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®fje Canabtan Statesman Çlarington's Award-Winning Newspaper Since 1854 March 31,2004 infodurhamregion.com You can't always believe what you hear Eagles' coach Curtis Hodgins talking with confidence, not optimism Standing in a cramped hallway of 'St. Michael's College School Arena 'Outside a jubilant Bowmanville Eagles Eagles dressing room Sunday night, coach Curtis Hodgins vyas holding 'court, delivering a message that made 'à believer out of me. And that hasn't always been the case. In fact, in retrospect, I don't 'think I have ever really believed what ■the likeable coach has offered up Brad Kelly come playoff time. One time in particular comes to mind, the two of us sitting in an empty dressing room during an interview interview back in 1998, his Eagles having just lost to Trenton to go down 3-1 in the series. He remained optimistic, noting if his team were to win Game 5 in Trenton it could change the entire complexion of the series. Truth be told, there was no chance of the Eagles winning that next game, which they didn't. In fact, there has been little chance of the Eagles ever winning a series over the years, save for this season, though Hodgins has always managed to put a positive spin on the post-season. Good coaches do that. In Toronto on Sunday night, minutes minutes after his hockey club managed to avoid having its life support turned off with a 3-2 win over the St. Michael's Buzzers, Hodgins was at it again. Though this time, he wasn't speaking speaking as an optimist, rather a coach who truly believed in what he was saying. "We deserved better than to be down 3-0 in this series and we knew that," he began, followed by the zinger, "We're still confident we can win this series." The operative word there is "confident." "confident." In that past, he was merely optimistic optimistic of pulling off such a feat. He's right that, though down 3-1, the Eagles have deserved a better fate, and could easily be even at 2-2 heading heading into Thursday's Game 5 in Bowmanville. Bowmanville. Instead, they are in a position where the margin for error is so small, that one bad bounce, line change or Daniel Goulding clearing attempt could spell the end of the season. Though the clearing, attempt scenario is the least likely to happen. Trust me. "All year our team has never quit," said captain Matt Caruana, whose splendid career with the Eagles will end if the team loses another game in this series. "We don't want this to énd because we are having so much fun. We're playing into April and I don't think many of us have done that." The end could come as early as tomorrow tomorrow night, but don't bet on it. The hockey club has a debt to pay off, and the fans may be the ones to cash in. "We've lost three games in a row on home ice... the fan support we've been getting is unreal and it means a lot to the guys. I'm sure the (Recreation (Recreation Complex) will be rocking Thursday and we owe our fans a win," said Hodgins. Believe him. Matt Caruana Avoid elimination Svith 3-2 win over St. Michael's Buzzers in Game 4 of semis BY BRAD KELLY Sports Editor TORONTO - The series between the Bowmanville Eagles and St. Michael's Buzzers has turned into . something more than just wins and losses at this point. r From the Eagles perspective, it's 'bout pride and character, elements hey showed a tremendous amount of in collecting their first win of this best-of-seven series. 1 Facing elimination with their next loss after falling behind 3-0 in the series, the Eagles came up with a gem in Toronto Sunday night, posting a 3-2 victory to extend the Provincial Junior Junior A Hockey League semifinal to Game 5 Thursday in Bowmanville at 7:30 p.m.. v With the opportunity to roll over and call it a season, content with winning the East Conference championship, the Eagles came up with a spirited effort effort and never trailed in the game to sidestep elimination. "We knew they wouldn't do that," said coach Curtis Hodgins of his hockey hockey club. "These guys have too much pride and character. , "We've been in this position before where we've had pressure games in the Wellington series." That experience may have paid dividends dividends