Runners bring $1,030 to the finish line

As the end draws near, the Morrisburg Junior B Lions picked up another pair of losses in Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League action, a close one to the Winchester Hawks, 5-4 and a 5-2 loss to the Alexandria Glens.

Friday night, the Lions were in Winchester where they put up a solid effort against the division’s fourth place Hawks. Up against their former longtime goaltender Mikael Dion they collected a single goal in the second period to cut the Hawks advantage to 2-1, and then traded goals evenly in the third as they collected the 5-4 loss.

Josh Stubbings put the Hawks on the scoreboard late in the first period, and at 14:15 of the second they went up 2-0 on a Christopher Rossi tally.

Grant Cooper got one back for the Lions with help from Steven Savage and Eric Evans just 1:57 before the end of the second period. 

Then in the third period it was back and forth, with the Lions able to stay close but never able to take control.

Brandon Pantaleo and Cam Hughes counted for the Hawks as they fought to maintain a two goal lead, while Drew Veenstra (from Evans and Taylor Eamon) and Savage (from Evans and Eamon) answered for the Lions.

The Savage goal put the game back in reach for the Lions making the score, 4-3, with 7:55 left in the game.

Forty-seven seconds later, however, the Hawks fired back on their power play, when Adam Beveridge collected an empty net goal to again go up by two (5-3).

The Lions did manage one more from Taylor Eamon (assisted by Grant Cooper and Michael Paquette) with 15 seconds left on the clock.

The game saw only six minor penalties assessed, three to each team. The Lions were out shot, 46-31.

Sunday afternoon, the Alexandria Glens paid their final visit to Morrisburg this season and skated away with a 5-2 victory.

They led 2-0 after the first period and increased it to 3-0 just over a minute into the second.

The Lions came to life later in the period when a pair of Glens. penalties gave them power-play opportunities.

Eric Evans wielded the stick for both goals, the first at 8:23 with help from Steven Savage and Martin Lavallee, and the second at 18:03 from Savage and Taylor Eamon.

That cut the Glens advantage to 3-2 and made it a brand new game as the two skated into the final frame.

Just over five minutes in, the Glens went up 4-2 and they crushed the young Lions five seconds later with another goal that put them up 5-2.

Ryan Cooper was in net for both weekend games for the Lions. The Glens out shot the Lions, Sunday, 47-29. Both teams had seven power-play opportunities. The Lions scored twice, and the Glens converted one.

The Lions with just six wins in 38 games have four games left in the season.

They travel to Casselman to take on the first place Vikings this Thursday, January 31, and on Saturday night, February 2 they are on the road to play the St. Lawrence Division’s second place Rebels.

Their final weekend of action sees them in a home and home series against Akwesasne on Friday, February 8 (in Morrisburg) and Saturday, February 9 (on Cornwall Island).

The Wolves are currently holding the division’s third place, two points up on the Hawks. Both teams will be playing tough for the next two weeks as they battle for the division’s third place spot to avoid tackling the powerful Vikings in the first playoff round.

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The Morrisburg Junior B Lions are excited to announce the change of their historical Friday night 8:30 p.m. home games to Saturday nights at 7:30 and the change gets rolling this weekend.

The Lions will open their 2013-14 season in Alexandria, this Friday night, September 13, and will be on their home ice this Saturday night, September 14, against the Winchester Hawks. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

We are really excited about the Saturday night home games, says general manager Kevin Casselman. “We are hoping to put a lot more people in the rink, and we think this night and earlier time slot will attract more children and families.”

“First and foremost, we want to get more children out and the 8:30 p.m. Friday night time slot was just too late. We are hoping that by getting more kids out to see our games, the spin off will be to get more youth involved in hockey.”

Casselman says the move will also be beneficial the players who are attending university/college with scheduled Friday night classes. “It was just becoming more and more difficult with so many players and their conflicting Friday night school schedules.”

According to Casselman, this year’s Lions schedule will include 10 Saturday night home games and nine Sunday afternoon home games.

“Throughout the upcoming season, we have only four Friday night games, so all of the teams are on the same page. Even Winchester has moved some of their Friday night games.”

Set up as a one year trial, the change called for the cooperation of the South Dundas Minor Hockey Association who had the Saturday night time slot.

“Apparently, they have had trouble getting their midgets out for home games on Saturday nights, as many are working. So it’s a win-win situation for everyone.”

Casselman also suspects the Friday night time slot also wasn’t an attractive time for some older Lions’ fans.

“I know myself that when you get home from work on Friday night, have dinner and hit the couch, it is tough to get up and get going again for an 8:30 p.m. hockey game.”

“We are really hoping that this change will accommodate more fans of all ages, and we are looking forward to seeing some new faces in the arena.”

For the home opener, this Saturday night, the Lions will be hosting their longtime Winchester Hawks rivals. The teams will be on the ice at 7 p.m. and game time is 7:30 p.m. In addition to the much anticipated hockey action, the Clarkson University pep band will be in attendance. “There will be lots of noise and lots of excitement and action for everyone,” says Casselman.

Immediately following the game, fans are invited to join the Lions, their parents and team management at the Morrisburg Golf Club, for player introductions.

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Two local golfers, Kurtis Barkley of Williamsburg and Prescott’s Bill Minkhorst, were just one stroke off the pace set by Ottawa playing professional Jeremiah Shields at the first of six “Chase the Dream”  qualifying events played on the rain-soaked Upper Canada Golf Course, Sunday.

A heavy rain fell throughout the first nine holes of this competition hosted by Evolution Golf and Event Management. 

Although the rain did stop on the back nine, the already-long Upper Canada Golf Course layout (it plays 3,375 yards from the pro tees) was soaked and made for challenging conditions.

Jeremiah Shields, a playing professional from Ottawa became the first-ever Medallist for the “Chase the Dream” series when he posted a steady two over par, 74. 

Next up were Minkhorst and Barkley who tied with 75s.

Minkhorst, a club professional from the Prescott Golf Club, carded his 75, despite an eight on Upper Canada’s signature hole, the 630 yard, par five 14th hole. 

Amateur Kurtis Barkley, a longtime member of the Cedar Glen Golf Club east of Williamsburg who is also playing out of Upper Canada this year, also carded a 75 and Andy Rajhathy, a golf professional from Ottawa was the fourth and final qualifier at 79.

All four golfers now move on to the final “Chase the Dream” qualifier that will be played at Smuggler’s Glen on Sunday, August 26th. There they will join an elite field of 28 golfers who will play for three exemptions into The Great Waterway Classic.

“We had a great start to our “Chase the Dream” series on a very challenging day weather-wise at Upper Canada,” said David Dargie, tournament director of The Great Waterway Classic. “Despite the rainy weather, the course was in great condition and our players were able to finish their rounds. Three golfers finished only two shots out of qualifying for the August 26th event at Smuggler’s Glen showing the strong fight that they all put up yesterday in trying conditions.”

“Overall, it was what we wanted when we set up these ‘grass roots’ qualifying events – a group of golfers trying their level best to make it to the next level and hopefully get a chance to play with the Canadian Tour Pros.”

The next “Chase the Dream” event will be held at eQuinelle Golf Club in North Grenville on July 8th. 

Registrations are still open for anyone who wants to “Chase the Dream” and try to qualify for The Great Waterway Classic, the Canadian Tour event which is coming to Smuggler’s Glen,  this September 3-9 and to the Upper Canada Golf Course in 2013.

For Chase the Dream qualifying information or to register Igolfers can go to the tournament web site: www.thegreatwaterwayclassic.ca or phone 1-855-317-7503.

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