Huron Expositor, 2006-02-15, Page 10Page 10 February 15, 2006 • The Huron Expositor
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emorable.. regular season has four
Seaforth area players eager to start playoffs
Jeff Heuchert
ammuip
With an impressive record of 25-
9-4-1, the Mitchell Hawks have fin-
ished the regular season, and find
themselves atop the conference.
For Tyler Elligsen, of Dublin, and
Steve Henderson, Dave Verberne
and Barry Young, all of Seaforth,
the post -season is now their oppor-
tunity to show they're not just the
best in the conference, but the best
in the entire league.
Beginning Feb. 17, the Hawks will
open up the playoffs with a best -of -
seven series against the Mt.
Brydges Bulldogs.
Finishing first in the conference
has guaranteed the Hawks home -ice
advantage throughout most of the
playoffs, something that cannot be
ignored, says Elligsen.
"This year at home we played
much better,' he says.
Verberne adds that there's some-
thing special about "playing in your
own barn where you have the fans
in the crowd cheering you on."
Asked if there was a chance they
might underestimate their first-
round opponents, Henderson says
that is always in the backs of play-
er's minds, especially when they're
a top-ranked team.
"It's always a concern," he says,
adding that it won't have to be as
long as they work hard and play as
"a well-rounded team," like they
can.
y er igsen Barry Young
Verberne says the team
will not underestimate anybody.
"Every team is pretty tough - any-
body could beat anybody," he says.
Young agrees with Verberne,
adding that they're going to have to
keep their opponents on their heels
by playing physical and making
their hits.
Physical play has been a big part
to the Hawks game all year long,
something Young knows very well.
He finished the season with 119
penalty minutes, good for first on
the team.
Although Young says he did strug-
gle to find the back of the net this
year, he is happy with his contribu-
tion to the team as an enforcer.
"I had a lot of fun doing it. It's just
a different side of the game," he
says.
As for Elligsen, he says he's satis-
fied with his year personally.
He says he had a different role on
the team this year, which focused
more on defence, even though he's a
Steve Henderson
forward.
Nonetheless, Elligsen finished sec-
ond on the team in assists and tied
for third in points with 36.
Henderson, who missed three
weeks of the season to a fractured
rib, says he had a "pretty good sea-
son," finishing with 24 points.
Prior to the injury, he was record-
ing a point per game, which he
wasn't able to continue once he
returned.
Verberne enjoyed a highly success-
ful season, which included a trip to
the mid-season All-Star game.
He finished tied for second on the
team in goals and fifth in points,
with 35.
"I played well defensively and
didn't take too many penalties," he
says, adding that he didn't miss
single game all season.
This post -season ' brings an oppor-
tunity for players to erase those bad
memories from last year, when the
Hawks were knocked -out in the sec-
ond round of the playoffs.
a
Dave Verberne
"I 'think about it a lot,' says
Elligsen:
He adds that a season like this
"doesn't come every year. You have
to take it allin."
"If we don't win the first or second
(round), we'll be disappointed," he
says.
Young also has high hopes.
"Our team should go fairly deep. I
won't go as far to say we'll make the
finals, but if we don't, it'll be disap-
pointing," he says.
Henderson says he would relish
the opportunity to even play in the
championship.
"I've never been on a team that's
done really well, or won anything
big," he says.
According to ,Verberne, the Hawks
are definitely seen as a post -season
threat.
"A lot of people know that we're
the guys they're going to have to
beat," he says.
But, he's quick to note, "We're
going to have to earn it."
Scoreboard
SHUFFLEBOARD
Feb. 8
Men's high: Gerald Martene 5 wins, Bert
Bachert, Hank Dorssers 3 wins.
Ladies high: Joyce Pepper 4 wins, Willy
Hoornaert, Grace Corbett 3 wins.
Hensall scores
Men's high: Gerald Martene, Bill Coleman 4
wins; Bert Bachert , Hank Dorssers 3 wins.
Ladies high: June Martene 4 wins. Helen
McKay 2 wins.
BOWLING
Seniors
Feb. 10
Men's high single: Steve Hook 234
Men's high triple: Steve Hook 633
Men over 200: Steve Hook 234, 229
Men over 600: Steve Hook 633
Women's high single: Marg McClure 233
Women's high triple: Olave Little 575
Women over 175: Marg McClure 233, 179;
Olave Little 223, 196; Grace Corbett 190; Joyce
Matzold 188, 184; Rose Doyle 185; Joanne
Knights 180; Anne Copeland 176.
Women over 500: Olave Little 575, Marg
McClure 551, Joyce Matzold 539.
Friday Nighters
Feb. 10
Men's high single: Don Elliott 253
Men's high triple: Don Elliott 671
Men over 200: Gary A. Huston 216, 210; Don
Elliott 225, 253; Gary Gagnier 222.
Men over 600: Don Elliott 671.
Women's high single: Julie Gagnier 219
Women's high triple: Julie Gagnier 639
Women over 200: Julie Gagnier 212, 208, 219;
Kelly Collins 209.
Women over 600: Julie Gagnier 639.
Standings: Kera's Pin Heads 76, Chicken
Shack Bandits 67, Happy Hooters 60,
Muskateers 55, Marg's Manglers 51, Boys
Named Sue 47.
HOCKEY
HouseLeague
Senior
Feb. 11
Blues 6 Panthers 4
Blues scorers: Scott Selvey 4, Nic Flanagan,
Hannah Jansen.
Panthers scorers: Brad Van Bakel 4
Ducks 5 Bruins 3
Ducks scorers: Dean Johnston 4, Eric Van
Doornik.
Bruins scorers: Kalen Devereaux 2, Blake
Sangster.
Junior
Kings 9 Sharks 2
Kings scorers: Cody Kropf 4,
See SCOREBOARD, Page 11