Times Advocate, 1997-04-16, Page 16Page 16
Times -Advocate, April 16, 1997
This Week in. Sports...
• Grand Bend joins bid for Canada Games - page 17,
• Exeter Minor Hockey award winners - page 18
Eight -End rarities. Ross Hodgert, left, and son AI may be the only father son team in the
• country to record an eight rock end while curling separate games in one season.
Father and son score rare
eight -enders in one season
By Chris Skalkos
T -A Reporter
EXETER- When looking up the term remarkable
coincidence, look no further than Ross Hodgert and
his son Al.
The two men curl at the Exeter Curling Club.
which is neither remarkable, nor is it a coincidence.
However, both curlers have scored an eight -rock
e1id‘;That.�T.s. as being .remarkable. The fact
they both rec. hard this feat in separate games in the
same makes'I<his' ftl kdfiirtb-"'
incidence.
.Commonly called an "eight -ender the extremely
rare play occurs when all eight of a team's rocks re-
main in the points circle at the completion of an
end. The magnitude of this feat is compared to hit-
ting a hole -in -one on a par five golf course and is so
extraordinary, some larger centres have never re-
corded one in club history.
. According to statistics compiled by FORD Can-
ada. there were 88 eight -enders recorded at curling
clubs from across the country this year. Only 15 of
those occurred in Southern Ontario.
Al got his first while skipping a team in the chal-
lenge league in December. His eight -ender was the
first time somebody accomplished the kat at the
Exeter Curling Club in 11 years. and he became
only the fifth person to throw an eight -rock end
since the club opened in 1960.
Who would have thought it would happen again
three months later?
Who would have thought Al's father Ross would
be playing on the team that recorded the club's sec -
and eight -ender of the season'?
The odds are astronomical and the Hodgerts may
very well be the only father and son team in Canada
able to make such a claim.
"It's once in a life -time as f
ar,as I'm concern
ed. _
•
You always hear about it but you never think you're
going to get it," dd -Roes who has been an -avid,
"
n -avid-
` eihtef-for'tllmost
"Yes it's rare and there's a lot of luck involved
but you have to have skill to get all the rocks. in
too," said Al, adding he had the added pressure of
throwing the last rock when he threw his eight -
ender while curling with Al Powe, Dick and Bob
Dougall. Ross was curling with a three-man team
consisting of Murray Dawson, and Harry Jacobi
when they got theirs last month.
Before the 1996-97 curling season, there have
only been four eight -enders recorded at the Exeter
Curling Club. The first one was in 1968. the others
happened in 1970, 1982 and 1985.
Al said he wouldn't be surprised if this was the
start of a trend at the club. but Ross feels he would
be lucky to even witness another one and plans on
savoring the moment.
"1 enjoyed it. I hope it would happen again but the
odds arc against it." said Ross.
Womens fastball
team seeks coach
EXETER - Despite all efforts,
the Exeter Elite womens fast -
ball team are still without a
coach for the upcoming foot-
ball season.
Centre -fielder Julie McLe-
od, said the team has been
looking for someone to re -
plate Tim Moore who
coached last year but has
since departed after he and
the players couldn't agree on
the number of players they
should sign to FRN the roster.
Moore faced a difficult in-
augural year coaching the
newly loaned fasibail team In
the highly competitive Tri -
county Womens League as
Exeter finished the season
with eight wins and 17 losses.
With most of last year's
players retuming, McLeod
expects the team will be
more competitive this season
but fears they will play their
first game on April 27 without
direction behind the bench.
"The girls are really talented
ball players but we need a
coach to tame us," said
McLeod. "We don't want to
be playing as individuals with
ability but as a whole team
with ability."
Trout derby slotted for May 3
EXETER - The 131h Annual
Trout Fishing Derby at Morrison
Dam is scheduled for May 3.
The Ausable Bayfield Foundation
and the Exeter Lions Club sponsor
this annual event created to intro-
duce youth to the sport of fishing.
