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Flying the coop thanks for your help and cooperation The past 18 months as sports editor of the Acton Free Press have afforded me a chance to see the other side of the com Instead of being the one written about I have done the writing I took the know ledge of the Acton sports world which I grew up and developed that into a worth while career However advancement in that chosen career has knocked on the door and I find myself accepting the challenge of the pos of sports editor for the Georgetown Independent a sister paper to the Acton Free Press The town is larger which will give me the opportunity to write about sports Acton does not have I hope to round out the career Acton people gave me a chance to start As a youngster growing up in the Acton minor sports leagues and even now in the industrial leagues of the community I realized the importance of a local news paper In the past months I have realized that importance even more To the people who coached me the past several years and who are now friends and business contacts I thank you With out you back then I would never have made it and without you now I would never have made it My promotion to the Independent was made possible through our combined efforts When I was taken on as sports editor with the Free Press I thought I knew most of the local people involved in the area but learned fast that there were many people and sports I knew nothing about Over that time I have tried to give an honest opinion and fair coverage to all sports and recreation groups in the Acton reading area I feel very fortunate that I got my start in Acton where the people were friendly and cooperative and willing to give me a chance To all of you I say a big thank you Although I will no longer be working for the Free Press I am remaining in town and will still be interested in the local sports and I hope to see you at as many of the local games as it is possible for me to attend My leaving is only one of three that the Free Press will see next week with editor Hartley Coles moving to Georgetown Independent full time after splitting his time between Georgetown and Acton for the past year The Free Press news editor Helen Murray is also leaving the journal ism field Helen is moving to the com posing room after over five years in news When I started writing for the paper I knew absolutely nothing about the bus mess and I must thank Hartley and Helen along with the Dills family and Eric for the help they have given me teaching me the ropes and angles necessary in doing my job My rephcement at the sports desk will be a very capable young lady Diana Waltmann Diana has been at a sports desk before spending nine months in Midland after graduiting from Diana has spent a couple of days travel ling around and meeting several of the people she will be dealing with but time has limited her from meeting all of the Tree Press contributors I am hoping that you the people of Acton will help Diana in the same way you helped me It is difficult moving into a new town and trying to pick up where someone else left off but I am confident you will make Diana welcome and co operate in getting the Acton Tree Press sports published each week Again say thank you and may you all have a happy new year Mtt sports and recreation B2 Acton Free Press Wednesday Jan Undefeated in 24 matches Midgets cop tournament crown Eds In Midgets continue dominate teams ihcy meet in hockey i scoring four more wins over he holiday season to lift heir record to 19 wins five ties and no losses in Waterloo Wellington league exhibition and tournament play The In nouters scored three straight victories at the New Hamburg Christmas Tournament over the past week to bring home their first tourney title of the sea son The Acton team top ped in the opening round of com petition and then edged the host burg squad 3 advance to the where they outclassed to an tune The two shut outs were recorded by Dave Anderson for the In outers earning him he award while Tim Baker was between the pipes for the win over New Hamburg In exhibition play over the holidays the In outers scored a win over Guelph AAA Minor team Three different players shared the scoring in Acton victory Alhston in the opening game of the New Ham burg event while five others earned single assists Mike Acton heir first goal at the five minute mark of the frame and Hie Inn outers were ihcad I slay I umbers and Dens assisted on the goal IVu goals within JO seconds of each other provided the rest of the scoring