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Times-Advocate, 1982-04-21, Page 8Pape E Times -Advocate, Aprll 21, 1952 Sports Spotlight By Ross Haugh Irish did it It took 13 years to become a reality, but, three fellows will tell you very quickly it was worth waiting for. We are talking about the Ontario Hockey Associa- tion Junior "D" championship won by the Lucan Irish Wednesday night and Bob Taylor, Jim Freeman and Clare Stanley in particular. These three gentlemen were on the original ex- ecutive when the Irish came into existence in 1969 and are still the driving forces behind the club. 7> Jim Freeman was the manager of the original team. He transferred that position to Bob Taylor about seven years ago and has continued in a variety of capacities including OHA contact man while Clare Stanley looks after the finances. While these men look after the business end of run- ning a hockey team, coach Dave Revington goes about his business in a very quiet and efficient manner. Revington, the Irish coach for two seasons had lit- tle to say after the championship win. His comments were limited to, "I'm glad that's over. The guys did a terrific job of all parts of the game, making my job easy". When asked about next year, Revington said, "There is lots of time to think about next season." The future of the Irish for the 1982-83 season looks very bright. The only players to be lost next year are Kevin and Keith Hartwick and backup goalie Ed Dobinson. The rise of the Irish in the playoffs was phenomenal after what most of their supporters would agree was only a mediocre season. During the regular schedule the Lucan club won 17 games, lost 21 and tied two to end up in third place in the northern division of the OHA Western grouping. Each and every one of their four playoff series was • exciting and different. In the first round against the first place Tavistock Braves, the series went the full seven games with high scoring and overtime contests being the highlights. Then came the division final against the Mitchell Hawks. The Irish swept the Hawks in four straight but three of the four games were very close with scores of 3-2, 2-1 and 5-3. The next opposition came from the Stayner Siskins and this series can be remembered for a great battle of goal tenders. Dan Sceli of the Irish who just came back from a lengthy layoff due to an injury and Mike Dineen of Stayner turned in brilliant efforts game after game especially in the 1-0 overtime contest. The great desire of the Irish came to fore in the final against Langton. This desire which was high during the earlier playoffs was fanned to a higher pitch When a number of so-called experts indicated Langton could win the championship in four straight. In any league, those are fighting words and a sure way to get any team fired up. It certainly spurred the Irish on. On the bus trip to Langton Wednesday night that subject was brought up by players a number of times with the conclusion, "Let's show 'em." A championship win like the Irish pulled off this year takes a genuine team effort from not only the players, but, everyone connected with'the organization. While every player chipped in with his 110 percent's worth, there are three that deserved honourable men- tion. Goalie Dan Sceli kept his team in contention many times when the chips were down and defenceman Kevin Hartwick displayed great intensity with his body check- ing. This showed in the final game as a number of Langton forwards kept their heads up when heading in to Lucan territory. The fellow that sparked Wednesday's win with the first two goals was Jeff Shipley. Jeff who is only 15 years of age and a minor midget suffered. a slight concussion in Sunday's game in Langton and was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Lon- don on the way home. He was told by a doctor to stay out of the lineup for a week, but, this is one situation where every Irish sup- porter is happy doctor's orders were not followed. Congratulations again to the Irish on a great ac- complishment. What do you do for an encore next year? Late congra tula tions We would like to pass on late congratulations to a couple of other teams. First of all to the Zurich Buckeyes who won the South Huron intermediate cham- pionship for the fourth consecutive year. The Buckeyes had their hands full in the final playoff with the Hensall Sherwoods who kept roaring back when it looked as if the series would end quickly. As one Zurich player told us, "They gave us one heck of a battle and could have won with a few more lucky bounces." The showing of the Dashwood Tigers was great in winning the over 23 years of age championship in the recent Can -Am tournament at Lake Placid, New York. The Tigers also exhibited their ability in bouncing back by beating Kitchener 4-1 to win the championship after losing the first game to the same Kitchener club Unique fund raising Organizers of the Exeter figure skating club