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16 THE NEW TANNER THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2007 Riding a snow plow... Continued from page 14 St. he takes great care in making sure the snow goes down the hill on the side without houses instead of into their driveways. You know, I bet in ten years, theyve never come out and thanked me for doing this, he says. When I ask if anyone ever thanks him, he says on occasion they do. Hes had more people give him grief though. There was a lady who tried to move his plow with her shovel and another person who stood in front of his truck. He has years of stories. He knows people get frustrated when the wing plows the snow back into the driveway after they have just shovelled but as he says, I cant lift the wing at every driveway. A tip from the plow driv- er always shovel your snow to the right, that way when the plow goes by the snow doesnt go back into your driveway. It makes sense but most people dont think about it. Even though he says he doesnt lift his wing at driveways, I do notice that there is the odd driveway where he slows down and pushes less snow into them. He notices that I notice and says that some- times when senior citizens call in about the snow going back into their driveways, he tries to remember them and take it a little slower. He, in a way, is like the town taxi driver. He knows every street and where everybody lives. We drive by Bruce Shoe- makers home and he says, Good morning Mr. Shoe- maker as if he was right there talking to him. I ask him if other snow plow drivers such as those who drive pick-up truck plows are courteous to him. Well he starts with hesitation, Brother Ed does that he pauses and tells me they are usually pret- ty good. However, I cant help but notice, most of the pick-up trucks out that morning are pushing some of the snow back onto the roads. I ask him a lot of questions like how he feels about people who shovel the snow back onto the road. It makes us look badlike were not doing our job, he says. Dans had a few scares, too, over the years. Once when plowing a cul-de-sac just as he was about to drop his plow, a child came slid- ing down the snow pile in the centre. He said it sent shiv- ers through him for days. Now, he always sounds his horn before starting to plow a cul-de-sac. Fun for a child could mean a nightmare for a plow driver. Another Town truck comes up to us, this time a pick-up with Dans super- visor, Bob. You got your passenger with you? he asks. Bob is checking the progress of the plow driv- ers. Theyre scraping off good, he tells Dan. How- ever, Dan isnt much for chatting. He still has a full day of plowing. I had been with Dan for almost five hours by then. It was time for me to go home while Dan continued clearing the streets of Acton. When we pulled into my street where I live at the end of the cul-de-sac he tells me that the street will get plowed later today by the other route. I assumed it would be a relief driver. I thanked Dan and wished him a good rest of his day. About 2 p.m. that after- noon, I hear the sound of a plow truck. When I looked out the window, it was Dan. He had been up for almost 11 hours and on the job for ten. I ran out of the house to see him. I can make you a hot chocolate if you like, I told him. Ill be a few minutesI want to tidy this up, he said in reference to the grow- ing snow pile. By the time I had returned with a hot chocolate and a few treats, the cul-de-sac was clear and Dan was finishing his shift to get ready for the next snowfall. The start of the OMHA playoffs saw the Acton Firefighter Association Bantam AE team facing off against Fergus. Having had success against the Devils through regular season play it gave the Tanners confidence this game would go their way. Fergus, however, came out looking fully charged and put the first goal on the score board late in the period. Acton was quick to respond as a hard shot off Jacob Dougans stick made its way past the Fergus netminder. The period seemed destined to end in a tie but Fergus gave another rush and with 38 seconds took a 2-1 lead as Jesse Harris gave his all to try to prevent the goal. Returning for the second period, the Devils caught the Tanners by surprise as they scored two quick goals early in the period. Try as they might, the Acton team was held score- less both in this and the final period. Attempts to shake up the play by mixing the lines was not enough to get past the Fergus goalkeeper who was sharp on his stops. A win was not to be had with Fergus closing the game 4-1. An assist was awarded to Jake Lewis on the first period goal. *** The round robin preliminaries had the Tanners up against Dundas at home for their second game. The Acton boys came out looking serious and played with speed, focus and determination in the period which ending scoreless. The second period held tight as well until defenceman AJ McConville positioned himself at the corner of the net to receive a well-placed pass from Jesse Spurrell. A