This year's derby will take place
from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Many prizes, donated by area
businesses, as well as trophies will
be ertatf ed afterwards. Last year
more than 300 people registered for
the event. Fees are SI for anglers
16 -years -old and under and $2 for
17 years and older. Food and re-
freshments will be available and
the two kilometre nature trails will
also be open for hiking.
Prior to the derby, the Morrison
Dam reservoir will be stocked by
the Ausable Bayfield Foundation
and the Exeter Lions with over
1,000 eight to 10 inch rainbow
trout, as well as a few larger trout.
Fishing licenses are required for
anyone over 18 and under 65. Rain-
bow trout,season officially opens
on Apri426.
Shuffleboard
Hensall
• April 8
Alice Thiel
Hazel McEwen
Pearl McKnight
Edna Dietz
Merle McLellan
Hugh McKay
Jim Davis
Dave Woodward
549
491
442
439
431
428
423
422
Exeter
April 9
5 game winners
Doris Miller 428
John Pepper 378
Tont Williams 308
Mike Underhill 269
4 game winners
Allen Johns 314
Iva Blair 261
Leona Elliot 239
Lloyd Lovell 223
Wilma Davis 205
April 10
5 game winners
Ina Williams 404
Doris Hackney 404
Sam Skinner 367
Bob Thompson 315
Ann Northey 315
4 game winners
Howard Johns 285
Doris Miller 282
Estelle Chalmers 271
Aldeen Skinner 267
Gordon Hoggarth 262
3 game winners
Leona Elliot `t 263
Lloyd Lovell "r 162
Bruce Shaw updates hockey
banquet on son's NHL career
Tampa Bay's David Shaw may retire after this year, says dad
By Chris Skalkos
T -A Reporter
EXETER - With the Tampa Bay
Lightning missing a playoff spot in
the post -season, those who have
been following the career of Exeter
native Dave Shaw may have a few
questions. His father Bruce an-
swered them last Tuesday during
the Exeter Minor Hockey Awards
Banquet.
Invited as the guest speaker.
Bruce is not one to shy away from
the podium, especially when talk-
ing about one of his
favorite topics, his
son David.
Shaw told the story
of how David pro-
gressed through the
Exeter Minor Hockey
system on the way to
the big league, but
paused along the way
to bring home a point
or offer some advice
to the audience of young hockey
players. dedicated coaches. eager
hockey moms and wide-cyed fa-
thers.
"David didn't start as early as
some kids hut he had some great
coaches." said Shaw specifically
addressing the hockey players. "I
hope you appreciate your coach-
es...they give up a lot of their time
to coach you."
He also reminded the coaches not
to emphasize winning as much as
developing the skills and talent in
the players they coach.
"Dave was sensitive when he was
young, as many 'kids are. Co -aches
tteed19knew whgn a lkWti." dtncerves
8 kicTc iT lTie'Tiiit'f or n the
back," he said.
Shaw said he is often asked by
"I h
app
coache
give
of the
to
other hockey parents if he pushed
David. "We encouraged him, we
supported him but we never pushed
him," he said. However, he admits
some parental guidance at a crucial
moment should not be avoided. As
an example, he talked about 'the
time David was playing Junior "B"
hockey in Kitchener and called say-
ing he was homesick. David said he
wanted to live at home and play for
Stratford commuting to games and
practices. But David was not as
skilled behind the wheel as he•was
on skates and had suffered five car
accidents driving the
previous winter. Shaw
said the stress and con-
stant,yvorrying was too
much for him and Da-
vid's mother, and
made him choose be-
tween staying in
Kitchener or playing
junior "D" hockey in
Exeter. •
As it turns out, Da-
vid had a girlfriend living in Strat-
ford and ,his /decision to go there
had more to do with hormongs than
with hockey. David choose to stay
in Kitchener and as a result. was
drafted by the Junior "A" Rangers.
In 1982, he was drafted by the
Quebec Nordiques hut didn't get to
play his' first NHL game until three
years later. He played for Quebcc
until he was tFaded to the New
York Rangers in 1987. After four
seasons, he was' traded again in a
big schuffle that saw the Rangers
acquire Mark Messier and send him
to Edmonton. But he didn't play for
the Oilers long before he was trad-
ed to the Minnesota North Stars.
