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-----_---- ==> THI = Y. 5-N 2 SOE. | "Oe. TE Ra HH 1 f Hh -------- a Pr Rg | a 34 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, January 29, 1991 MoJacks second, The Port Perry ModJacks appear to have second place locked up as the Central Junior C Hockey League moves into the final week of regular sched- ule games. ModJacks put together three wins last week, and the six points give them 41 to date. They are three points up on Bowmanville, and four back of first place Uxbridge. But the playoff picture at this moment is far from settled, especially who the first-round match-ups will be. (see Slap shots at the end of this report) In last week's action, Mo- Jacks were in top form as they romped over Cobourg 10-4, and then battled for a hard-fought 4-2 win over Little Britain. But Sunday night at the Bowmanville Arena, it was a different story as both the Mo- Jacks and the Eagles did their best to hand two points to the other team. MoJacks finally won this strange game by a 7-6 score, but it was dicey the whole way. The Eagles rang up a 3-0 lead in the first six minutes of the opening period before Mo- Jacks settled down and put three of their own into the cage to tie the game. John Harman, Brad Men- zies and Warren Geer did the scoring. The Eagles clicked on a power play late in the period to once again take a lead. Jarrett Harman and War- ren Geer (his second of the game) did the scoring in the middle period which ended with the game knotted 5-5. John Lally gave the Mo- Jacks a 6-6 lead midway through the third as he worked his way out of the corner, and when Geer counted his hat trick in the final minute into an emp- ty net, it looked like the Mo- Jacks were home free with a 7-5 lead. But not so. With 25 seconds to play, Eagles took advantage of a bad turnover and bingo, the score was 7-6. But they managed to hold for the victory. To say this game was "loosely played" would be an un- der-statement. And both goalies Drew Campbell and Ian Cooper have enjoyed better outings. Warren Geer had perhaps his best game this season. He was in over-drive with three goals and one assist. Give the MoJacks credit for over-coming the early 3-0 defi- cit. Last Thursday evening at the Scugog Arena, all those fans disguised as empty seats missed one heck of a dandy game, one of the best this sea- son. There was a sparse crowd on hand as the MoJacks and Little Britain Merchants went at each other tooth and nail in a bruising, "knock-em down" con- test which the MoJacks won 4- It was typical of the ways these teams have played each other this season, and should they ever hook up in a long playoff series, one would have to wonder about the state of . health of the winner (survivor) After a scoreless first peri- od which featured some fine penalty killing by the MoJacks during a two-man disadvan- tage, Al Avery broke the dead- lock at 7:57 of the second. He was nicely set up on the left side by John Harman and Brad Menzies. Merchants Kevin Debnam countered at 14:43 with a fairly long shot that got through Drew Campbell's pads. It was the only mistake Campbell made all evening, in what was other- wide a solid game between the pipes. ModJacks caught a break late in the period when Avery banked one off a skate from be- hind the Merchant net to make it 2-1. Rob Metcalfe and Phil McBride drew the assists. But the Merchants were far from out of this one as Debnam grabbed his second of the game, finding a low corner with a great shot on a power play at 3:16 of the third. The ModJacks dug in their heels and John Harman got what proved to be the winner at 8:55 off passes from linemates Menzies and Warren Geer. He walked out of the corner un- molested and beat Ron Harris cleanly. A big insurance goal came at 13:22 with John Lally taking passes from Menzies and Tre- vor McIntyre. He used his strength to muscle down the right side and stuff the puck home. You'll go a long way to find a more entertaining hockey game. It had everything: hard hitting, scoring chances, and great goaltending at both ends of the pond. Meanwhile on January 21, ModJdacks made the long road trip to Cobourg to meet the Cou- gers. The trip was a bit shorter, thanks to a one-sided 10-4 win. This was a real change from the last time these clubs met in Cobourg when the Mo- Jacks had a lot of trouble get- ting a 6-5 victory. But on this occasion, they just jumped into an early lead, padded it out, then coasted through the third