preci- sion team came up with a very unique method of assisting their fund raising campaign. Saturday, most of the team along with a number of parents donhed boots and overalls and got into the poultry business. They took on the job of transferring 10,000 pullets from one barn to another for Winchelsea area poultry farmer Larry Taylor. The job started at eight o'clock in the morning and went late into the afternoon. It took a lot of trips to carry that many chickens. Some of the skaters could only handle one in each hand but stronger farmers such as Bob Whiteford, Gary Birmingham and Charlie Tieman could manage as many as 10 to a dozen in one trip. • It was an eggsellent way to make some money for next year's skating team activities. I Win OHA crown after 13 years of trying • 'qt. The Irish are number one Peaking at the right time, hot in the playoffs, a desire to win and hard work. Those are terms heard quite often in sporting circles, but, all can be used to describe the heroic perfor- mance of the Lucan Irish, which cuhninated in Langton Wednesday night in winning the Ontario Hockey Associa- tion Junor "D" .championship. The Irish edged the Langton Thunderbirds 3-2 in an exciting contest to win the, provincial title for four games to one. After the Irish finished third in their own division with a mediocre record of 17 wins, 21 defeats and two ties, they came alive in the playoffs and proved post - season play is a new ball game. With coach Dave Revington urging them on, the Irish compiled a tremendous record of 16 victories and on- ly six defeats in the four playoff rounds. The dark green visiting sweaters were good luck for the Irish youngsters as they won nine of an even dozen games on the road. When OHA convener Dave Bessie presented the trophy to WAITED A LONG TIME — Lucan Irish manager Bob Taylor waited 13 years for an Ontario championship. Above, Taylor is shown with two of his stalwart players Keith and Kevin Hartwick following Wednesday's 4-3 win over Langton. T -A photo A HAPPY COACH — Lucan Irish coach Dave Revington is in a happy frame of mind as he congratulates Steve Glenn who scored the winning goal and Dan Sceli who was.brilliant in goal as the Irish won the OHA championship Wednesday night. A TWO GOAL SCORER -- Jeff Shipley scored the first two goals of the game to lead the Lucan Irish to Wednesday's championship win over Langton. Above, Jeff is being congratulated by Irish executive Jim Freeman and trainer Barry Hodgins. captain Paul Wraith in Langton Wednesday night it was a dream come true for three members of the Lucan executive who have been try- ing to achieve this goal since the team was established 13 years ago. Manager Bob Taylor, OHA contact man Jim Freeman and treaasurer Clare Stanley are the only charter members still active on the executive. Most exciting The final game of the series was probably the most ex- citing with the outcome being in doubt right to the final bell with the faithful and voiciferous Irish fans hanging on. The first period belonged to the Thunderbirds as they scored the only goal and out - shot the Irish 16-7. The scor- ing opened at 5.04 as the Irish were caught with only one defender back and the Thunderbirds finished off a neat passing play. Andy Toonen was the marksman with Jim Money and Rene Dewatcher assisting. Only 31 seconds later Steve Glenn missed a glorious scor- ing opportunity when his shot from a scramble just missed the Langton net. At 15.31 Andy Toonen came close again as he ripped a shot off the Irish goal post and three minutes later Kevin Hartwick slid in front of the goal to block a dangerous shot. Lucan came close on two occasions in the last minute and a half as Jeff Shipley had the goalie beaten cleanly and bagged a shot off the goal post and then Allen Degroote in trying to clear the puck behind the net hit the post, but, was able to cover up quickly. The first penalty of the game to Langton with four seconds to go in the first period set up the initial Irish score on a power play. With only 15 seconds left in the penalty, Jeff Shipley took passes from Dean Turner and Doug Latta and put three dekes on the Langton defence and goalie before putting the puck into the net. Play resumed in hectic back and fourth action which was typical all night. Steve Thompson blocked a pass in front of his own net near the four minute mark and Jeff Shipley went right back up the ice to put the Irish ahead 2-1 with Steve Glenn and Art Gregory getting the assists. The Lucan crowd went wild again at 5.15 as captain Paul Wraith worked from behind the Langton net to slip the puck into the corner. Keith and Kevin Hartwick were in- strumental in getting the play organized. Near the 13 minute park Mike Andries notched the se- cond Langton goal on another fine passing play. This time Andy Toonen and Rene Dewatcher assisted. Late in the period Dan Sceli made one of the best stops of the night as he stopped Rene Dewatcher on a 10 