David ended his 1991-92 season
as a free agent and was picked up
by the Boston Bruins. For three
ho
you
reciate
your
s...they
up a lot
it time
coach
you."
years he provided them with a
steady and dependable style of de-
fensive play that contributed to the
Bruin's bump and grind style, a
characteristic the club was known
for back then.
David's contract was about to be
submitted for arbitration when a
deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning
was struck' sending him to Florida.
After an up and down regular
season, Tampa Bay failed to make
the playoffs by three points this
year finishing third from last in the
Eastern Conference -with a 32-40-
10 win/loss/tie record.
Shaw said David wasn't happy in
Tampa Bay citing hostilities be-
tween the organization's general
manager and head coach. He also
wasn't getting much ice time and
has only scored one goal and 11 as-
sists this season compared to the 19
goals he scored during his first year
in Boston.
"There's one more year left in his
contract but he's thinking about
hanging up his skates," said Shaw.
Before ending his speech, Shaw
crediied three per§onal attributes
that have helped David in his career
and should be held in high esteem
by all athletes in any sport: de-
termination, friendships, and a
sense of humor.
He told the audience success is
not measured by the numbers in the
win column, but those who do en-
joy success must also accept a high-
er responsibility.
"We have two All -Ontario cham-
pionship teams here—tonight," said
Shaw congratulating the Exeter
A.E. Midget Lions and the Juvenile
Chiefs for their recent accomplish-
ment. "Never let success go to your
head and try to be a role model for
the younger kids." ,
Wingham Sportsmen's Horseshoes
Place Name and town
1 Bill Spiclmacken, Hanover
2 Glen Lasenby, Ane Lake
3 Lia Snell, Exeter
4 Jim Nelson, Walkerton
5 Archie MacMillan. Walkerton
6 John Murphy, Thedford
1 Jack Snell, Exeter
2 Jim Bolton, Walkerton
3 Doug Vanderwoude. Wingham
4 Cathy Sisson, Kitchener
5 Geo. Gibbons, Saublc Beach
6 Jack Miflin, Merlin
7 Keith Spademan, Kitchener
1 Paul Kennedy, Waterloo
2 Fred Dentry, Bayfield
3 Doug Ewles, Hepworth
4 Joan Dentry, Bayfield
April 12
% Name and town
64 John Merryfield, Merlin
48 Bernie Bender, Hanover
42 ' Lin Hewitt, Kincardine
39 Geo. Brouwer, Watford
37 Ron Olmsted, Owen Sound
32 Percy Staight, Owen Sound
B Division
29 Gerry Edwards, Belgrave
29 Mac Browwer, Watford
29 Hank Carter. Wingham
16 Lorne Hamilton, Kincardine
24 Earl Wolsonholme, Kincardine
28 Del Rumbold, London
12 Diane Lascnby, Pine Lake
17 Vern Hutchings, St. Thomas
14 John Habgewachs, Ruthven
17 Chris Kahuc. Chatham
15 Wm. Lasenby, Pine Lake
% W L Plus
30 4 1 25
40 4 1 23 ,
30 3 2 42
40 2 4 101
24 2 4 57
17 0 6 93
18 4 2 56
22 4 2 28
24 3 3 69
18 3 3 61
28 3 3 46
27 2 4 74
22 2 4 69
26 5 1 23
12 3 3 66
21 2 4 80
17 2 4 23
The Woodpeckers
The Stephen Township Woodpeckers finished a successfutseason with 42 wins, nine loss-
es and five ties. They captured the WOAA Peewee local league championship and were fi-
nalists in the Lambton-Middlesex Local League Peewee championship. This was the fourth
consecutive year a Stephen Township Peewee local team has won the WOAA title. Back row
from left, manager Bill Norris, trainer Rick Parsons, Ken Tilley, Coyle Lawton, Fraser Mac-
Donald, Adam Cyr, Brent Tatars, Sheldon Snell and coach, Tony Michielsen. Front row, Ro-
man Wilson, Nevin Hodgins, Ben Parsons. Shawn Thompson, Dane Michielsen, Richard
Young, Colin Sauder.