period. Brad Menzies led the way with a four goals and one assist, and that five points will push him closer to the top in the over- all league scoring parade. Al Avery had a pair, as he has found the scoring touch lately, with singles to Todd Tay- lor, John Lally, Jason Head and Jarrett Harman. John Harman had four as- sists and Warren Geer three as this line continues to put big points on the scoreboard. For the Cougers, who did all their scoring in the third pe- riod, when the game was well out of reach, Randy DeCarlo had a pair. SNE As Ny w Ay! # % * F117 yd XK rrr Pri id go 3 " i 7 A SEW, bit Whenever the Little Britain Merchants and Port Perry MoJacks hook up, the games are played with a lot of intensity and hard hitting. There was plenty of that last Thursday eve- ning at the Scugog Arena with the MoJacks coming out on top 4-2. They also had wins of 10-4 over Cobourg and 7-6 over Bowmanville to all but lock up second place In the Central Junior C standings. (see story) SLAPSHOTS: Injuries contin- ue to haunt the MoJacks. Todd Taylor is gone for the season with a broken ankle suffered in Thursday's game. The team is going to miss his speed and penalty killing abilities. Rob Willetts, who missed several games with a knee injury returned to action, but Chris Arsenault (ankle) is still on the shelf. In other Junior C action over the weekend, the Little Britain Merchants pounded - Ajax 11-3, then did much the same to Lakefield 8-1. Bowman- ville and Uxbridge skated to a 3- 3 draw. In the standings, Uxbridge leads with 45 points, followed by Port Perry 41; Bowmanville 38, Lakefield 36; Little Britain 35, Cobourg 23, Ajax 20. MoJacks have two games to play, in Little Britain Wednesday evening, and then home at the Scugog Arena on Thursday night (Jan 31) against Uxbridge at 8:30. The ModJacks most likely will not know until this coming Saturday evening just who their first round opponents will Cobourg at Little Britain concludes the regular season on Saturday night. Although Uxbridge and Port Perry appear to have first and second sewn up, the placing for the other five teams could change before the weekend is out. Ajax, for example, has a chance to over-take Cobourg for the final playoff spot as these - teams play each other twice this week. And Little Britain with two left, could move into third place with two wins. Just when the playoffs start for the ModJacks is not known either. It could be this Tuesday (Feb. 5)on theroad,or Wednesday at the Scugog Are- na. Fans should check posters around town, or at the Arena. Six of the seven teams make the playoffs. The first place team has its choice of op- ponents from the teams that finish in 4th, 5th and 6th place. The second place team then picks its opponents. All series are best of seven affairs. There's not much to choose between the top five clubs this season. Predictions are nearly impossible to make on the out- come of the first round series. Final MoJacks home game is Jan. 31 at the Scugog Arena with Uxbridge in town for an 8:30 faceoff. Just how topsy turvy are the standings? Consider this. If the ModJacks win their last two games and the Bruins lose their two, Port Perry and Uxbridge would finish with 45 points, but ModJacks would get top spot be- cause of a better record against the Bruins this season. Got it straight? Bantams take lead in series On Friday, January 25, the Port Perry Bantam 1's played in their first playoff game of the year. They are currently playing a best 3 of 5 series with Cobourg. The Goreski Insulators, spon- sored by Ken and Dianne Goreski, were first on the board. Port scored one minute into play and then again, two minutes later. Scoring the goals were Geravin Sytnyk from linemate Duane Em- pringham and blueliner Corey Bricknell and Dave Pashley from linemates Jeff Card and Sean McEnaney. Cobourg scored half way through the first but Port fought back on a beauty goal by Joey Broadworth. Assisting was Dave Pashley and Sean Ellis. Cobourg scored the only goal of the second period as both teams began to show a bit of fatigue. Cogourg opened the scoring early in the third to even things up at three. Netminder Rick Hutchinson kept Port in the game making save after save to keep the puck from crossing the goal line. Late in the third, Sean McEnaney lifted the crowd to their feet as he scored what pro- ved to be the game winner with assists to Card and Bricknell. Port, now up 1-0 on the Cobourg club, travel down there for a game tonight. (Tuesday, Jan. 29).