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PAGE 8THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, FEBRUARY 21,2001 Pivotal Game 2 gave Wellington momentum Overtime goal cost Eagles playoff series BY BRAD KELLY Spoi ls Editor It isn't hard to pick out the defining moment of the playoff series between the Bowmanville Eagles and Wellington Dukes. After opening the series with a win in Wellington, Bowmanville Bowmanville had an opportunity to take command of the series with a victory on home ice in Game 2. That fateful game went into double overtime before Jordan Freeland scored for Wellington to even up the series. Momentum swung to the side of Wellington, and it closed out the series with wins in the next three games to advance to the next round. "That was the pivotal game," agrees Bowmanville coach Curtis Curtis Hodgins of that Game 2 loss in overtime. "The momentum shifted back to Wellington and they got rolling. "As young and fragile as our team is, that would have been a huge win for us." Instead, the playoff misery for Bowmanville in the Provincial Junior League continues, losing to Wellington four games to one in the best-of-seven series. In the she years the team has been in the league, it has qualified for playoffs playoffs five times. On each occasion, occasion, it has made a quick exit in the first round. Overall, the team has a playoff record of 6-20. "Our goal was to get to the second round and we didn't reach that," says Director of Hockey Operations Mike Laing. Injuries and a lack of offence were cited as the problems during during the series, says Hodgins. Jason McAuley and Kyle Crouch, who finished first and MIKE LAING third respectively in team scoring during the regular season, were ailing. In the last three games of the series, all losses (4-1,3-2 and 4-0), Bowmanville scored only three goals. "Our offence dried up, but we did the job defensively. I thought we deserved better," says Hodgins Hodgins of the competitive series. Looking ahead to next season, season, Laing says the team expects to lose five or six players, with the nucleus of the team all committed committed to returning. Andrew Smale, Adam Speight and Jason Travis' are expected expected to be away attending university, university, while Bryan Riddell is unsure of his school commitments. commitments. Cory Adelman graduates due to age, and young defence- man Chad Elliott (Oshawa Generals) Generals) and Bill Burgio (Sudbury Wolves) could end up in the yiiiiiiiinmxxmiIi ixïïïhhîuiiïh rTTTTTT ÏÏÏIIIIIÏÏ1XÏII ttittixitmiTTri | CLARINGTON GIRLS HOCKEY ASSOCIATION ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND REGISTRATION wr* aw LXRJ? TUES., MARCH 27, 2001 7:00 P.M. «« BOWMANVILLE HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA 2001/2002 REGISTRATION $275.00 (Postdated cheques April 20 - $75/June 1 -$100/July 15 -$100) (New players welcome, please bring a photocopy of birth certificate) COACHING POSITIONS REP TEAMS: NOVICE, ATOM, PEEWEE, BANTAM, MIDGET. REP TEAM TRYOUTS TO BEGIN APRIL 23, 2001. Coach applications for CGHA competitive teams are due by March 27,2001 i For information or applications please call: Peter Hamilton 435-0490 HOUSE LEAGUE COACHING APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE AT AGM. Due by June 30, 2001, for information please contact John Ayre 623-6570 LOMXffKVl -- £* CURTIS HODGINS OHL. Laing is comfortable starting the season with the remaining players. "We wanted a gritty team that doesn't quit -- exactly like we have now," he says adding that of the players expected on the team next season, "Every kid on the hockey team wants to play here." While everything seems to be in order on the ice, there is also some stability behind the bench. v .. Hodgins is 'èxpectèd to return as head coach along with assistants John Winder and Ken Scott. "I'm definitely coming back," confirms Hodgins. "I have no plans to leave. I'm happy here." Next on the calendar for Bowmanville will be a rookie camp in April, followed by an evaluation camp in July. Training camp for next season will open Aug. 19. Kingchurch Nissan 1-800-565-6365 Ajax, Ontario 905-686-0555 2000 Nissan Altima GXE Automatic, Full Convience Group, Keyless Locks Windows, Cruise, Air, AM FM CD 13,200 km 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier 2 Door Automatic Pulse Wipers, AM FM Cassette, Full Guage Pkg. 1993 Cadillac Sedan De Ville Spotless Original Condition 126,000 kms 1995 Nissan Frontier XE Just 110,000 ■r ..Original Paint-:: - ' New tires, : ; i\ Chrome Sport Rims After Hours Please Call Tom Carette at 905-706-2720 All the sports you want to read three times a week ®f)t Canabtan Statesman Clarington This Week ANDREW IWANOWSKU Statesman photo Derek Dolson takes a well-deserved break during Sunday's 10-3 loss to Peterborough. Lost weekend for Gens BY BRIAN LEGREE Staff Editor It's all but official now - the Oshawa Generals will fail to qualify for the postseason postseason for the first time since 1977. After a horrid weekend in which the Generals lost three times and were outscored 19-6, Oshawa is all but mathematically mathematically eliminated from the post-season. post-season. The Generals fell 3-1 to North Bay Friday and followed it up with back-to- back losses to Peterborough, 6-2 Saturday Saturday and 10-3 Sunday at the Civic Auditorium. Auditorium. The Generals now trail North Bay - whicli holds the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference - by 14 points witli 13 games remaining in the regular season. "It's disappointing," says George Burnett, Oshawa's coach and general manager, reserving criticism for some unnamed veterans, "I think we've seen some things here, there's no question about it. I don't think now's the time we're going to point a lot of lingers and make a lot of accusations, "We've got some veteran guys who I don't think were involved much this weekend and didn't pay a big enough price and some of our young guys did, I guess that tells me who is interested and who wants to be here in the future and we'll have to make those adjustments at the appropriate time." The Generals played Sunday minus six régulais. Kevin Mitchell continues to serve his six-game suspension, Scott Rozendal (knee) remains inactive, while Richard Spence, Eric Laroclielle, Brad Walford and Pat Montgomery were suspended suspended for their part in a melee Saturday in Peterborough. Minus those six players, the Generals dressed Derek McEvoy and Milch Hugh of the Oshawa Legionaircs. "I think we have to keep (Sunday's loss) it in some of the perspective of some of the guys and some of the situations situations they were put in. I didn't see a team that stopped working - as sloppy as we were, and all the battles that we lost and all the mistakes that we had happen, I don't think it was guys not trying," says Burnett. The Generals arc off until Friday, when they play in Mississauga. UHfoom for Kids! ' The first 500 ^ddkhn* aged S-14 entering the GoH Show éadi day wM receive a Wilson golf dub FREE! THESE DUAUtY WILSON *<szv am wu 8B cusTOM-mm FOR GRIP AND LINCmt DONT MISS ITI \ - < . Wed tm oaompatM by on adult THE FIRST 8,000 VISITORS ON FRIDAY, MARCH 2 RECEIVE A FREE ROUND OF GOlf (some rtstridions apply) • The Latest Equipment • Free Clinics tor Juniors ■.... •A Front Street I su mms i L Station Street | me* m m it KSt M.V&V, Golf Destinations from around the worldm Golf Courses, local and worldwide Great Bargains in \ equipment & apparel LPGA Tour Pro I .! Mfrfe&iîitti' FREE PARKING sponsored by jmii,, Golf Driving Range 200 Owen's,Quay W. . 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