The Acton Free Press Wed February I 1976 Sabres cool almost won by Eric What impressed me most about the Sabres who bused the miles north to Friday for the final game of the regular season was their composure They had to win As far as the players who gathered at the community centre were con cerned this was a must game Charlie the soft spoken captain of the team said that Meaford and Acton were tied with points each because the Monarchs had upset fifth place Orangeville earlier in the week also had a game in hand over Acton an extra chance to leave the Sabres at the bottom of the OHA Junior C Standings The team would be shorthanded for the game Coach Craig Weldon and manager Bill Campbell spent about an hour or so trying to reach players by phone Eleven of a possible 14 the number at other games made the trip for what would be the third game in three nights Five resting In the program list of players sold at the Meaford arena the Sabres were credited with 16 men In the game five men on the ice plus Robin Inscoe in goal whose name is spelled incor rectly in the program left five skaters resting on the bench These Sabres besides the ones mentioned elsewhere played in the game Steve Buchanan Andy Alf Behrens Steve Taylor Don Richard and Kevin As the players waited to see who else might make the game former Milton Flyer Dave Chapman got his skates sharpened at the arena There was extra pressure on at least one player To say that a persons future depends on how well he performs for 60 minutes on two thin steel blades is an overstatement College scouts Tnere were however college hockey scouts at the game Perry Caputo was the most visibly bothered player but only off the ice He was talking about it even when the bus stopped in Colhngwood for a l a m snack on the return trip The men from Cornell University in Ithaca New York and in Schenectady in the same state also came to see McCrae who scored four goals and Chapman who played a solid defence and assisted on a goal The other Sabres and the Monarchs were probably evaluated too If there was a pep talk to the players coach Weldon didnt give the pitch on the ride up The players instead talked about their girl friends slept and played euchre Coach Weldon may havegiven the players a spiel in the dressing room prior to stepping on the ice but I missed it if he did The bus we were on and a car collided near the arena and I stopped to take pictures Just some paint was scraped off On the ice the players for the most part retained their composure For example when their legs must have been feeling the previous eight periods of play the most in the third me the Sabres did not cave in after the took a two goal lead They refused to panic they came back McCrae s second third and fourth markers of the night gave the team a one goal edge by the mid point of the third period Resting on the bench Holmes who assisted on three of McCraes goals and who was often around the net looking for a loose puck marred his performance by picking up late third period penalties The Monarchs took advantage of the situation and were lucky to beat whose tacking and grabbing of pucks kept the Sabres within distance He handled 33 shots The final score was a five all draw On the trip south the team was quieter than on the run north They were of course tired The weather flowing snow and very bad driving conditions may have had something to do with it Regardless of the tie the Sabres are in the playoffs hopefully in the finals if they can get by Alhston How are the Sabres and in the play offs It seems to have been decided after their last game of the regular season Bracebndge beat in the last seasonal game The Junior C team officials met in Barne on he weekend and decided the two bottom teams were in If the Sabres are able to keep their com posure their cool as they did in Meaford and play to win with a full team they have a good chance to take Alliston in seven Legion town league tallies SABRE STEVE TAYLOR and goalie Gary Villon watch the puck bulge the Monarchs net in Meaford The second period goal fired by Alf Behrens briefly tied the game for the visi tors at 2 2 Friday In the final frame the Sabres pulled ahead of the 54 on one of Charlie McRaes four goals came back with its fifth goal with less than four minutes to play The Sabres open their playoff action against Alliston there tonight Weston edged McPherson pulled the Dixie 1 by scoring trigger once for the winning first third periods goal from Robert Allen and David opened scoring from Jamie Richmond and Scoll Peter slipped by Cleveland 3 on added the Ted Windmoller third winning goal in the final period winning goal after frame from Jason David Brown scored three and Steve Campbell consecutive times for the Shawn set up Peter winners Fred Kappert for Dixie sole assisted on one of Browns marker in the second period markers Heath Norton led Brampton Tom