler were chosen seventh in the Canadiu Club Sports Survey for accomplishment of ending t. amateur carter with a bronze the Lillehammcr Olympics and a silver at .the World Champion- ships. Elvis Stojko was chosen sec- ilud for his gold medal win at the World Figure Skating Cham- pionships and his silver at the Olympics in Lillchammer, Nor- way. The first choice was Canada's first World Hockey title since 1961. Other winners were Myriam Bedard (third), for her two gold medals in the biathlon at the Winter Olympics; Canada's Olympic hockey team which won silver in Lillchammer (fourth); Jean -Luc Brassard's mogul gold in Norway (fifth); New York Rangers' Stanley Cup win to snap a 54 -year jinx (sixth), the National Hockey League lock -out (eighth); the first -place Montreal Expos great season foiled by the baseball strike (ninth) and the cancella- tion of the major league baseball eason (tenth). TIM CUMMING PHOTO WATCHING THE PLAY - Seaforth second John McFadzean, vice Steve Dolmage and skip Todd Doig watch their competitors during the Colt Zone Competition at the Seaforth Curling Club on Saturday. (At top right, Gord Pryce watches from behind the glass). See how customers Margo and Jake Middelkamp saved big on their energy bill and warmed up with oil heat Heating systems designed to meet ur needs:; Guaranteed wor Savings on your eating & hot water IIs CALL TODAY & SEE HOW MUCH YOU MIGHT SAVE • Fre aluafion • No O gallons' o ,. Ndssles Seaforth & District Community Centres HOCKEY POOL '95 RANK STANDINGS Pte. as of Feb 9/95 1. Terry Gray II 181 2. Patrick Flanagan 179 3. Terry Gray I 173 4. Gary Hetesi III 172 5. NOSAJ TTETSNA 172 6. Bellour Van Lieshout 165 7. Tom & Kyle Devereaux 165 8 Mike Murray - Yes 163 9. Brian Little I 159 10 John Cairns 159 11. Art Strong 158 12 Bob Regele 158 13. M.H R R & S !!1 157 14 Chris Bach I 156 15. Jamie Storr 41 156 16. Jason Anstett 156 17. C.0 B. 155 18. Pat Young #2 155 19. Scott McNaughton 155 20. Brett - I 154 21 Kevin Cooper 154 22. Bruce 'Bottoms' Scott 153 23. Bure #10 153 24. Hilda Bach 153 25. Cooner 41 152 26. Don Freeman - 151 l-takkers - 1 151 -SNA 151 1 151 II 150 < :1uir - 2 149 Doug Bach 149 Gary Bennett - 1 149 Gary Bennett - 2 149 Karl Teicheit 149 Al Nicholson 41 148 Joe II 148 Steve Van Dyk #2 148 Bob McNaughton Ill 147 Derek Gridzak 147 Gor 147 M & D I 147 Marty Bedard 147 C.L. a1 146 Kevin McNaughton 146 Steven Ritz 146 Dianne Muir - 1 145 Don Dupee 145 Paul Doig 145 Tammy Martene 145 31 32. 33 34. 35. 36- 37 38. 39 40 41 42. 43 44. 45. 46. 47. 48 49. 50. This Ad Sponsored By: ARCHIE'S UPI -- OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 527-0881 24 Godtrich St. E.. Seaforth 0 ttri Great Comfort! Great Savings! 1993 Hydro Bill (Heat & electric) vs. 1994 Hydro Bill Oil Heat Bill Oil Hot Water Heater Rental $3604.00 5813.59 $1168.47 $203.4° TOTAL $2 11 8 5.46 The savin s$1 4 1 54 from 1993 to 1994 was... • The cost of converting to Oil was $1500 Almost all of the cost was recouped in 1 Year! This year Middelkamps will have an extra $1400 to spend on themselves. GREOOR CAMPBELL PHOTO THREE GENERATIONS - The Seaforth Curling Club was packed on a recent Sunday as local enthusiasts enjoyed a family competition. This rink featured three generations, left to right: Marcs DeGroof, Amy Horne, Cindy DeGroof and Lori DeGroof. EDWARD FUEL GODERICH TEESWATER 524-8386 .392-6100 .:}:gin ;. CLINTON 482-7381