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I almost missed my chance. Within a flash 7 But atter that the routine of fall and winter took over, Before I knew it we were into February, and there was a sign at the Stouffville Arena promoting the playoffs. Well, I thought, it would be nice to see the team play once more before the season ended, Ever since we arrived I thought we should get out to a game. We did go to last season's home opener, which featured all the pomp and ceremony of a visit from the Queen - a marching band, red carpet at centre icé‘and the mayor conducting the ceremonial opening face-off. Heck, the sign on the way into town advertises Stouffville as “Home of the Spirit" and Thursday Night Hockey is promoted throughout the town all winter. OCTOBER 2003 But I'm a traditional Canadian boy at heart, and it didn’t take me long to realize there was some pretty serious hockey here. When my wife and I moved to Stouffville we looked forward to the camaraderie of a small community. We support local businesses, volunteer at the library sale and take part in the Terry Fox Run. "Go Spin‘t go!" I'm hooked. Sign me up for season tickets. Where can I buy an authentic ].D. Smithson jersey? I have become a bona fide fan of the Stouffville Spirit, Northern Conference finalists in last season's OHA Provincial, lunior A playoffs. 1 don’t know when it all started, but the final nail in this diehard Spirit fan's coffin came at Game 6 of the semi-final playoff series against Newmarket. There I was, cheering myself hoarse at every twist of a dramatic game. Stouffville lost the contest in overtime but won the series the following night in Newmarket. Somewhere in that critical 24 hours the seeds of fanatical support were sown. @3le night in Stouffville an affair filled with Spirit SE" to Stouflvjlle This Month mans c=>£ to continued growth with emphasis on maintaining a small town atmosphere nvestment in the miiaiiniion oi the downtown core and expansion oi leisure union for our seniors and growing community @iue in establishing a pennaneni home to: ill. Ma and a Vandalism Prevaniion "mm ' (Environmental Praaamilon It didn't take me long to pick out the Newmarket players I despised as the teams settled Into a dose fought game. Momentum seemed back and forth between the two sides. but after the second period we had a one-goal lead, Then midway through the third period Nev/market tied the game. I knew a critical playoff counter would attract a big throng. There were no advanced ticket sales. so I arrived 45 minutes before game time to be sure i wouldn't be disappointed. Fortunately I was seated with the heartiest Stouffville supporters. as a large gang of Newmarket backers had made the trek eattoseethis key match.l could probably drive to Newmarltet in 20 minutes. but on this night the gulf between our towns might as well have been half the world. This was a cold war on the scale of North America and the Soviet Union at the height of Communism. Or. to use a more apt metaphor, the Maple Leafs and Canadiens in hockey’s Original Six era. Stouffville swept Couchiching out of the opening round and it was on to Newmarket and the Northern Conference semi- finals. Then came my opportunity Game 6 of the series against Newmarket would be held in Stoufiville on a Saturday night. Stouffville was leading the series three games to two. One more win and they were through to the finals! Team shows community spirit on and off the ice: players from the Stouffville Spirit raised $1,070 at the second annual Terry Fox Car Wash at Houston Ford Sept. 13. Here they can be seen giving the full treatment to editor Kate Gilderdale's pride and joy, Basil ll. 'I am mmmitt:d to mah'n 35W an even better late to In" M: imigbt into the need: aftbau wbo tall Shafl'vill: If elected councillor ll'l Ward 5. I will support the following: ‘I am tmmitted to mab'n S ' an even better late to live. M invol ‘ ' ' fl ‘ :_-:_L‘ .-.... I.“ "‘1‘ 54W.-- _._..- “I" “ma-Am- f.-- .. y vement on a number of town mmmxttees bus given “Together We Can Shape Our Future” But there was still game 7 in Newmarket. In the end I resisted the urge to go. relying on the magic of the internet to chgck the me on W 1-. We ‘9an ‘NOW It was on J. I can't count how many times I lived and died through the period and a half of overtime as Newmarket and Stouffville traded scoring chances. Then, disaster. Newmarket scored. The crowd sat in stunned silence. except for that cadre of evil Newmarket fans on the other side of the building. They cheered. I bet they mistreat their pets. I thought. Park Drive Dental Centre 0 12 Park Drlve South - Sloullvllle - 905- Dr. Bob Boadway’s Stoufiilille Monday Night Men’s Slow Pitch Team #4 Celebrate as Second Place Winners of the 2003 Season Modern Dentistry steeped in small town tradtion My civic pride took over. "Don't you realize Stouffville is playing in the Ontario lunior A Northern Conference Finals?" I replied. in the manner a chef might say. "Don't you know you always serve red wine with beef?" L By the time I med (he series was ti 2-2. The first setback came when I was looking at the series schedule. I was going to be out of town on business for the first few games. Once again, my computer and modem became my best friends. In lulls between work assignments l furtively dialled up the Stouffville Spirit website to check on progress. On one occasion a colleague caught me. "Looking at hockey scores, eh?" he scoffed. Aurora is closer to Stouffville than Newmarket, but again the gulf in sporting rivalry was huge. I considered myself fortunate not to have any friends in Aurora. as I would obviously have to disown them. to mighty Aurora and the Northern Conference finals‘ "Aurora has barely lost a game all year," my wife pointed out. This was going to be tough. 905-640-6688 chmmmowwlhlmdalmw-humsw v Aurora regained the lead in the fifth game. with the sixth to be played in Stouffville on a Sunday afternoon. It appeared i would have a chance to watch more playoff drama unfold live, but a last minute assignment took me out oftown. (all 905'8‘2‘2739 (mall: lohralmfi‘lslar (a Northword Edition was started six years ago by Durham College creative writing instructor Dorothea Helms, who is also on the board of directors of The Writers' Circle of Durham Region (WCDR). The Uxbridge circle comes under the umbrella of this exciting non-profit organization, which is dedicated to encouraging and promoting the art and skill of writing, fostering literacy, and providing moral support to writers through education and networking, both independently and in co-operation with existing organizations. For more information on Northword Edition or WCDR, call Dorothea Helms at 905-852-9294. Bring a sample of your writing to read and receive constructive critiquing, exchange news on publishing opportunities and contests, or Simply listen and enjoy spending time with like-minded artistic souls. The group will meet next on Sept 30 and every other Tuesday after that. The only cost is $2 per person per meeting to cover the room rental. This friendly locail writers; cincle meets every other Tuesday evening from 7 to 9 pm. in the Joseph Gould Room of the Uxbridge Public Library. Calling all amateur and professional wn'ters - Northword Edition i_s looking for new members. Stouffville scribes invited to join writers" circle Brenda Lohrelco can make a dlflerence as Counclllot In Ward 5 on November 10. 2003 Elect BRENDA lOBllAlco 'Wi'lITCHURCH-STOUFFVILLE THIS MONTH" - 15 Maybe we'll get to the next round, I thought wistfully Sadly, it was not to be Aurora won Vhe game and the series wa9 over Was I making togjnuch fuss over a hockey team? After all, there aré much more critical events going on in the world. 640-6688