Shannon fired a goal In ton to 1 victory over of first two periods a haltnck for Cleveland Scott Page Jim also scored assisted on the first and Ed tor from Steve Allen on the second Dave Allen and Kevin Sandy banged in the McLaren combined to set up sole goal for Royal City j Hunters third period learn goal to round out Cleveland Ten were output scored in the game between Ball and St Kills with more coming out on top of u dud first two periods Tom notched the only marker for Balti more on a play from Rob Chris lead to the goats one issist Clayton right behind hi Hi a a Sabres in playoffs tonight The Sabres open best of seven game OHA playoff les in Alliston against Hornets tonight is the top place in the Junior C loop Brad ford and Men ford are playing a homeand home round robin plus a Iwo- of three series be tween the winners of the round robin games Sabre manager Bill Campbell said the winner will play in the finals The playoff were decided between Junior C loop teams at a meeting Saturday in In the first game of the round robin series between Bradford the Blues soundly defeated the Stone Crushers In closing games of the regular season the Sabres played three games in as many nights They returned from early morning with a tic from late Friday night Acton in in other road game Thursday after the Sabres were edged by Bradford here day Four goals The four goal output from Sabre captain Charlie forced the into a tome from behind tit with the visitors Friday Ap proximately 300 fins watched the game third period was the The Sibres entered it trailing Mtllae started previous scoring from Steve and Behrens himself soon scored late in the set oral frame from Andre cry in tin final frame Meaford made il sou t Ire straight goals put the Sibres into a lead mid through period Tcrr Moochu Holme- who figured in three of Me s goals took gross mis conduct penally late in the and 40 to pulled goalie Itobm who fated shots ith 40 seconds to pi but to score with the extra ill Don and Dave also recorded is in the Me iford game Three times took a one goal lead otcr Brad ford and three limes the Blues tad tht night game and thin the third period a tors grabbed a goal lead just seconds lying the game in Ihe second period The list two goals just sec ipirt took steam out of them said Blues man Bruit after tin Mm Up until the mid point or tht second frame it looked the would tnki match but refus to illow goals after the 1 point 1J hi Chapman tin Sabres in early first ptriod lead on a play started by George Irenes who If of look the penaltv stored it the mark of the sitotxl frame from ndre and Brad I mistime off scoring for the was Don Richard from newcomer Steve Buchanan and Perry Bradford captain Ted winning goal for ihe Blues after Scott Mai lory in a single Bill fired two Stvcn pa goals marked the penalty filled SabreCougar Thurs Sabres capitalized on four to score in the second power play opportunities frame with Charlie notching The offence a pair one George led by Edwards Chapman singles from Bob Shropshire and Dive from and Don Richard teammate Randy Jamie laras and Nick registered on scon sheet for Brian up assists I ml Vtrmiiclen figured in all thru St Kills goals with pair an assist Chris also scored and got assists for St Kills Rod Whiterley set up a pair of goals one by Dana Taras and the second by Tom John Semcnec opened the scoring for Rochester Tidewater took a 1 Springfield Bill fired pair of goals one unassisted and from Paul Hudson Brian Holmes opened the scoring in the first Caput goal Steve Buchanan got his first goal as a Sabre on a gar penalty m the first period who assisted on Buchanan Alderman Monty Ponton Doug Westovcr Rick Archi bald and Ron Smith 1ondon Cord period Simon Ager got the staltd the door on winner from Danny Wanes all storing by Ken got the only for a win or Springfield whin Ca gars were short banded With it equal strength in the first frame Chapman fired one home from Artem play from and April meeting Sword president red Buchanan sas a melting for the election of 1J7G 77 executive will be held in Swords passing act colors Harris ton blue disc lien put the Swords ahead lo with the first of his three goals at the 7 17 mark of the opening period looked would run after storing three quick ones but ended the first trailing Swords Minor atoms win and lose in OMHA play Swords setconditions for training players lln in mint split tin lusiiiL first Hamuli Kit bird 1 in mi prrtnd Huh si up in in or first nod mid piring for Ihe Club prism Buthinanouthnti plan for stall mt Mr Both in in 10 ith Don ith link up t The teams each a first four minutes of second frame before f irLii straight ith the fi visitors quite recovered Gary Turkosz like Doell thehattrick Dele isher got a pair of goals and three Bill Fields nail down a goal and a pair of as did Dan Arbic registered a point in each column Fred Buchanan led in the