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Liam PTCA? suai. vl iF. 1 | TTT A iad PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, February 9, 1968 -- 5 Viewpoint by John B. McClelland It's hard to believe that the Junior C hockey playoffs are upon us once again. Here it is just the first week in February and over the next ten days or so, the hockey season is going to come to an end for several teams in the Central Junior C Hockey League. The Port Perry MoJacks, of course, have already started their best of seven opening series with arch-rival Uxbridge Bruins. (This column was written prior to Sun- day's first game in Port Perry, and I don't know the out- come as I write. Cheek the sports pages). And which of the two teams is going to emerge the victor this year? That's a tough one to answer. In my heart, I'm hoping it will be the MoJacks. I've been covering the team for the past decade for the Port Star. I try in my reports on the games to maintain at least a semblance of objectivity, I make no apologies for the fact that I've become a fan of the Port Perry 'squad. So my heart says the MoJacks will dispatch the Bruins in this series to advance to the round robin series with the other two initial series winners. And based on the performance during the regular schedule of the MoJacks and the Bruins, the facts would also give the edge to the MoJacks. But it's common knowledge that Junior C playoffs sometimes have virtually nothing in common with what went on during the regular schedule. And the reason for this is,.in my opinion, due to an inherent weakness in the playoff format. All six teams in the North division of the Central League make the playoff opening round. Since all six teams are guaranteed a playoff spot, there is little or no reason for teams to really "give it their all" during the last five or six weeks of the schedule. This year, for example, the MoJacks and the Lakefield Chiefs got off to a quick start and by Christmas it was obvious that none of the other four teams was going to catch Port Perry or Lakefield in the standings. Madoc was going to finish dead last while Lit- tle Britain, Uxbridge and Lindsay would jockey around for the positions in the middle of the standings; posi- tions which really meant little as far as playoffs are concerned. I'm not suggesting for one minute that teams pur- posely give it less than 100 per cent effort game in and game out, but let's be honest. Any athlete in a team or individual sport, plays with more intensity and desire when his or her back is to the wall. "Suddenly, the first week in February when the playoffs start, every game takes on crucial importance for the players. What happened over the previous 32 game schedule is largely irrelevant. That's what makes it so tough to predict the out- come of a Junior C playoff series. Teams that probably - were playing it cosy and close to the vest for the past few weeks suddenly put their game in over-drive for the playoffs, and in a best of seven series, well, anything can happen. I understand why the league has adopted this playoff format. Teams rely heavily on playoff gate . receipts to pay the freight. It's as simple as that. Still, I can't help but wonder if the format should be chang- ed so that just the top four teams make the playoff open- ing round. But that won't happen this year. What is happen- ing right now is a playoff between the Bruins and the MoJacks, two teams which quite frankly don't like each other. The rivalry is intense to say the least. And there are a few interesting facts which add to this rivalry. Bruin coach Brad Nicholson used to play with the MoJacks a few years ago. MoJack coach George Burnett spent a season as the assistant behind the Bruin bench. MoJack goalie Brian Tarleton played for the Bruins a couple of seasons back and Bruin forward Paul But- terworth spent a season in a MoJack sweater. And there are several members of this year's Mo- Jack team who have some unpleasant memories of the playoffs last season when the Bruins put the MoJacks out in six games, two of which were decided in overtime. That no doubt will be in the back of their minds as the take to the ice this year. Because of all the variables involved, I hesitate to make any outright predictions. But I have to like the MoJacks chances to take the series. Back in October at the beginning of the season, I wrote that this year's team, in my opinion, is the strongest and most talented Junior C squad in Port Perry for many years. I haven't changed my opinion. This team has played some excellent hockey over the past three months. A couple of players have joined the line-up, and what impresses me is the depth of the talent. In a seven game playoff which could mean three or four games inside a week, bench strength is critical. Depth will become even more important if the MoJacks defeat the Bruins in a tough series because the hockey will get even tougher in the series to follow against teams like Lakefield, Bowmanville or Wellington. Players just don't have the luxury of five or six days between games to let those little aches and bruises heal up. In my opinion, bench strength or depth will be the telling factor not just in the MoJack-Bruins series, but in which team will ultimately capture the Central League championship. : I'm really looking forward to the rest of this series. Hopefully, hockey fans in Port Perry will get solidly behind the MoJacks and pack the Scugog Arena. They'll be treated to some fine playoff hockey well worth the price of admission. Yesterday's Letters Aborting babies is not acceptable ® Memories : 70 YEARS AGO February 7, 1918 A Port Perry student, Miss Grace Rose won second prize in an art competition held for the students in Lower School in - the Province of Ontario. Miss Irene Spence received an 'honourable mention" in the same competition. | Flight Lieut. George Howsam has won the Military Cross for bravery. He is now in Belgium but will spend his leave of absence in England and receive his decoration in a short time. Port Perry receives word from the Hydro Electric Power Commission that it is not practical to change the distribution system of Hydro in Port Perry at this time, as the cost would be too great. 