quick sharp shot off AJs stick placed the puck past the Dundas goalie and gave the Tanners the lead. A huge effort made by Jacob Dougan and Brandon Macini as the period ended almost resulted in a two-goal lead. Both teams came into the third with their sights set on a win. Acton needed to hold on to the lead while Dundas needed to score. This they did, tying the game on an unas- sisted goal. Acton upped the pressure but a cross-ice pass intercepted by a Dundas player resulted in their go-ahead goal which would see them through to win the game 2-1 in this nailbiter. A somewhat disappointing loss for the Tanners who played with everything they had. The OMHA playdowns continue. . . . -Edith McDonell AE Bantams lose two games NAPANEE CHAMPIONS: Actons Home Hardware Bantam BB team were champions at a Napanee tourna- ment in December, playing four games, two of them with a well-matched Almonte team, which they beat twice. The weekend was considered a tremendous team-building event. Bantams knock out Dundas, Lincoln next On Saturday evening, the Tanners Home Hard- ware Bantam BB team completed an exciting best- of-five OMHA series with the Dundas Blues in Dun- das, chalking up a 5-1 win for a 3 games to two victory in the first round of the playdowns. The first game in Dundas saw Acton, which came out on top in their division, supposing Dundas might be an easy win. Dundas was quick to quash those thoughts with a 6-2 win. Nick Eagan and Bradley Kri scored for the Tanners with Brandyn McCarthy as- sisting on Bradleys goal. The second game, again in Dundas, was very excit- ing for the fans. This time, the Tanners were there to win and showed the Blues just what they were made of. In spite of some poor refereeing, the Tanners chalked up a commanding 6-4 win. Goals were scored by Nick Eagan, Bradley Kri (2), Steven Wolstenholme, Ryan Faber and Adam Am- ato. Assists were made by Adam Amato (4), Brandyn McCarthy, Nathan Bennett and Evan McMeekin. Joe Drexler played a great game between the pipes for the Tanners. Series tied With the series tied, the teams met in Acton on January 21 for another ex- citing game. While the two teams seemed to be very well matched, the Tanners skill prevailed over the Blues brawn as they pulled off a well earned 3-2 win. Contributing to the win were Bradley Kri with an unassisted goal and Nick Eagan with 2 goals assisted by Bradley Kri and Adam Amato. Andrew Cheese- man was kept busy in the net for Acton. Wednesday, January 24, Dundas returned for, what the Tanners had hoped would be, the final game of the series, but the Blues had a different idea. Dun- das came out to play and thwarted the efforts of the Tanners forward lines and flew past their defence. After a hard fought game, Dundas went home with a 3-2 win, tying the series at two games a piece. Goals for Acton were scored by Angelo Colavecchia and Jaimie Campbell with Brandyn McCarthy and Colavecchia drawing as- sists. Saturday, January 27, the Tanners played their final game in the first round in Dundas. Both teams came out to win but, once again, the skillful play of the Tan- ners shone through! Not wanting to play a six game, the Tanners were quick to chalk up four goals before the Blues could answer back. By then it was too late. The Tanners ran away with the game 5-1 (even with three goals called back) and took the series three games to two. Goals were scored by Jaimie Campbell, assisted by Adam Amato and Matt Kutasienski, Brandyn Mc- Carthy, assisted by Steven Wolstenholme, Nick Eagan, assisted by Brandyn Mc- Carthy and Bradley Kri, Matt Allain, assisted by Bradley Kri and Bradley Kri, unassisted. Andrew Cheeseman played a solid game in net for the Tan- ners. The Tanners moved for- ward to the second round of the playdowns, where they met Lincoln on Monday. Take first The Acton Tanners (Home Hardware) Bantam BB team ended the regu- lar season on a high note taking first place in the standings. Both George- town and Brampton teams were hot on their heels, but Acton, in their final game against Brampton, came out on top ending the sea- son with 45 points. Acton Tanners Home Hardware Bantam BB team started the second round of the OMHA playdowns Monday night against an unknown team from Lin- coln which travelled to Acton for the first game in the best of five series. The Tanners didnt take much time before they broke out to a 3-0 lead. In the third period, Lincoln tried to make a comeback with a great goal but that was the only one netminder, Joe Drexler, would allow them. With a 3-1 win under their belts, the Tanners set their sights to game two in Beamsville on Wednesday evening at 9 pm. Goals in the first game were scored by Bradley Kri with a great feed from Bran- don Braga, Evan McMeekin with help from Dayne Black and Brandon Braga and Adam Amato with his line mate Evan McMeekin set- ting up the play. BB Bantams trim Lincs in second round start FOR THE PROS: Dodging cars is always a chore but plowing Actons downtown is only for the pros. - Angela Tyler photo