assist department with four Captain Brian collected a pair and Ted had a single Weber led the nnrksmen with three goats Mock had a pair and singles off the sticks of Newman and Clunas The Swords still finish out of the phjoffs Intermediate C victory but the team has a pair of games left to is slated St Valentines Day and may piny host to Swords in a make up First 4town snooker In pi ik condition this ml Iruri may start in lee would begin Ming mouth Mr ill ii will ipplv t in the lintiK Zamboni zips over Acton ice Sheehan searches for ice time 111 Simon and im Gall of Milton swept tin fin lis of the first town Milton mil ikulk Snooker 1 t doubles at tin Acton I imil Billiards tin weekend Tin winners first dispatch Georgetown nam S will tin AIHL final standings Van s Hellers Station Blow Press 11 Kensmen 11 compost of It 11 t irrnr inc Ron in tin sum in tun took 1 mil win in pur In dpi smelts ill i lurk Shippard off with tin first r in two siruUn gunts Mr 1 it Id lln ihe it of hi pitk this 1 up three points for mil of 10 Mil 11 1 for 1 Georgetown Mill SO l111Ltr 1 1 from no ill Tin surf 1 in Mi Tin Mum IS jimiir heals broke second pi lit with tin Sabrts adding lo points to then loin I and leuini tin blade people it 1H lilt Pool 1 sharks pit with 17 points while the Wizards id l to 15 and climbed to the 14 point m irk It ft for inns plers itlcndui two gums or Itss three pi itd li or Itss ind four injuries whitli knotktd out for Hit 1- in lib Mr In nun the clubs 1 for stipjxirt it from tin is out of Georgetown war old art ni last week nil dosing me iron 1 on John Strut his promptt tl 1 search for ilttrnalivt facilities and tin the to Acton Alton old picked up the noon Hi said tht machine will be used on tin centre s ice until the end of the yenr to try it we done litre Mr said Hit mam reason for bring tin it is to ml now ilos of the two m saint limit I ibom sli tin in link is said Pat Shi than supervisor of that lit is looking for of ice time hi search for in surfaces Mr Slice Inn he his mil per ten ition Hi en were made at the to sec if is limi Minor groups start their at Gordon Memorial Arena at i in consequence touches figure skaters Their ice time start an hour earlier than usual and their season be extended Mr Sheehan said Mr Sheehan said the use of open air rinks would put a solution lo the search for no further ahead book open because their use depends on the weather Mr said Major split games I he 11 ell itor to for an exhibition lornimenl and returned with a split Hit WaterlooWellington league team trounced J 1 in a morning game but proved toomuchwithaOO winman AIHL playoffs starting Vans and Hellers take a bye ThcActonlndustrlalHockcyl playoffs start Sunday night with the two first place teams Van Welding and Hellers getting a bye until the winners of the first series emerge Blow Press will play Kensmen will play Station Each team will play two games with the squad scoring the most goals the winner Sunday nigh results increased the point totals Tor some teams but the standings remained the same Ken and Station settled for a five all draw Van skated to a victory over Blow Press and Hellers Lake- view 5 Ken marksmen took a first period three to one lead on Pete Morrison first of two goals and singles from Eric Stone and Bill Coon Stations Hon Schmidt fired the only first frame marker Kens added a goal In the second period by Jack Gudgeon who also got a pair of assists and Morrison tying goal with one second to play In the game Other Station scorers wet Ron Mellon and John Mason with a of goals Van Welding tripled the score on Blow Press in a 3 duel The score after minutes of play was 1 but Van added four goals in the second and third periods Bruce Cookslcy led the Van sharpshooters with a td pooped Inn pair as did Andy Berry Cyril notched a goal each Fred Buchanan In Ihe assist department with two Irwin fired the Press s first goal Ken Owen the second and Larry the final marker Heller scoring was confined to the first and third periods but it was enough to hand Lakeview a defeat Jim McDonald and George McPhall each fired a first period goal Alan Hall Gary Lewis and Jeff put the game away with markers In the final minutes John Kavanagh collected two assists MacPherson replied twice for A BRADFORD BLUES player puts the arm on a Sabre during the OHA game here last Wednes afternoon match Brent Vickery broke a lie on a third period goal from Mike Monahan and Mark Duval An unassisted goal by Gary Lumbers put the game on ice for the visiting team Acton had token a first per 10 lead on Paul Camp bell s goal on a play that irtv Rob Vcrmculen and Mike Strong Team coach Barry said thai was a good one and that the players played excellently Cagers split pair The Cagers split with Perdue during regular season school basketball play Thursday The midget squad edged the visitors 5049 In the game but the Juniors went 1117 lofcnt