Morrisburg Curling Amy and Ashly Cooper on their competitive game

 

The South Dundas Novice B Lions gave up a pair of second period goals to the North Dundas Demons which set the Demons on the course for victory here Monday night, October 27.

The Lions went up 1-0 in the first period of the game, but then fell behind 2-1 in the second period.

Goals were traded in the third period, which allowed the Demons to hang on for a 3-2 win.

It was midway into the first period that Ben Radley opened the scoring for the Lions with help from Devon Honders.

Two quick Demon goals, from the sticks of Gavin Eikelboom and Wyatt Rivet, in the last five minutes of the second period were the difference. 

Ryan Wilson put the Demons up 3-1 early in the third period, and the Lions got one back from Cooper McCooeye assisted by Noelle Hatherall to keep it close.

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The Morrisburg Junior B Lions, put their 2012-13 opening game 5-2 loss to the Glens in Alexandria on Friday night behind them here Sunday afternoon to come up with a very well-played 6-2 victory over the visiting Winchester Hawks.

“I guess you could look at it in one way,” said first-year coach Dan Frawley. “They (Alexandria) played really well in their home opener, and we played really well in our’s.”

“We had a lot of mistakes going on in Alexandria. They pressured us a lot and we buckled under the pressure.”

The Glens hit quickly and hit hard Friday night against Lions’ goaltender Ryan Cooper going up 3-0 in the first period. They stretched it to 5-0 with goals at 10:57 and 11:11 of the second period, before the Lions settled down and got back into the game.

According to Frawley, Cooper played really well and the Lions had their chances but, “we didn’t capitalize”.

Then on Sunday, it was a whole new game, as the Lions went to work on the visiting Hawks.

Veteran Lion, Chris Rutley counted the season’s first goal on Morrisburg ice,  at 13:11 of the first period with the Lions short two players.

The Lions held on for the remaining minutes of the frame. They got a big effort from goaltender Mikael Dion who shut down a two on one Hawks play with a spectacular glove save with just four seconds left on the clock.

In fact, Dion’s experience and maturity showed on many occasion throughout the game as he held the Winchester shooters at bay.

The Hawks came to life midway into the second period with goals from Mathew White (powerplay) and Josh Renaud which gave them a 2-1 lead.

But it was short-lived.

The Lions charged back with goals from Grant Cooper, Rutley’s second, Ty Hodgson on the power play and Clarke Veenstra, short-handed, to carry a 5-2 lead into the third period.

Third period action saw the Lions work extremely hard and successfully on their penalty kills, and some more outstanding work from Dion.

Brandon Chaffe with help from Eric Evans completed the Lions scoring in the last minute of the game.

Picking up assists were Patrick Bzdyl on Rutley’s first counter and Rutley and Michael Poapst on Grant Cooper’s tying marker.

Rutley was assisted by Brayden Girard with his second counter and Grant Cooper and Sylvester Bzdyl set up Hodgson for his power play goal. Michel Lefebvre provided the assist on the Veenstra goal.

Coach Frawley credited the Lions for their efforts in the second period. “They (the Hawks) came out hard in the second period, tied it and went ahead, but we kept our composure.” 

Frawley said he was happy with the penalty kills. “It’s early and I’m still evaluating but at this point we have two strong players for penalty kills on each line.”

Although he is still looking at various line combination, he says he saw good chemistry between veteran Chris Rutley and 16 year old Grant Cooper, younger brother of goaltender Ryan Cooper. “I am trying to find the right mix on the left side.”

The Cooper brothers are actually just one of four brother combinations currently on the Lions bench. The others include Drew and Clark Veenstra, Sam and Ty Hodgson and Patrick and Sylvester Bzdyl.

“The boys all played together and worked well together on the weekend. I’m very please. The guys see the direction we are going with this. It’s a learning process, and we are slowly working towards it. I am happy with their response to this point.”

Coming up this weekend the Lions have just one game and that is Friday night at 8:30 p.m. when the Char-Lan Rebels are in town.

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For the figure skater, timing is so very important and on Saturday, at the Skate Ontario Championship here, Alexis Engwerda’s timing was perfect as she skated to the senior bronze ladies gold medal win.

The Morrisburg Figure Skate Club member who has been skating since she was three years old, put together her very best skate ever to finish in first place ahead of the other 17 skaters in the Senior Bronze category. She chalked up a personal best score of 26.52, well up from her previous pb of 23.53 which she skated at EOSIC in February for a second place finish and the right to represent Eastern Ontario at the Ontario championship.

“The pressure was qualifying for this competition and placing at EOSIC, therefore we were just going to enjoy the experience and honour of attending the all-Ontario event, have fun and skate the best we could,” said coach Allison Scott. “Alexis rose to the challenge and had an amazing clean skate.”

“As far as I know we have never had anyone win at this level,” said Morrisburg Club president Julie Van Hoof. “We are a small club from a small town and this is a big accomplishment. Alexis has had a very good year and she should be very proud of her accomplishments.”

And indeed Engwerda is delighted with her win. “I wasn’t expecting to get that big a mark. I’m excited because it was my personal best.”

The grade 10 students at North Dundas District High School says she wasn’t nervous going into the competition. “My warm up was good, and my skate just kind of flowed. I just went after one element at a time.”

Engwerda’s program consists of a spiral sequence, three spins and six jump elements, five being double jumps. The jumps include a double/double combination.

For the Skate Ontario competition a second double flip replaced a double Salchow.

“More points are awarded for the flip and it has become a very consistent jump for Alexis,” explained Scott of the change.

“Alexis skated effortlessly with her warm smile,” said Scott. “She precisely linked all of the elements with her intricate footwork and artistry flair and she attacked every element with focus and determination. She had a beautiful combination spin, a strong double salchow/double toe-loop combination and a gorgeous double flip in combination.

“When they announced her score we were ecstatic and absolutely thrilled that she had improved by three points since EOSIC. It was an outstanding accomplishment. She had achieved her goals and we were please with how well she had performed.”

Engwerda was the sixth skater on the ice in the 18 skater senior bronze category and after her skate, and her score put her in front of the previous five skaters and she and Scott settled back to watch and enjoying the remaining skaters.

It was only as each of the remaining 12 skaters finished their programs and Alexis score continued to be the one to beat, that the realization slowly began to sink in.

“It became very emotional once we realized she had won,” says Scott. “It was truly exhilarating to hear her name announced as Skate Ontario Senior Bronze Champion! Words cannot express how impressed and proud I am  of Alexis. She is a hard-working and determined skaters and such a charming sweet girl who is absolute pleasure to coach.” 

With the Skate Ontario Gold medal now in a place of honour with her many skate awards, Alexis is now turning her attention towards the upcoming ice show to be performed with her fellow Morrisburg Skate Club skaters at the end of March.

She has just recently successfully completed her testing and will move up to the Junior Silver level which will add 30 seconds to her program. She has one final competition at the Senior Bronze level in April in Gloucester.  

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