for Acton in the second as Tim Scotl Timbers found the range with Rob ind Mark Duval earning assists Acton the in lie contest Aclon never fell behind in l heir second round match with host New Hamburg but were fight o keep their leid throughout most of the game Afer a scoreless first n outers netted pair of second period goals from Gary Lumbers and Tim before they illowed tic burg to get on the sheet with less than two mm remaining in he stanza Acton extended their lead wo it the 50 mark the final frame is M netted he twine giving the In what would be the inning margin New Hamburg fought back with one more late tally to pull even but fell short in any bid to even the count Tim Baker faced New Hamburg shots while Acton fired at the New Hamburg net was no match for Acton m the tourney finil as Hit In n outers powered their way an HO win I hey started off slow he milch and didn net their first goal until the first period was over six minutes old Gary hers netted the marker nth Mike and Denis lie extended Ihe lead before the period ended is Evans found the ranje from Tim Ferguson The In n outers added three in re to their in the second period in identical number m giving them a convincing win anil Mike Mom h in fired three for the Acton squirt in he final two frames Tim Evans Bob Vcrmeulen and Denis Kirlon counting singles Hick Smith picked up issisls for Acton in the laugh I as did Randy and Gary Lumbers Scott Timbers Mark and Derek counted single I Acton in I contest In exhibition play the In outers spotted Guelph two goals and then rebounded for seven unanswered kcrs keeping heir record intact inly other Acton Gary I umbers paced pliycr earning wo the attack scoring points He assisted on a twice assisting on pair of markers Mike another while Denis Mr and and Mark added MeArthur added one of the goals each Randy Smith was with Rob Vcrmeulen and Derek II dgson counting Hodgson Hick Smith helpers Tim Ferguson Tim I vans In Lumbers Denis Midgets Dave Kirton Hob Vcrmeulen son Tim Biker Randy Rick Murk Smith Del Mohamad and Tim Mike Derek hers Atoms regional champs in Silver Stick tourney Major Atom arc for round two of the Ontario Silver Stick Champ on were in Midland over the hoi idays week where they scored three straight wins capture he Silver Stick and ad vancc them to Ont ino finals in Sirnia September 19 and Tie Moms played three tight hockey games their to the scoring decision in their contests They nipped Pcnelang 1 in lie opening round be fore Billon their first loss of he yeir when John Van Dam fired tl winner in deem during the second over time period In the grind championship the Steel workers played a re match scoring an identical 1 victory that advances hem to So nun Peter was the player of game dur inj the first two matches lor while John Von Dam the honor during he grand championship match fired both Acton goals in le first match with while Mike Baker earned n counters In the match with ton it was did scoring netting both regulation time goils the fifth period hero of John Van Dam Mike Baker and Kirk issislson the firs Acton ie Van Dam Acton coach Dan wis quite pleiscd with his cam pcrformnnce boys ood iggrcssive hockey game said Our were ind our defense was sharp forw worked hard every gome dded hat ill were hard on the nerves it is if had thanks for the parents who helped ike the possible their trans support team also hid specnl thinks 1 Ted and Judy II ill of Midi who billeted four Acton players overnight Teams jostling for position in industrial league action Getting full use of his membership Acton Meadows golfer Paul took advantage of the warm spell between and New Year s to get in a few holes of golf at he Meadows Although the pins In place several golf fans were on he course for some Isle season fun I he action is becoming furious in the Acton Ind Hockey league as begin the battle for play off positions liver the past two weeks have been jockeying for position with several learns being shifted Centre has regained first place in league standings while Blow Press has fallen with a tic and a loss in the past two weeks Van Welding sitting on the bottom a short lime ago has moved into fourth position ne point ahead of both Hellers and Family Cleaners Lakevicw Ccnlre earned op spot with a win over Blow Press on Sunday at the community centre outdoing their rivals by a count In other games Family Cleaners surprised Hellers and Terminal Warehouse solidified heir hold on third with a hump ing of Van A week earlier Blow Pre s and Hellers played to a 1 I lie Ccnlre attacked ATW 