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economist suntribune sports thursday nov 21 2002 23 stouffville amateur hockey league still going strong by jim thomas correspondent there were those who said it wouldnt last that was 25 years ago despite dire predictions the stouffville amateur hockey leagues still going strong initiated by eric scaife and steve upton in 1977 the founding fathers discovered they had an organization but no home ice time at the old arena on park drive was already booked not to be discouraged they found a place to play at centre ice arena in north york once the word got out the phones never stopped ringing recalls mr upton interest was amazing the league which had two hours of ice time every sunday began with four teams and 60 players but the executive wasnt happy mr scaife and mr upton insisted a stouffville league should play locally and took their plea and a marketing plan to council the welcome mat came out for the 1978 season and league expanded from four teams to eight today the sahl includes four divisions 10 teams of 20yearolds and up 10 teams of 35yearolds and up six senior teams and four womens teams games are played wednesday nights sunday mornings and nights the total roster now exceeds 450 players the league even has its own website with player statistics available twentyfive years has taken its toll though as only a few of the originals remain the league is now headed by scott dunsmoor the vicepresident is art vanesterick treasurer bruce scon dunsmoor sahl presi dent says emphasis is placed on players having fun gribbon and executive brent stachel and dan mceachen there are also division and goaltender reps while a lot has changed the same rigid rules envi sioned by mr scaife and mr upton remain physical con tact and slapshots are pro hibited a major penalty car ries an automatic suspension with the length determined by the executive the majority says mr dunsmoor is interested in the fun aspect of the sport and while theres still a will to win this is secondary the last thing we need is to babysit 50 yearold guys mr dunsmoor insists to maintain a competitive balance players are ranked according to skills several are experienced jr a and jr b performers bill root once a defenceman with the toronto maple leafs is a league member at 64 frank jago is the leagues elder statesman as an indication of the leagues popularity the 20 and 30 age plus divisions have a waiting list theres still room for more in the senior and womens groups what makes the league so special says mr dunsmoor is the fact 95 per cent of all players reside in whitchurchstouffville those who move away are still eligible to play as more men and women look to hockey as forms of recreation and fellowship and as the town continues to grow mr dunsmoor predicts the sport will keep pace through the next 25 years local rock star to show his spirit tonight a member of the national lacrosse league champion toronto rock will hold court at tonights stouffville spirit game stouffville resident glenn clark will be on hand for rock night with the spirit hell sign rock pictures between the first and second periods the spirit hosts the couchiching the teams terriers in a junior a hockey game air canada centre beginning at 730 pm at the stouffville arena draws will be made throughout the game for rock paraphernalia including tickets to home opener jan 11 at the in the last four years the rock has attracted more then 16000 fans per game to the air canada centre while winning three of the last four league championships 1999 2000 2002 the 131010 spirit is in third place in the north conference of the provincial junior a hockey league four points up on couchiching how do i know which mercedesbenz is right for me 1 look through our model selection and decide which ones suit you and your lifestyle 2 cut out along dotted line 3 hold cutout at arms length in front of your home or driveway and imagine that its a real mercedes 4 once you have selected simply go to the nearest dealership and pick up the fullsize version ccoupe cclass mclass slkclass clkclass eclass sclass clclass gcass slclass actually its not that simple begins sedan or wagon coupe or 4matic fortunately all of our possi- there truly is a mercedes for every- because once you finally choose a convertible sport package or high- bilitles have the engineering safety one mercedesbenz youre ready class of mercedesbenz the real fun performance amg allwheeldrive quality and proven value youd expect value priced starting at 34150 mereedesienz mercedesbenz markham mercedesbenz newmarket 8350 kennedy rd 230 mulock dr 9053051088 9058536868 mercedesbenz wwwmarkhammercedesbenzca wwwnewmarketmercedesbenzca 2002 mrcedesbenz canada iric toronto ontario mercedo5-benz- a brand pfdairnterchrysjermsrp for 2003 c230 kojnpressor sport coupe manual does not include taxes freight poi and administration charges dealer may sell for less