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22- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, March 24, 1998 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" 1} Spr ORTS CHRIS HALL / PORT PERRY STAR PLAYOFF ACTION: Scugog Arena was busy as usual last Sunday morning as the Scugog Hockey League continued it's playoff action. With the local league's schedule just about wrapped up, shinny fans are encouraged to come out and watch some great games. During the last game of the day, the Monsma Electric Chargers shut down the Hawks by a score of 5-0. Scugog Hockey League playoff action Roosters ride hot goaltending to a 2-0 win over the Wolves By Jon Sanders Special to The Star Pizza Delight Roosters 2 Pineridge Sports Wolves 0 In the opening game, the Roosters defeated the Wolves by a score of 2-0. Richard Huggins made many key saves as he was able to pick up the shutout. The Roosters have been playing very well recently and they opened the scor- ing in the first period when Dave Dickson found the net. Assists went to Ed Olsen and George Gladish. There was no scoring until the third period when Danny Taylor provided the insurance goal after receiv- ing passes from Dave ®ickson and George Gladish. Richard Huggins then closed the door in the Roosters nets as they picked up the victory in this low scoring game. Cedar Creek Contracting Comets 8 Van & Truck World . Sharks 2 In this game the Comets were all over the Sharks as they handed them an 8- 2 beating. The Sharks have been having some difficul- ties in the playoffs and their post-season troubles continued in this contest. Leading the way for the Comets was Mike Ayres who had four goals and one assist for five points but it was Mike Clarke who opened the scoring for the Comets with assists going to Mike Ayres and Ron Compton. John Mackey was next to find the net for the Comets after being set up by Bill Foote and Jody Peters. Then Mike Ayres took over from there scor- ing a natural hat trick to give the Comets a 5-0 lead. His first was from Jeff Johnstone and Ron Compton, his second was assisted by Jody Peters and goalie John Moore, and his third goal was set up by Ron Compton and Mike Clarke. The Comets did not stop their offensive attack there as they added two more goals and they came from John Mackey who complet- ed his hat trick. His first was from Bill Foote and Ray Zaparanuik, and his second goal was set up by Ron Compton and Jeff Johnstone. The Sharks were able to find the back of the net twice in this game and it was Rick Campbell getting the first goal with assists going to Marvin Stevenson and Mark Jobb. Mark Jobb scored the Sharks second goal after taking passes from John Bacon and Rick Campbell but that would be the only offense for the Sharks in this game and the Comets would add one more goal courtesy of Mike Ayres who was set up by Ron Compton and Mike Clarke. This goal closed the scoring in this one sided affair. Cedar Creek Contracting Clippers 4 Harrison Fuels Flames 3 This game was close from start to finish but it was the Clippers who were able to pull away and hand the Flames a 4-3 defeat. John Harman got the Clippers on the board first with a nice goal as he beat the defenseman and put a low, hard shot in the corner. The assist on this goal went to Steve Dunn. The second goal for the Clippers was also a nice one with Jamie Taylor scor- ing after receiving a sweet Turn to Page 23 One Step Closer The Little Britain Merchants moved closer to an All-Ontario title last weekend after they beat the Campbellford Rebels in five games By John B. McClelland Port Perry Star The Little Britain Merchants have moved a step closer to Junior C hockey's ultimate prize -- an All-Ontario title. The Merchants knocked off the pesky Campbellford Rebels in five games last Friday night, and now move to the All- Ontario semi-finals - most likely against the Glanbrooke Rangers, who won it all last year and are reputed to have a pow- erful, strong-skating team this season. Leading the series three games to one, the Merchants went into Campbellford Friday night determined to put an end to it. And for the first half of the game, it looked like they were well on their way. They jumped into an early 3-0 lead on first period markers by Darryl Lewis and a pair in the middle frame by sniper Jeff Darrach, who's leading the team in playoff goals. But the Rebels were not about to go out lightly. They mounted a rally with a goal late in the second by Jeff Hay, and then tied the contest 3-3 with two late in the third from J.P. Goulah and Trevor Turner. But with just over four mintues left in regulation, Jay Marquis took things in his own hands. Collecting a short pass behind his own goal, Marquis scam- pered the length of the ice. His initial shot on goal was stopped but he batted home the rebound to made it 4-3. Game, set and match. Head coach Geoff Field said later he was pleased with the series win, espe- cially the way his team refused to give up the momentum that really started to build in game two which they won 7-2. "Once they picked up that momentum there was just no stopping them," said Field. Despite the series victory in five games, Field said his team must dig deeper as the competition just gets tougher and tougher. "Proper execution and which team plays the toughest will win this from here on," he told The Star. The coach is still concerned that his team had a couple of let-downs in the last two games against the Rebels. "We are now down to the final four (in Ontario). Every team is so good. We won't be able to just play 40-minute hockey games." Likewise, staying away from needless penalties. If the Rebels proved anything in the series, it's that the Merchants can surrender goals while playing a man short. But at least the team's healthy. Aside from the aches and pains which are nor- mal at this time of any season, the only concern is a finger injury to blue liner Mark Hubble, a player the Merchants count on for his toughness and hitting. Field said Hubble's pinky was badly swollen at the end of the final game, but unless it's broken, he'll be ready for the next series. The Merchants put themselves in a position to wrap things up in five by virtue of a strong 5-2 home ice win last Wednesday night. Goals by Marquis, Lewis and Jon Perrin gave them a 3-0 lead, but a five minute major to Lewis and another minor to Mike Mason gave the Rebels a long two-man advantage late in the sec- ond. And they capitalized with a goal from Kevin Larmer at 16:02 with the Merchants two men short. Early in the third, again on a power play, Hazelwood put one between Steve Thomas' pads and the Rebels were right back in the game, trailing 3-2. But that was as close as they'd get. The Merchants have done it all season long - get the big goal to snuff out any hopes for an opposition rally. Jon Perrin broke the Rebels back and hearts at10: 26 to make it 4-2. It was a virtual carbon copy of his earlier marker. Racing full tilt down the middle, he took a centering pass from Eric Bagshaw on a two-on-one break. In one motion the puck was behind netminder Ben Kerr in the Rebel cage. Three minutes later, Corby Purdy snuck one home along the ice to end any fleeting Rebel hopes of getting out of L.B. with a win that night. Late in the game, things turned a tad testy with several skirmishes (the first outbreak of this kind in the series) and the Merchants won these battles as well. Burly Rebel Josh Cork, who saw limited ice time, decided he wanted a piece of anybody in a red and white sweater. But he picked the wrong guy in Mark Hubble who wrestled him to the ice. Then with six seconds left, the Rebels Craig Buttar had his bell rung when he ran into a flurry of solid punches thrown by Chris Cross. [f the Rebels were trying to send some kind of "message" to the Merchants to warn them of things to come in game five in Campbellford, it obviously had no impact. More likely, it was just a lot of frustration bubbling over. This is the Merchants 21st season of Jr. C hockey and never have they advanced this far on the All-Ontario trail. As of press time Monday, the Merchants opponent and schedule for the next playoff round had not been finalized, but it appears as if Glanbrooke (near Hamilton) will be the opposition. This team has not lost on home ice in two seasons, lost just one regular-sched- ule game this year and Sunday night ousted Norwich in five games with a 4-0 victory. Glanbrooke is described as a strong skating and puck handling team, with a loyal following of fans. Merchants' general manager Art Field said Monday morning the team will play this coming weekend, but spe- cific times and location won't be finalized until the middle of this week. Jr. C. fans should check the Weekend Star for play- off details.