Sens Alumni in town for South Dundas Minor Hockey

The North Dundas Rockets will be the new kids on the ice when the hockey season resumes this fall.

Coached by Dale Murdoch of Morewood, the new Junior C franchise will be a member of the eight team National Capital Junior Hockey League.

Junior C hockey is not a stranger to the Chesterville area, says Murdoch. “In the early 80s there was a team in Chesterville,” he explained.

“It’s a couple of those players who are involved in the current startup.”

Murdoch says that he and the owners have recognized a need for Junior C hockey in this area.

“We have several Junior B teams surrounding us, but more and more they are using non-local players because of the competitiveness of the Junior B league. There is a need here for local minor hockey players to be able to progress into competitive hockey beyond minor hockey.”

“Many kids end up not playing hockey at all after minor hockey. There isn’t even any juvenile hockey anymore.”

In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Murdoch is the Rockets’ General Manager.

His first steps have been to line up his coaching staff and joining him behind the bench is Brian Downey of Morewood and Nick Pass of Winchester. Both played Junior A hockey after starting out locally at the Junior B level. Downey also experienced university hockey in the United States and played at the pro level in the former Colonial Hockey League.

The Rockets will play their home games on Sundays in Chesterville. They will play a 32 game schedule against teams from Vankleek Hill, St. Isidore, Cumberland, Embrun, Papineauville, Gatineau and Rockland.

“Our intention is to bus to games on the Quebec side of the league,” says Murdoch of the fairly hefty road trips.

The first home game for the Rockets is scheduled for October 2. As ice will not be ready in Chesterville for a number of weeks, the Rockets training camp will open at the Winchester Arena at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 10. A second session has been set for Sunday, September 11 at 8 p.m.

Murdoch explains that the National Capital Junior Hockey League teams are able to protect only those players in their own minor hockey system.

“So we can protect North Dundas Minor Hockey. Embrun protects Embrun Minor Hockey players. Anyone who plays minor hockey in say, South Dundas or Kemptville, are basically free agents.”

Murdoch also explains, that while each team does have one 16 year old card, teams in the league do not use 16 year olds. “We are looking for 17 years olds and above. We are really looking for kids who have graduated from minor hockey. We really aren’t interested in taking players (17 year old midgets) from the local minor hockey systems.”

While walk-ons are welcome to the upcoming Rockets camp in Winchester, Murdoch says, as a time saving measure, he would like everyone to pre-register.

For more information or to register, he can be reached at 613-913-8266 or e-mail dalemurdoch@yahoo.ca.

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The annual Memorial Day tournament was played Sunday, July 7th at the Cedar Glen Golf course with 56 golfers participating. Each year the tournament is played to honour individuals of the Williamsburg community for their contributions to the community and the Cedar Glen Golf Course. Those honoured include the late Cliff and Agnes Casselman on whose farm Cedar Glen’s first nine holes are located and  the late Stuart and Ethel Saddlemire on whose farm the golf course expanded for its second set of nine holes. Also remembered at the tournament are longtime Cedar Glen member and supporter the late Lyell Strader and the late Dr. M. W. Locke. Winners of this year’s tournament in the mixed division was the team of Barry and Janice Casselman and Bruce and Sharon Whitteker. Second low gross in the mixed division was won by Gary, Dana and Grant McMillan and Sarah Myers. In the men’s division the team of Lyle Schell, Mitch Hutt, James Morrell and Billy Dejong were the low grow winners. Lindsay Waddell struck the ladies longest drive, while Andrew Byvelds hit the longest drive for the men. Closest to the pin winners were Jessica Whitteker on the part three 12th hole and Bunny Warner on the par three ninth. Pictured, l-r, are Bruce and Sharon Whitteker, Cedar Glen owner Dennis Casselman, Barry and Janice Casselman, Kylie and Lyle Schell and Mitch Hutt.

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Once again the Morrisburg Junior B Lions were unable to hang on. 

Holding the St. Lawrence Division’s second place Char-Lan Rebels to a 1-1 first period tie, here Friday night and then going up 2-1 in the second period, it again, fell apart for the Lions who settled for a 4-2 loss due to two unanswered third period goals.

The Rebels were first on the scoreboard with a Matthew Lapointe goal at 5:56 of the first period. 

The Lions charged back and answered to tie the game with a power-play goal at 10:26 from Grant Cooper assisted by Drew Veenstra and Matthew Burns.

Just over five minutes into the second period, Michael Paquette struck to give the Lions a 2-1 lead and they held on to their advantage until well into the third period.

Assisting Paquette were Taylor Eamon and Drew Veenstra.

Then in the third, the Lions were holding their own when they were nabbed for a short-handed goal from the Rebels, Lawson MacDougall at 7:22 which tied it 2-2.

Just over one minute later Connor Primeau beat Lions goaltender Ryan Cooper to put them up 3-2 and that was it.

The Rebels got one more on their power play from former Lion Michel Lefebvre for their 4-2 win.

It was the 18th win of the season for the Rebels which they combined with a 6-3 win against Gananoque, Saturday night, to now trail the first place Casselman Rebels by nine points with the regular season quickly winding down.

The Rebels out shot the Lions by a slim 34-30 shots. Alex Boileau was in the net for their win.

The Rebels scored one power play goal in seven opportunities, while the Lions were good for one in their 13 chances.

In other St. Lawrence Division action, the Casselman Vikings defeated Brockville 4-3 and Athens 2-0. Saturday they were on Cornwall Island where they lost to the Akwesasne Wolves 5-3.

It was a big weekend for the Wolves who also knocked off the Rideau Division’s second place Westport Rideaus, 6-3.

With the Winchester Hawks losing both of their games, to Brockville 4-3 and Gananoque 6-4, the Wolves were able to take possession of the St. Lawrence Division’s third place spot, four points up on the Hawks who do have a game in hand. 

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