45 YEARS AGO February 4, 1943 Port Perry and Greenbank hockey teams played to a 3-3 tie on Thursday evening. On the Port Perry team were Don Pargeter, Stan Slack, John Jeffery, Bob Williams, Don Carnegie, : Ron Cooksley, Bill Taylor, Jack MacGregor, Gordon Mark and ! John Christie. ; Miss Doris McGregor has gone to Toronto to take up a y business coufse. : 35 YEARS AGO ~ . February 5, 1953 An Oshawa firm, Kenting Aviation Ltd. honoured Port Perry last week when it tested its new "Hiller 360" on the snow on Lake Scugog. Among the spectators watching were Phil Orde and Bill | Baker. ; Miss Audrey Kent of Port Perry is entering the Hobby and Homecraft show at the Coliseum in the C.N.E. grounds. Miss Kent will be showing an Angora Stole, Scarf, Hat, Sweater, Beret and Gloves from the wool of the rabbits she breeds. 30 YEARS AGO February 6, 1958 Last Wednesday the Grade XI and XII boys toured the plant of the Steel Company of Canada Ltd., in Hamilton. Mr. Jefford was the teacher accompanying the students. The tow truck from Beare Motors ran head on into a sedan on Tuesday, when winds whipped up the snow and made it near imposs ible to see. Mr. Don Anderson received a severe bump on the head, but Ross Hutchinson was unhurt. 20 YEARS AGO Thursday, February 8, 1968 Members of the Hospital staff gathered at the Anglican (Turn to page 8) To The Editor: I do not agree with the Supreme Court abortion decision and ask the people of Port Perry to look carefully at this issue. In the eyes of God, life is precious and we have no right to destroy it. Have the women so in favour of abortion never stopped to think that given the choice they themselves could have been aborted? Do they value their own lives so little that they can destroy the life of the infant that is grow- ing inside them? Has anyone ever told them of the anguish they will have to face in later years when the buried guilt surfaces and they realize they have killed their lit- Need enforcement at signalized intersections To The Editor: Motorists and pedestrians alike apparently do not understand the operation of the pedestrian "Walk" and flashing "Don't Walk' signal displays. All pedestrian signals in the Region have been programmed to provide a "Walk display for at least seven (7.0) seconds. During this time the pedestrian may commence his crossing. This is followed by a clearance interval consisting of a flashing "Don't Walk" plus the vehicle amber and all red signal display which, in combination, is designed to pro- vide enough time for the pedestrian, crossing at a normal walking speed, to complete the crossing. Even if the pedestrian has just left the curb at the begin- ning of the flashing 'Don't Walk," tle babies? This is only the beginning, who In my eyes, they are killing a human life when abortion is per- 'mother cannot face the mental will be the next ones to be gotten rid of? The new born with a birth defect of some kind that the formed. It is not acceptable to me, to hear that a baby is not con- sidered human until a certain time has passed. I truly believe a life begins at conception, and any termination after that point is murder to me. anguish and would be too difficult for her in raising the child? Or will it be concentrated on the elderly who are too old or sick and unable to contribute? the mother's life is in danger as The right of the mother for con- = in therepeutic abortion the trol over her body is a pointinthe mother's life is first. As for the Supreme Court ruling. BN argument about ruining young Where is the responsibility of girls lives by carrying the baby to the women to consider not only full term, are there not couples her body but the possibility of wanting babies, and is birth con- creating an unwanted life, by not trol taught in our public schools? using a method of birth-control? If you agree with me write Where is the right of the infant? Federal M.P. Allan Lawrence and M.P.P. Sam Cureatz with your argument against abortion. Remember, if you don't speak up it seems then you don't care and agree with murder! Yours truly, he still has adequate time to reach the other side before the light (Turn to page 8) Susan Ewing, Port Perry. Letters to the Editor ... our policy It has always been the policy of this newpspaper to encourage our readers to make use of the letters to the editor column. Our readers have a right to freely express their opinions and view- points on just about any subject, and we feel that a lively letters column - helps make a better community newspaper. We insist, however, that a letter writer sign his or her name. On rare occasions, we will agree to with-hold publication of a letter writer's name, if we feel there are very good reasons to do so. Under no circumstances will this paper print an anonymous letter to the editor. While we enjoy receiving letters from our readers, we must con- tinue to insist on knowing the identity of the writer. I realize that in the case where. . = ~ _ A tO I. po aes RE ---