11 and Van nipped Cleaners Floyd and Bruce Cooks ley paced the Lakcview assault on Blow Press in the battle for league honors with a pair of goals each while Bart Jacobs was credited wllli the other Bruce fired both Pressmen markers while Bill Fields and Henry earned an assist each Van s Welding looked Impressive in the first period of their 103 loss Terminal building up a lead before lie users rolling piced he with four goals and an while Chris Ten nam fired i pair of goals and i pair if assists for thelermmal Ken idded to ATW with a goal and three assisls while Bruce McPhnll netted a single marker and a pair of he Mike Moms added in assist while Gary counted a Iwo assists Mike Mitchell ind Ken I singles Brent Irwin and John Snow counted the Vans Weld oils while Snow picked up an assist on other Van goals and Gary Moore also picked up a helper each for the Welders In the nightcap on Sunday Family Cleaners built up a lead going into he final period and then hung on as Hellers came storming back scoring a win George Arlcm Jim Poelsk rim Mclntyre and Bill Manes fired the family goals with Manes picking up i pair of assists as well Jim Pocisk Ruck and Tim assisted for the Cleaners Randy and uss Van Fleet did the damage for Heller wilh John Ashley earning assists on both goals and BUI on he firs Heller tally Action this Sunday night will be a completion of last week gomes Willi Blow Press and Lake- Mew Centre it list spot while at J 40 f irflrslspola7p in s Welding will li pin Family lr to make up some Clemers Heller do round in Aclon I idle w Ihe loser minal Warehouse Industrial standings W I F Lakevicw Centre Blow Press Terminal Van Welding Family Cleaners Hellers 11 1 19 2 1 17 5 5 11 7 1 11 3fi GO 7 Lions split with Midand Midland wis too much for the Lions Pec sees when they headed north for tl regional Stick In Midland Acton had little trouble in their opening round of the tourney handing Mid land Minors a pasting but the Lions found the Midland Majors much tougher In second round play dropping a decision Mike Hudson and Sandy Waitcs paced the Acton illack against Midland Minors Hudson fired three goals and assisted on four others while scored a pair and picked up three assists On the last four goals Hudson and earned two goals and two each Greg James fired a pair of goals for Terry and Tony Van Dam counting the ilhers James led Grant Smith and David Thomas added assists for the Lions The with Mid land Majors was much closer than he score indicated according to Lions manager McKcrncher We applied the pressure throughout the game and had several good scoring chances Mike Hudson netted both Acton goals with and James earning an assist each It was a solid effort added by a learn that shows more promise each time out pointed out Brad Neill Greg James and Ted showing particular improvement Bowline I arc a busy place over the winter leagues run each night or the week The most at hose leagues Is the Men Majors Bob Turkosi shows some of the form that keeps his in that league Turkosi avenge is third on Ihe I Minor nipped at Milton Beaver tourney a pened he that was all Acton could lines scoring Mill Sieve muster until Brad lgiurnetlinf the twine Demone s unassisted McMillan pulled Acton to t rdon Mitchell but one it Peewees short Union Minor Pee Wees found themselves on Ihe sh rlcndof i pur of dec it the Milton Ben Hockey Tournament over the holiday week The ire team dropped a of twi nntches J 1 lo Cnwlhri Park and li Kitchener Gord Mitchell fired the in the J loss with Kevin Lob singer and helpers pulled the Bcardm re at 1 but an empty net mirker the away for Park In the 4 loss chencr Sieve Wagner and Craig netted Ihe In exhibition play over the vacation the dropped i I decision lo Minor Beirdmore Union Mm rl in the score in i rccenl exhibition against Guelph i quick si in the pliyed in lie Act in Centre December re fell behind three and failed lo rccipture their lend Acinus Sieve opened the scoring just seconds into the first per lod on a passing play with Clint and Gordon Mitchell who were credited with assists Bui came back to tie it it 7 and look the leid on mother goal wilh nine seconds left in firsl period Tl second Period saw Guelph and Acton trad Guelph scoring al before ore narrowed gap on i mar by Brad Demone at Beordmore I connect with an equalizer before netted an insunnce in the final giving them an insurmountable two goal wilh less than five minutes remaining in he game The coolest ended m a 4 loss A total of five penalties were handed out during match three of them to Acton