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6 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanvillc, Wednesday, April 13,1994 Brought to you by... Serving ^ oU Since 1922 Corner of Courtice Sales and Servicing .2 Salesperson of the week Gord Miles Eagles Win Game One of Ontario Semi-Finals Crawford and Pollard Shine in 4-1 Victory by Brad Kelly Call it a hunch, premonition, or just plain luck, but Bowmanvillc Goodyear Eagles coach Mark Watson Watson made all the right choices in game one of his team's All-Ontario semi-final series on Sunday night, The result was a 4-1 victory, and a one-game-to-zero lead in this best- of-seven series. In somewhat of a surprise, Watson Watson elected to start 16-year-old rookie rookie Barry Crawford in goal against the Niagara District East League champion Rockton Real McCoys. Crawford appeared only once during the quarter-final series against Napanee, and was replaced before the game ended in an 8-4 loss. . Sunday night, Crawford was simply simply brilliant. : "We were very lucky to win that game tonight. Our goalie won the hockey game. We didn't deserve to win, but he did," said Watson. ' 'I thought we played awful. That was one of the worst games we've played so far." v Crawford allowed only a power play goal with two seconds left in die second period. Though Rockton raised their arms in celebration of the goal, they raised them more frequently frequently as a gesture of frustration, staring upwards to the ceiling and asking how Crawford continued to make save after save? "Barry is an excellent goalie," stated Watson. "We are the most fortunate team because no matter who we play in net, they always play well. We are really fortunate that way." With Bowmanville clinging to a 2-0 lead in the second period, Crawford Crawford used a quick glove hand to snare a sure goal off the stick of Rockton's Jason Thompson during a power play. Moments later, he robbed Colin Seath on a breakaway. And in the third period, he continued continued his mastery, making five huge saves to keep his team in the lead at 2-1. Which set the stage for another of Watson's clever moves. Scott Pollard, who had seen limited limited duty during the playoffs, made the most of his insertion into the lineup. He tallied once late in the opening opening period, which gave Bowmanville Bowmanville a 2-0 lead at the time. But his biggest contribution came midway through the third period. While shorthanded, Pollard broke out of his own zone, letting a slapshot slapshot go from just outside the Rockton Rockton blueline that found its way over the shoulder of goalie Chad Mears, restoring Bowmanville's two-goal lead at 3-1. "We've been using people in and out of the lineup all year, and in a situation like tonight, it was a big bonus for us," said Watson. The goal lifted the spirits of Bowmanville, who had been hemmed in their own zone for much of the opening ten minutes of the period. period. Just over two minutes after Pollard's Pollard's goal, Todd Cannings poked in a rebound on the power play to give Bowmanville the 4-1 victory. Being on the losing end of the opening game of a playoff series is something that Rockton has become rather accustomed to. In each of their previous four series, they have failed to win game one. "It was a typical game one for us," sighed Rockton coach Craig Gumming, who wasn't at all pleased with his team's play. "The guys weren't into it tonight tonight They weren't skating, didn't finish their checks, and lost all the batdes along the boards. "We had a lot of chances, but when we did, (Crawford) stopped us." Bowmanville had the only two goals of the opening period, scoring 1:32 into the game when Ryan Becker knocked in a loose puck during during a power play. Before the period ended, Pollard snuck in from the blueline and wired a low shot past Mears to give Bowmanville a 2-0 cushion. THE SCOOP - Though it wasn't announced, the Orono atom team that was honoured prior to the start of the game were All-Ontario finalists. They lost the fifth game of their series earlier in the day, then made the over three-hour journey back home to arrive to the Eagles game on time...Missing from Sunday's Sunday's lineup were Drew Allenby (family commitment), Eric Warner (exams), Curtis Hodgins (knee), Gary Adams (suspension). Defence- man Geoff Heming left the game with a broken collarbone, and will be lost to the team for the remainder of the playoffs...Bowmanville won the coin toss, and will host game seven of the series, should it go that far. Goaltender Barry Crawford makes sure nobody gains control of this loose puck around his crease area during game one of the Ontario Jr. C semi-final round played Sunday night at the