Morrisburg Curling

 

Last week the hockey community was saddened to learn of the death of Morrisburg Junior B Lions franchise owner Ron Casselman at his home in Morrisburg on Tuesday, November 13. Mr. Casselman purchased the Morrisburg Junior B Lions in 1980, and so began 32 years of dedication to the game he so loved and the young men he mentored.

As in keeping with what Ron would have wanted, the Lions’ scheduled game against the Char-Lan Rebels on Friday night went on as planned. His granddaughters Kasey, Kari and Katie dropped the puck to officially open the game, and his grandson Cody coached the game with former Lions coach Thom Raccine on the bench for support.

At the end of the game, which the Lions won 8-4, in honour of a man they greatly respected, the players skated to the overhead box where Ron would be found at most every Junior B Lions game, for one final salute. In fact, each time they scored that night, they skated to Ron’s box.

The following is a speech written and presented Friday night by Thom Raccine who has been a member of the Lions coaching staff and worked closely with Ron for the past several years.

“Before our game tonight, the Lions are honouring the memory of our owner and biggest fan, Ron Casselman, who passed away on Tuesday.

The Lions and Rebels will dedicate tonight’s rivalry to Ron and his passion for Junior B hockey, by wearing helmet stickers in his honour.

When hockey fans think of the Morrisburg Lions, the image of the stout man with the deep voice is all you really need to know.

Before every game, Ron asked in his jovial deep voice, “what do ya think tonight big fellar?” That voice and that image will never be forgotten.

Ron Casselman’s love of junior hockey began a long time ago, first as a fan, then 32 years ago, when he became the owner of the Junior B Lions. To the many fans of Lions hockey, Ron exemplified what small town hockey teams are about. He revelled in the wins and wore each loss on his sturdy face.

Thirty-two years is an eternity in the hockey business. To have stayed through the tough times is a credit to his love of the game, the people in the league and most of all his players. He really did love the kids, as his own, even if they didn’t know it. Ron Casselman saw hundreds of players. He was proud to say that the fact that they were trying out for his team, meant the world to him.

Ron didn’t always understand the players today, but it never knocked him down. He tried to adjust to our funny ways and although he chalked it up to a different generation, Ron stayed very close to the pulse of what  made his teams tick.

Under Ron, the Lions won four St. Lawrence Division titles and two Rideau Division titles. He mentored his son Kevin, from coaching to general manager.

Tonight, in honour of his grandfather, Cody Casselman will be behind the bench, keeping in the family tradition.

Four weeks ago, I sat with Ron in what we affectionately call the owners box. The weight of the world was on his shoulders and there was no doubt something was bothering him. I sensed a distance, a man alone with his memories of a lifetime devoted to his team. Oh he still watched every play and disputed a few calls, but as much as he tried, he simply wasn’t himself.

This morning, Ron Casselman took one last ride by the place he felt most at home…the arena that gave him so much pride.

Tonight, Ron’s owners box sits empty, in honour of a great hockey man.

Tonight, as our Lions get set for another 8:30 start against our rivals from Char-Lan, take a second to glance over to the southeast corner every now and then, because Ron Casselman will be there, big as life, as he has been for the past 32 years.”

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The regular season is coasting to a quiet ending in Eastern Ontario Junior B Hockey League action with three of the four playoff positions now locked in. 

The Morrisburg Lions are doing their part in providing some upsets, but a 5-4 win over the third place Hawks in Winchester, Friday night and a 6-5 overtime loss to the second place Alexandria Glens on home ice Saturday night, didn’t do much to affect the standings of either of the two.

The results of the two weekend games did help to add three points to the Lions season for 22 points with five games left to be played.

The Vikings command the St. Lawrence division with 66 points, while the Alexandria Glens and the Winchester Hawks are looking at second and third spots respectively for a meeting in the first round of playoffs. 

The Char–Lan Rebels are in fourth spot with 33 points, and the Akwesasne are five points back with 28. The Wolves continue to chase the Rebels for the fourth spot, but are now starting to run out of games.

Friday night’s game in Winchester was an easy going event with just four minor penalties assessed, two to each team and none in the third period.

The Lions charged onto the Winchester ice, and Alex Sifton got it started at 4:18 assisted by Michael Paquette.

Jacob Guillot (from Jacob Kendrick and Jordan Smail) made it 2-0 Lions at 15:13.

Then at 17:56 of the first period, Josh Stubbings put the Hawks on the scoreboard to tighten the gap to 2-1.

