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Bantams take 2-0 lead in best of five All-Ontario championships Port Perry Sportsland Bantams have taken a stranglehold 2-0 lead in their best-of-five O.M.H.A. championship series with Strathroy, by virtue of a pair of close victories at the Scugog Arena. Saturday night, Port found out early why Strathroy is here. Less than two minutes into the first period a blocked shot set up a breakaway for Mike Medeiros trol as Danbrook went down, then carefully flipped in the tying goal. Sportland's skaters continued to put out the effort required to match this strong team after the intermission. Although Strathroy is a big, aggressive team that hustles and forechecks well, Port managed to control much of the play. With 9:14 to play in the third, Todd Smart came up with an ex- made no mistake on the chance to tie the game. Five minutes into the second, Garvock was in the right place to get the go-ahead goal when Jeremy Norton's point blast deflected off his leg behind goaltender Allan Giffen. He got the insurance goal at 4:51 of the third, putting a rebound upstairs on Giffen. The play was set up by Norton and Steve Desautels. Mark Cosway of the Port Perry Bantams made no mistake on this breakaway during all-Ontario action at the Scugog Arena Saturday evening. Cosway beat the Strathroy net- minder on the deke and the Port team went on to a 4-3 win. On Sunday, the Port team de- feated Strathroy 4-1 to take a commanding 2-0 lead in this best of seven affair. (see story for details) No. 88 to give the visitors the lead. Despite a sensational perfor- mance by Mike Pashley in the net, Strathroy added another in the first, and jumped out 3-0 on a shorthanded goal at 8:36 of the second. Port had been creating some good chances and the third goal brought them to life. Chad Kearns outmuscled a defenceman to feed Mark Cosway, who steamed in alone to fire a goal at 7:51. At 3:48 Scott Heasman cleared the zone with a pass to Dave Bourgeois, who fed Lou Whitfield breaking down the wing. Whit- field went all the way on the two- on-one, cutting to the net to slide one under Matt Danbrook. Only 335 seconds later, Jason Coutoulakis was rewarded for a strong effort when he picked off a pass inside the blueline, and fed Chad Garvock at the edge of the crease. Garvock gained full con- cellent second effort to get his own blocked pass to Kearns on a partial break. Kearns fired one between Danbrook"s legs from the circle to complete the 4 goal comeback. Game stars would have been awarded to Pashley, who sparkl- ed keeping Port in the game ear- ly; Kearns, whose setup started the comeback, and scored the winner, and Coutoulakis, who was held pointless but turned in a strong effort all over the ice. Game two was more of the same tight, exciting hockey. Port started a little stronger but again dropped behind when Strathroy capitalized on a miscue at 6:18 of the first for a 1-0 lead. Garvock took the stage then, scoring once in each period to open up a 3-1 score for Port. With 1:00 left in the first, he was haul- ed down on a breakaway. A penal- ty shot was awarded, and Chad Heasman finished things off in- side the final two minutes, when he took off with the clearing passes of Kearns and Jason Phillips. Going up the middle, he didn't stop until the puck had been deposited behind Giffen to make the final score 4-1. Game stars were Garvock, not only for a hat-trick but a strong overall effort; the entire defen- sive corps including goalie Pashley and Heasman, Norton, Phillips, and Blair Prechitko, who turned away all Strathroy could throw at them after the early goal; and the penalty killing pair of Bourgeois and Kearns, who got lots of work, including a few two man disadvantages. Sportsland will travel to Strathroy next weekend for a 9:30 game on Saturday night, hoping the fourth game scheduled for the following afternoon at 2:00 won't be necessary. Series opens Saturday in Port Midgets meet Morefown in All-Ontanio series The Port Perry Precision Construction Midget A's open their all-Ontario championship series this weekend against Moretown Midgets. Game one in this best of seven affair for all the marbles is set for the Scugog Arena this coming Saturday afternoon at 3:30. Game two will be played on Sunday afternoon in Port Perry with face-off at 2:30. The series will switch back to Moretown the following weekend. The Precision Midgets earned