Sunday, as the Eagles built a 2- 0. lead through two periods and maintained maintained their composure through the final 20 minutes of the game. . Matt Caruana (9th) opened the scoring on the power play in the first period, banging home a loose puck, and Justin Caruana (1st) fought off a check during a three-on-one to give the Eagles a two-goal bulge late in the second period, Jeff Kyrzakos cut the lead in half for St. Michael's 8:07 into the third. But Colin Baker (3rd) slid an innocent looking shot from the blue-line along the ice during a power play that beat Kain Tisi to restore the two-goal lead at 3-1. "I was just shooting toward the net and wanted to see what would happen off that," said Baker of the goal that stood as the winner. "I saw it go in and as it turned out am glad I scored it." Ah yes, the explanation' behind the "as it turned out" reference. The second St. Michael's goal is one Eagles' goaltender Daniel Goulding Goulding would dearly like to forget. Attempting Attempting to clear the puck during a St. Michael's power play, he fired the puck through the middle of the zone, hitting Andrew Cogliano square in the chest, leaving an empty net for the. talented talented forward to score into, pulling the ! home side to within 3-2 with 5:27 to go. The decision to even start Goulding may have raised some eyebrows, considering considering he was pulled in favour of Joel Whitmarsh in the first period of Friday's loss after surrendering a pair of goals. • "It was a tough decision," admitted Hodgins. "Being down 3-0 (in the series) series) you think we might need a change and maybe we need Joel to start a game. "But Daniel got us here. He's a big game goalie and he wanted the job so we decided he got us here and he's our guy. We were confident coming (into Game 4) with him." Aside from timely goals and saves, the Eagles improved their discipline over previous games, and also held the speedy St. Michael's forwards in check, rarely .giving up odd-man rushes, rushes, something that plagued the team through the first three games of the series. series. "The first couple of games we weren't playing our style, we weren't playing the way we should and we weren't playing the way we did against Wellington," said Baker. "(Sunday) we shut them down at what they're good at." If the Eagles can prolong the series with a win Thursday, Game 6 is Saturday Saturday in Toronto (8 p.m.) with a seventh game in Bowmanville Sunday (6:30 p.m.). THE SCOOP - Collecting assists Sunday were' Colin Baker, Brad , Dormiedy, Mike McKenzie and Matt Caruana...St, Michael's held a 26-21 edge in shots on goal...In the other semifinal series, Aurora scored a couple of weekend wins to even the series against Oakville at two games apiece, Mills cracks top five BROUSSARD, Louisiana - If Jon Mills keeps it up, he'll be golfing with the big boys next year. Mills, a 26-year-old former resident resident of Brooklin, finished fourth at the Nationwide Tour's Louisiana Open on the weekend, weekend, vaulting him to 11th on the money list with $44,364 in earnings earnings this season. The top 20 golfers on the Nationwide Tour arc elevated to the PGA Tour at season's end. ; Mills carded rounds of 69-67-73- 67 in Louisiana, leaving him alone in Ion Mills fourth place with a l2-under-pai"276 and $22,800 richer. He was four strokes back of winner Jimmy Walker, Walker, In three previous events on the Nationwide Tour this season, Mills has finished tied for 12th twice and missed the cut once. He earned full status on the tour during PGA qualifying qualifying late last year, Oshawa's Derek Gillespie qualified qualified for his first Nationwide event of the season, finishing tied for 31st after rounds of 72-70-69-73. Gillespie is currently 1 lilt on the Canadian Tour's Order of Merit with $6,921 earned in two events. He was 11th at the Barton Creek Classic and ninth at the Barton Creek Challenge. . ' Ron Pietroniro/ This Week Oshawa Generals' forward Chris Hulit (17) loses control of the puck in front of Mississauga IceDogs' goalie David Shantz during Game 6 action Monday at the Civic Auditorium. The Generals won this game 3-2 in double overtime, overtime, but were eliminated with a 6-1 loss last night in