Just over three minutes into the second period, the Hawks Costa Georgitsos collected a short-handed goal to even the game, 2-2, and the tie held until early in the third period,  when Georgitsos struck again to put the Hawks ahead 3-2.

But the Lions came charging back.

Jacob Kendrick got is started with an unassisted goal at 3:19 of the third period to tie the game 3-3. Then it was over to Michael Paqeutte, (from Cole Fowler) who put the Lions up 4-3.

At 8:29, Landon Veenstra (Jacob Guillot) stretched it to 5-3.

Steve Ray Adams got one more for the Hawks to cut the gap to 5-4, but that was it. The Lions, with a solid performance from Brett Hahn in net, hung on for the 5-4 win.

In Morrisburg on Saturday night, the Glens went up 2-0 in the first period on goals by Bradley Gabbour and David Cyr.

Eric Evans (from Dakota Blacksmith) got one back at 14:49 of the second period, but at 16:07 the Glens recouped their two-goal advance with Gabbour’s second goal of the game against Hahn.

Jacob Guillot (from Ryan Griffin) brought the score to 3-2 on the Lions power play with just over two minutes left in the second period. 

The third period opened when Eric Evans, assisted by Jacob Guillot and Ryan Griffin, struck to tie it 3-3.

Then it was back to the Glens for another pair from Adam Cooke and Bradley Gabbour, but the Glens, couldn’t hold on to their 5-3 advantage. 

This time it was penalties that would prove costly to the Glens, as the Lions collected a pair of power play goals, from Tanner Hummel at 15:58 and Eric Evans at 17:48 to tie the game 5-5.

The tie held to force the overtime and the win went to the Glens with a Gabriel Cuillerier goal just 1:22 in.

A makeup game scheduled between the Lions and the Akwesasne Wolves last week was again postponed. This week the Lions are on the road for games against the Casselman Vikings and the Char-Lan Rebels.

The regular season wraps up for teams in the St. Lawrence Junior B division with the final games to be played Sunday, February 15.

[…]

 

The South Dundas “Pizza Hut” Atom B Rep Lions moved up in the standings Saturday night, with a 3-2 win against their division rival NGS Braves. 

The Braves entered the game in the East Division’s third place, one point ahead of the Lions. The home team, however was looking to move ahead. 

The Braves opened the scoring late in the first period on a goal by Makenna Brownlee when Lions goaltender Brendan Shaver got a piece of the puck, that trickled over the line before he could reach back and save it. 

The Lions played a strong first period. 

Jack Connors who made his season debut on the blue line adjusted early. Connors was able to create a few scoring chances by keeping the puck alive at the offensive blue line and getting his strong shot through to the net.

In the second period, the teams battled hard and the Braves poured on the shots, but Shaver made several key saves to keep the score, 1-0. 

The Lions jumped on the offense late in the period when  Joshua Broad, playing centre on line with Jaeden Phifer-Shaver and (call up) T.J. Barnhart, won a defensive zone draw to start an offensive attack. 

Phifer-Shaver skated the puck out of his end and into the Braves zone. As he crossed the blue-line, he looked to make a pass, but instead wristed a shot low on the glove side to beat the Braves goaltender and tie the game 1-1.

Momentum shifted to the Lions in the third. On a power-play, Ben Lapier, Nolan Henry and Owen Fetterly were able to sustain the pressure. 

When a Braves defender attempted to clear the puck, Fetterly knocked it down and quickly get it to Lapier.

Lapier faked a shot and then slid it across to a wide open Nolan Henry whose on-ice shot slid into the net for a 2-1 Lions lead.

The Braves found themselves in more penalty trouble later as a check to the head resulted in a four minute Lions power play which began with the line of Brody Fairbairn, Duncan Hutt and Kieran Geurkink who pressed in the attacking zone for the two goal lead.

After a line change on the fly, centreman Ben Lapier stole the puck off the left wing boards, skated into the slot and buried a shot behind the Braves goaltender for a 3-1 Lions lead. 

The Braves battled back and scored one, but the Lions defense core of Nathen Verhey, Emytt Fetterly and Jayden Rowe kept the Lion’s den clear of Braves, to secure the 3-2 win.

 The South Dundas “Pizza Hut” Atom B Rep Lions have a busy schedule to round out their regular season. They are next in action at home on Thursday, January 31st at 7 p.m. against the West Division Brockville Braves.

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