their shot at the all- Ontario crown after dispatch- ing Midland three games straight. Moretown advanced to the final series after knocking off East Gwillambury four games toone. Port Perry coach Doug Scott, who watched a couple of games in the Moretown-East Gwillambury series says the ex- pects the championship series to be a physical one. "Moretown is a big, strong, hard hitting team." he said. Meanwhile the Port Perry Midget B squad is embroiled in a tough series with Petrolia for the all-Ontario title. The team split the first two games of the series in Petrolia last week weekend and face each other three times this com- ing weekend at the Scugog Are- na. They will tangle 1 on Fri- day night (March 22) at 8:00 PM. See article in this week's Port Perry Star for details on the opening games between Port Perry and Petrolia. Midget B's tie up championship series The Port Perry Canadian Tire Midget B team travelled to Petrolia (just east of Sarnia) last weekend to begin their final playoff series. The Saturday game started off really well with Port Perry scor- ing the first goal with Jason McBride firing one in assisted by Brad Moase. The Canadian Tire team was all over Petrolia but just could not put another one in. Petrolia scored twice in the se- cond period and seemed to be beating Port to the puck. In the third period Port Perry narrow- ed the gap when Jason McBride scored again, this time assisted by Ryan Picard and Darrell Vander Slagt. Petrolia pulled ahead near the end of the period and then clinch- ed the win with an empty netter. It was a disappointing 5-2 loss but the team was ready to give it their all on Sunday. With their usual determination and super attitude the team came out flying on Sunday. Port Perry just plain out-hustled the opposi- tion. Darrell Vanderligt opened the scoring early in the first period assisted by Darrell Vander Slagt. Petrolia tied it up but Darrell Vanderligt found the mark again on a nice passing play started by Mark Andrews. A nice three way passing play was initiated by Noah St. Amand, to Scott Airey who moved it up to Brad Moase. Brad fired it in the net to put the Canadian Tire team ahead 3-1. He took a sharp check from behind, after the whistle, as a reward from Petrolia for his ef- forts. The home team tried to ral- ly in the second period but three more Port Perry goals showed on the scoreboard. Darrell Vanderligt notched his 3rd goal of the day assisted by Darrell Vander Slagt. Jason McBride tallied unassisted and Darrell Vanderligt managed his 4th assisted by Mark Andrews and Nathan Brown. Apparently Petrolia wasn't too impressed by his great perfor- mance as his reward for scoring was a spear to the stomach - another injury not noticed by the referees. Undaunted by the of- ficiating (or lack thereof) Port Perry went on to score once again with Jason McBride scoring a short handed goal assisted by linemate Brad Moase. It was a very decisive 7-2 vic- tory despite some adverse condi- tions. Jason McBride was chosen as one of the stars for the first game. Darrell Vanderligt was the first star in the Sunday afternoon game and Darrell Vander Slagt won the second star. Noel Lovering played well in net on Saturday in spite of a cou- ple of bad breaks. Mike Tripp was between the pipes on Sunday and did a great job. Dave Volman's arm was injured during the first game but he played well Sunday in spite of it. Sunday's game was a full team effort - everybody had a job to do and they did it! The Petrolia team will be in Port Perry for an 8:00 Friday night game and you can bet the Canadian Tire team will be ready for them! The team will also play Satur- day and Sunday in Port Perry. Pineridge Tweens Pineridge Tweens travelled to Don Beer Arena on Sunday to play an exhibition game with Pickering. Coach Doug Anderson thought this would be a good time to bring our defense up to play forward positions. Red stick Amanda Clouthier started out with the first goal assisted by Jenny Storms. Our other regular red stick, Melissa Pereman also scored assisted by' Julie Ball. The other goals go to Joan Anderson 3 goals, assisted by Melissa Dawson, Jenna Norton, Lindsey Patton and Marci Zuly. Julie Ball 1 goal assisted by Mar- ci Zuly and Amanda Clothier. Jenny Storms 1 goal unassisted. Amy Sinclair, our goalie, played a hot game stopping some difficult shots. Next game is Thursday night in Ajax as opening game for the Ajax Tournament.