Peewee B1 Lions return to ice for a win

It was another stormy week in Men’s Roller Hockey League with Lightning making a direct strike on the New Blue for a share of the league’s top spot.

It was the second consecutive loss for New Blue who find themselves stalled at 12 points and now having to move over to share first place with Lightning who posted a very solid 9-4 win.

The evening play also saw the Red Rockets double the Morewood Monkeys 10-5 for their second consecutive victory. This keeps the Rockets in second place, now just three points back of the league leaders.

In the battle for first place, White Lightning and the New Blue both got off to a slow start offensive when they each managed just a single first period counter. In the second period, Lightning took a 4-2 lead, and in the third they turned it up a notch to out score the Blues 5-2 for the 9-4 victory.

Dave Summers led the Lightning effort with four goals and Tyler Gallinger backed him with three. Singles came from the sticks of Steve Mattice and Tyler Brown.

Answering for the New Blue were Connor Hodgson with a pair and Justin Elliott and Tommy Keyes with singles.

In other action, the Rockets went up 2-1 in the first period and 5-2 after two. They struck five more times in the third period to claim the 10-5 win from the Morewood Monkeys.

Dean Moore had a big night for the Rockets scoring five goals while Chris Phifer struck for three. Chad McMillan and Dan McLaughlin added singles.

Justin Heuff and Jake Byers had two goals apiece for the Monkeys and Mike Thompson contributed a single.

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The South Dundas “Howitzer” Atom B Rep Lions hosted the Alexandria Glens here on Saturday night in a battle for first place in the Upper East Division, but a 2-2 resulted in no changes at the top of the standings.

The Lions were coming off a win over the Cornwall Colts last week, while the Glens were looking to avenge their loss to the Lions the last time the teams meet. 

The Glens were also looking to put a little distance between themselves and the Char-Lan Rebels with whom they were sharing a piece of the East Division’s top spot, and the Lions who trailed the two by just one point.

The Lions opened the game strong and forced the Glens to take a penalty only a few minutes in but were unable to take advantage as both goalies made some early saves. 

Alexandre Duval in the Glens net and Brendan Shaver in the Lions net both looked very strong early on.

Late in the first period the Glens got on board when John Caddell, standing alone in the slot, received a pass from Addison Hay. Caddell one-timed the puck into open side of the net before Shaver could get across. 

Before the first period ended, Emytt Fetterly took a slashing penalty to put the Glens on the power play, but it was the Lions that would had the best scoring chances. 

On the penalty kill, Jack Connors picked up a loose puck at his own blue line and out-skated the Glens defenders before putting a move on Duval stuck out his left pad just in time to make the save to hold the Glens one goal advantage.

Seconds later Connors and Joshua Broad were denied on a two on one as a Glens defenceman knocked the puck away at the last second.

Starting the second period still short-handed, the Lions Jayden Rowe and Dana Domanko came up big as they continued to clear the zone and run the Glens out of power-play time. 

Later in the period at the end of a long shift Kieran Geurkink made a clearing pass along the boards to Nolan Henry who sensed the Glens defender was going to pinch on him. 

Henry quickly passed the puck off the boards and out of the zone where centreman Ben Lapier could chase it down in the neutral zone and break in on the Glens goal. The other Glens defenceman angled Lapier off as he approached the net, but Lapier was able to get a back hand shot off that came off Duval’s pad and rolled over the line into the net. 

The Glens pressed back, but Shaver stayed strong in the net to preserve the 1-1 tie into the third period.

Brody Fairbairn, Jaden Phifer-Shaver and Duncan Hutt had a strong shift at the start of the third to get the Lions going, and Owen Fetterly, on a strong back-check, prevented a Glen’s forward from skating into the Lions end unabated. 

The Glen’s struck first in the third period, at the seven minute mark when Mathieu Lavigne stick handled into the Lions end and beat several defenders before getting a backhand shot past Shaver. 

The Lions got a break a few minutes later when Lapier tripped up breaking into the Glens end and referee Spencer Heldens penalized the Glens forward putting the Lions on the power play. 

The Lions pressed and on a Glens clearing attempt that was kept in at the blue-line by Dana Domanko, Nolan Henry won a fight for the puck and got it to Ben Lapier who skated into the slot and buried his second goal of the game to tie it at 2-2. 

Moments later, Nathan Verhey was penalized for body contact forcing the Lions  to kill a penalty one more time to preserve the tie and remain one point behind the Glens in the standings.

The South Dundas “Howitzer” Atom B Rep Lions will face the South Stormont Selects here on Saturday night at 7 p.m. immediately following public skating. 

Come out for a skate and support your Lions!

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We have more seasonal results from league play at our curling club. 

Last Tuesday night the men’s league wrapped up, and in the championship game, Larry Cooper’s team won the Pat Lid Trophy over Jack Barkley. With Larry were Peter McCooeye, Mike Felker and Jody Cryderman. Jack’s team included Ken Konink, Rick Mackenzie and Bill Laurin.

Finishing third were Robert Houze, Robbie Stitt and Al Harriman. 

Our Thursday nighters start their playoff run this week, with games beginning at 7 p.m. each night. John and Ian Wilson, Scott Lane and Mike Staebler, and Joe McCooeye, John Allison, Peter McCooeye and Jack Barkley finished first and second respectively and earned a bye to the semi-finals on Thursday night. 

On Monday night, Larry Cooper, Chris and Nancy Barkley and Anita Cooper played Mahlon Locke, Carolyn Beckstead, Kathy Norg and Wendy Casselman, while Robert Houze, Sam Laurin, Alan Brunt and Leanne McCooeye played Robbie Stitt, Al Harriman, Greta McGann and Paul St. Pierre. 

The winning teams play against the first and second place teams on Thursday night, and those victors play for the club championship on Saturday night.

The senior men completed their last draw of the last week, with the team of Pete Zeran, Ted Herriman, Maurice Kolff and Paul Dobry dominating play in the round robin. Finishing second were Don O’Brien, Len Bellamy, Glen Cougler and Robert Martin, followed by Martin Schneckenburger, Sam Locke, Bud Perry and Larry Ware. 

Rather than start a new draw in the days remaining this season, those interested play made-up two-person games. They’re looking at the possibility of a championship round involving the most successful skips over the season, Pete Zeran and Sid Morrell.

Our closing bonspiel April 6 will begin at 9 a.m., costing $10 for an eight-end game and a six-ender, with a pot luck luncheon in between. The dinner will be $15 and serving will begin at 5:30. Previous to that will be a skills competition. Then after a general meeting, the club championship game is on to finish the season.

The Wednesday night ladies will have their traditional four-end matches tonight, followed by some special treats. They have a great time in league play, but will not be announcing championship results. The Tuesday afternoon ladies will not be selecting a champion either, but also enjoy themselves on and off the ice.

Thursday morning mixed competition will finish up tomorrow, with the winner either Mahlon Locke’s or Al Harriman’s team. Results next week.

There is at least one last out-of-club bonspiel this week, with results to be announced next time.

Good curling to all!

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