Novice B Lions are still looking for a win

 

During a visit to the Morrisburg arena Friday night, the St. Lawrence Division’s second place Casselman Vikings (tied for second with the Hawks) discovered the Morrisburg Lions aren’t pushovers.

Although the Vikings did eventually pick up a 5-4 win, they first had to play 60 minutes of regulation time hockey and five minutes of overtime before they were able to put it away in a shoot out.

It was a big game for the Lions and an exciting game for Lions fans as they watched their Lions hang tough against the powerful Vikings who have lost only three games in 15 starts this season.

“Let’s face it. To get a point against Casselman is an accomplishment, even though I thought we really should have won,” said Lions coach Thom Racine. “I thought we played well. Outshooting the Vikings (40-37) is a rare feat and with some luck around the net it might have been a different story.”

The Vikings were first on the scoreboard with an Adam Wensink goal just 1:24 into the game.

That held until late in the frame when Michael Poapst, assisted by March Antoine, evened it off at 1-1.

The Lions couldn’t hold them off, and the Vikings were able to slip one more past goaltender Mikael Dion, on their power play at 15:14 of the period.

Just 4:39 into the second period the Lions again levelled the playing field this time with a goal from Taylor Wilson assisted by Zach Sequin and Ryan Dunbar.

That held until 18:37 of the second when the Vikings collected another power-play goal to again push ahead as the period ended.

Joel Adam pushed the Viking advantage to 4-2 with an unassisted counter at 8:50 of the third period, but it wasn’t over yet.

The Lions came back and came back strong.

Clark Veenstra (from Taylor Wilson and Ryan Ward) pulled it to within one at 11:05 and then at 15:55 Michael Poapst and Taylor Wilson set up Zach Sequin for the tying marker.

The 4-4 tie held throughout the overtime, although the Lions had their chances thanks to a pair of Casselman penalties that gave them a five on three power play. The Lions were unable to capitalize on the extra man advantage and the 4-4 tie was finally broken in a shootout.

Alex Steingruber, Michael Poapst and Ryan Ward were all unsuccessful against Vikings goaltender Phillippe Quesnel.

Coming up this week the Lions travel to Casselman to taken on the Vikings at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 3. 

On Friday night, November 4 they host the Winchester Hawks. 

“If we bring the same intensity to these upcoming weekend games, I like our chances at stealing some more points,” says Racine.

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Three of our mixed teams were in Winchester last weekend for their club’s annual shrimp and steak bonspiel. Teams were from Ottawa, Cornwall, Toronto, and several valley towns. 

Mahlon Locke, Kathy Norg, Bill Doornward and Janet Levere won both of their games, finishing first overall. Sam Locke, Wendy and Jim Casselman and Claire Locke won both of their games also, finishing fifth. Our third team, Robert Houze, Mandy Pedle, Robbie Stitt and Rhonda Mark, defeated Thornhill, but lost their second game in the last end to a Prescott foursome. Well done, folks! 

In the Thursday mixed curling league, Ruth Kelly, Bill Magee, Rosemary Laurin and Eleanor Allison won the final draw of the season. The league finale finished with a meal catered by Subway. 

After several years of organizing the league, including friendly bonspiels and other social activities, Ron Beaupre has decided to turn the task over to someone else, and Ruth Kelly will take on the job. Ron was thanked for his efforts, and after presenting the trophy to the champions, he indicated that he will continue with his other club responsibilities, including his work as club secretary, arranging for commercial signage, and finding ways to minimizing the cost of electrical service. Thanks, Ron and Jeanine!

The Friday night league has completed its draw, with Sam and Claire Locke, Jenna Harrington and Rob Crombie emerging victorious. Garry Beckstead, Chris Moran and Wendy and Jim Casselman finished second. The final evening involved a rotational bonspiel, with Claire Locke skipping her team to victory. Thanks for taking care of the league again, Mahlon.

Tuesday night, Larry Cooper’s team won the men’s league title. Other members of his team were Rick MacKenzie, Jody Cryderman and Jeffrey Crooke. Larry had also won the early draw, with Sam Decker, Henry Looyen and Steve Summers. Thanks to Joe McCooyee for looking after the league again.

Ten teams took part in our closing bonspiel Saturday. The first draw was won by Ron Beaupre, Kathy Hardy, Robert Martin and Jim Locke, with Wally McDonald, Alice Thompson, Ron Brown and Glen Cougler a close second. In the late draw, Greta McGann, Rick MacKenzie and Keith Robinson tied for top honours with Wally Baker, Paul St. Pierre and Peter Byvelds. 

The curlers enjoyed a fine pot luck luncheon, and the teams and other interested curlers, friends and family sat down for a sumptuous banquet catered again by Sam Laurin. Our thanks to Sam and the volunteers who helped. 

A business meeting followed, with Jack Barkley outlining winners through the year, and other on-ice highlights. He also thanked all league conveners and outlined summer plans. While the club has about $30,000 in its contingency fund, he cautioned that major expenses could be a problem. Treasurer Kathy Johnston presented a healthy financial report. Jack invited volunteers for the board of directors, and indicated all current executive members were willing to stay on, including President Mahlon Locke, Secretary Ron Beaupre, our treasurer, and the bar, house, and ice chairs. Various draws were held, and then the top two teams in the competitive league squared off for the club championship.

Steve Boucher, Amy, Peter and Ashly McCooeye defeated Joe and Leanne McCooeye, Jack Barkley and John Allison for the Dodge Trophy.

Watch the Leader for the date in September for the open house and registration night, with curling beginning in October. 

See you then!

Editor’s Note: The Leader would like to take this opportunity to thank Steve Thompson for the time he spends each week gathering the local curling news and penning this column. The column is a wonderful asset to the Leader and very much appreciated by our readers and our local curlers.    BMc

[…]

  Local figure skater, Alexis Engwerda has learned that she has been slotted into a wild card position and will be skating at the upcoming Skate Ontario Championship (All-Ontario) this weekend, March 19-20, in Sudbury. […]