foot shot from point blank range. Pinpoint and crisp passing produced the third Langton goal at 1.31 of the final period to tie the score:Andy Toonen registered with assists going to Rene Dewatcher and Mike Andries. Each team had problems with penalties in the next few minutes. Rene Dewatcher of Langton was sent off for cross checking at 5.08 and he was barely on when Art Gregory of the Irish was nailed for high sticking. The only other two penalties in the entire game came at 11.20 as referee Paul Coleman nabbed Jim Money and Geff Edwards for roughing. LOYAL SUPPORTERS CHEER - Some of the more than 300 spectators from Lucan are shown applauding the Irish championship win in Langton Wednesday night. The winning goal came from the stick of Steve Glenn with less than five minutes to go as he completed a three- way passing combination with John Medd and Doug Latta. . That goal put the Irish ahead, but, the game was far from over. In the last minute with the Langton goal empty, Mike Andries bounced a shot off the Lucan crossbar and in the last 10 seconds Dan Sceli came up with a tremendous save on a rising shot to the glove side by Andy Toonen. The Irish were able to run the clock out allowing their supporters to breathe easier and start a long cheering ses- sion which culminated with a tour of the rink with the trophy after receiving it from OHA convener Dave Bessie. POST GAME NOTES Lucan Biddulph fire chief Wes Hickson was at the wheel of the fire truck when the Irish returned to Lucan about 1 a.m. Thursday to whisk the champions around town. One of the happiest fans and parents was Lucan councillor Harry Wraith. By the time the team returned to Lucan, Wraith was in full uniform missing only a pair of skates. His first comments were' "I've been waiting 20 years for this." The players were treated to another party Friday night at the home of goalie Dan Sceli's parents at RR 2, Denfield. More than 300 loyal Lucan fans accompanied the team to Langton Wednesday and most were back at the arena later to help in the celebration. OHA junior convener Dave Bessie of Watford presented the championship trophy to captain Paul Wraith and goalie Dan Sceli. One of the most excited fans at the final game was Lucan reeve Ivan Hearn. • The final series produced some excellent hockey and in addition to the great perfor- mances erformances by both clubs, the referees helped a lot by let- ting the players stick to play- ing hockey. In the final game referee Paul Coleman of Tillsonburg called only five minor penalties and two of these came at the same time when one player from each club was called for roughing. 'Fhe OHA trophy was the centre of attraction back at the Lucan arena in the early hours of Thursday and Dave Egan spent quite a bit of time carrying it around on his head. That was only one sign of the great enthusiasm shown by all of the players. Anyone on the team bus riding back from Langton will attest to the fact that playing 60 minutes of strenuous hockey does not wear a team out. The cries of "We Are Number 1" were still heard as driver Gary McFalls guided the bus back to Glen Haskett's service station lot. The Irish fan support was terrific throughout the playoffs with more than 300 in attendance at the final game in Langton. Leading the Irish cheering section was' Dave Cook. Manager Bob Taylor told the T -A this week he felt the series against Tavistock was •the toughest his club faced in the playoffs." He continued, "We were lucky we didn't meet the Ex- eter Hawks in the playoffs. They beat us five out of six games during the seasons and it's lucky for us they came up flat against Mitchell". Taylor added, "We didn't play well until mid-January when Dave was able to turn things around. Goalie Brad Milner from Thedford deserves a lot of credit for getting us past Tavlstock when Dan Sceli was hurt. He was super in that series and then in the first two games against Stayner. Then Dan came back and everybody knows how well he played from then on." Manager Taylor agreed that the green away uniforms were a lucky omen. He said, "They seemed to come alive away from home. When a team comes out of a big rink like ours to a smaller one in Stayner and wins a couple of times it says something for them." Coach Dave Revjngton's comments were brief, "I'm sure glad it's over and I cer- tainly am proud of every player. They did everything I. asked of them and a lot more." TROPHY HELD UP — Dave Egan of the Lucan Irish was proud to carry the OHA championship trophy around on his head after the club returned from the final 4.3 victory in Langton, Wednesday night. T -A photo vNeaaev mac THE OCCASION -- Lucan councillor HarryWraith dressed ap- propriately Wednesday night to welcome the Lucan Irish back to town after winn- ing the OHA Junior "D" title. Wraith is shown with sons Paul who was the Irish cap- tain and Marty, a strong supporter of the club. 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