Recreation Complex. Bowmanville scored twice on the power play, and once shorthanded, on their way to a 4-1 win over Rockton, taking a one-game lead in the best-of-seven series. Scott Pollard had two goals for Bowmanville, Bowmanville, while Ryan Becker and Todd Cannings had one apiece. Bowmanville will host game three of the series on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. Rockton Real McCoys are the Real Thing How much of a surprise is it that Rockton is one of four teams to advance to the Ontario semi-final round of the Jr. C playoffs? Well, consider that their home arena has already taken the ice out to accommodate a .convention, forcing the team to play its home games in Dundas. During the regular season, Rockton finished below .500 and in fifth place. But three successive playoff series Q & A Eagles' Facts Q: When was the last time the Bowmanville Eagles reached the Ontario semifinals? semifinals? A: It was during the 1984-85 season. Bowmanville lost the seventh game, on home ice, by a 5-1 score to Midland. Q: Previous to that? A: The year before, Bowmanville Bowmanville reached the semi-finals but lost game seven, again on home ice, to Pcnctanguishcnc. Q: How many times has Bowmanville won an Ontario Ontario Jr. C Championship? A: Twice. The first time was in 1978-79, while the second one came in 1980-81. Q: Who did they beat? A: In 1978-79, Bowmanvillc beat Kincardine in the finals four games to zero. In 1980- 81 it was Essex, four games to two. victories, all in the seventh and deciding game, won them the Niagara District East League Championship. And in the Ontario quarterfinals, quarterfinals, Rockton again needed seven games to eliminate Orangeville. So, how did they do it? Coach Craig Gumming credits the addition of four players to the team in December as turning the fortunes of his club around. "We didn't have everybody until the end of the season. And since then, they have all played well, and have a lot of heart." After finishing league play with a 17-20-5 mark, Rockton opened the playoffs by upsetting the second place team from Dundas. In the next round, they eliminated Chippawa, who had finished third. In the league championship, they took out the first place team, Glanbrook, who had finished 20 points ahead of Rockton in the standings. All of their series clinching wins came in the seventh game. And all were in the other team's building. In the Ontario quarter-finals against Orangeville, Rockton was on the verge of elimination in game six, but rallied from a four-goal deficit for an 8-7 win. In game seven, they prevailed with a 5-2 win. Though they were declared the home team, the final game was played in Dundas, making it the fourth time they had won game seven of a playoff series in a foreign bulilding. With Bowmanville hosting game seven of this series, the same scenario could unfold once again. "This is really going to be a nice series," said Gumming. "Both teams play virtually the same style." Rockton is no secret to Bowmanville coach Mark Watson, who coached Dundas of the Niagara District East League for over 10 years. The style of play he saw in game one was what he expected. "Rockton like to hit, and they don't quit or give up. They have big hearts, and that's why they've won. "They are going to play us tough." Rockton had received little information about Bowmanville prior to the start of game one on Sunday night. But their style of play reminded Gumming of the way Watson's Dundas teams played when the two coaches opposed each other in the past. "(Bowmanville) are a good club and really use their home ice well. Thé players understand their role, and really play for Watson." Sunday's game was the 29th of the playoffs for Rockton. Including the regular season, they have played 71 games. By contrast, Sunday's opener was only the 18th playoff game for Bowmanville. Coupled with the regular season, Bowmanville has only played 48 games, 23 fewer than Rockton. The winner of this series will face either Belle River or Mount Forest in the Ontario finals. Belle River holds a two games to zero edge in its series after winning the opening games 8-7 and 9-4. Both games were played in Mount Forest. The series shifts back to Belle ' River for games three and four this weekend. Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 10 Bowmanville 4 Rockton 1 11 12 13 Bowmanville at Rockton 7:30 p.m. 14 15 Rockton at Bowmanville 7:30 p.m. 16 17 Bowmanville at Rockton 2:00 p.m. 18 19 20 21 Rockton at Bowmanville 7:30 p.m. 22 23 24 Bowmanville at Rockton 2:00 p.m. 25 26 Rockton at Bowmanville 7:30 p.m. Bowmanville Goodyear Eagles Ontario Semi-Final Playoffs 328 MTSON RD. 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