Mississauga. Seven is unlucky as Generals say goodnight Oshawa's season comes to a close with 6-1 defeat in Mississauga . BY PAUL FUTHEY MISSISSAUGA - The Oshawa Generals took it to the limit but not beyond. A night after forcing a seventh game with a thrilling 3-2 double overtime victory, the Generals offered offered little resistance as they bowed to the favoured Mississauga IceDogs 6-1 last night in their OHL Eastern Conference quarterfinal. Playing at the Hershey Centre, where the IceDogs were 23-7-2-2 during the regular season, the Generals Generals fell behind 3-0 in the first period and never recovered. "We needed to find a way to get a timely goal," Generals' coach George Burnett said. "We are not pleased to be where we're at, but we're proud of the effort that's been put forth" Generals' captain Tobias Whelan (2nd) offered, some hope by scoring late in the opening frame, but after a scoreless second period, the IceDogs made it a laugher with three more goals in the third. "They were just more prepared than us," Whelan said following his final game in a Generals' uniform. Tom Zanoski (3rd), Chris Bain (2nd), Lukas Grauwilcr (3rd), Brad Elthimiou (1st), Anthony Butera (1st) arid Mark O'Leary (1st) each scored once for the IceDogs. Dan Turple, who was magnificent in goal for Oshawa in the series, es pecially during a 53-save effort in Game 6, faced 34 shots last night. The Generals managed 23 shots on rookie David Shantz. "I thought our second period was pretty strong, but we just didn't shoot when we had an opportunity," Burnett Burnett assessed. Ben Eager forced the deciding game with a dramatic goal in Game 6, scoring 3:29 into double overtime Monday at the Civic Auditoriurn. Eager blew past Mississauga defenceman defenceman Anthony Butera and beat goalie David Shantz just inside the post to give the Generals a 3-2 win, Turple made 53 saves in goal for the Generals Monday, while Shantz made 44 stops for the IceDogs. Eager arid Whelan each had a goal and an assist and Chris Hulit also for Oshawa. Hulit was injured late in the third period and didn't return until Game 7. . ' Dan Rudisuela forced overtime by scoring with 23 seconds left in regulation regulation time for the IceDogs. With Shantz on the bench for an extra attacker, attacker, Rudisuela lifted a backhand past Turple, Zanoski opened the scoring in the first period for the IceDogs. Hulit, in the second period, and Whelan, in the third, both beat Shantz on high shots to the glove side. The Generals had good reason for optimism after a 5-2 road win gave them a 2-1 series lead, but they scored a paltry six goals in the other six games. "We expected it to go the full duration. duration. They don't quit," IceDogs' coach Greg Gilbert said of the Generals. Generals. "They've got a good solid team. They're well coached. I think George has done a great job with those guys." GENERALLY SPEAKING: Andrew Andrew Gibbons, who had just returned returned from a lengthy injury in Game 6 and played well, was suspended for last night's game thanks to a slash that knocked Daryl Knowles out of action... The Generals were 0-for-2 on the power play last night and 3- for-43 in the series... There are no teams left in the playoffs from the East Division as the Ottawa 67's also fell in Game 7 last night, 3-1 at home to the Brampton Battalion. The St, Michael's Majors, who beat Sudbury 5-2 last night, will face Brampton while the IceDogs will have home ice advantage against the Barrie Colts in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Guelph Storm survived a scare by beating the Owen Sound Attack 3- 1 in Game 7 of their Western Conference Conference series last night. Guelph now faces the Plymouth Whalers while the London Knights meet the Eric Otters in the Western semifinals. Oshawa Generals vs. Mississauga IceDogs: Series Recap Game 1 - March 19 at Mississauga: IceDogs 3, Generals 0 Game 2 - March 21 at Oshawa: Generals 1, IceDogs 0 Game 3 - March 23 at Mississauga: Generals 5, IceDogs 2 Game 4 - March 24 at Oshawa: IceDogs 2, Generals 0 Game 5 - March 26 at Mississauga: IceDogs 5, Generals 1 Game 6 - March 29 at Oshawa: Generals 3, IceDogs 2 (2 OT) Game 7 - March 30 at Mississauga: IceDogs 6, Generals 1