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Return teams in expanded Junior B loop The Central Junior B Lea pie has expanded to teams or the l7S7 hockey season In spite of a unanimous protest by league reps la it that Barrie Oak Ridges and Thornhlll should not be allowed Into the league The four new teams were left without a group to play in when Owen Sound the filth team In last years MidOntario League was transferred to the Midwestern League The new season opens Tuesday September with Georgetown playing at Oak Ridges Teams will play a game schedule This week Dills Publishing newspapers have pooled their efforts to present a preview of each of the tea mi Sports editors combining on the annual preseason look at Junior clubs are Denis Gibbons of The Independent Georgetown Peter McCusker of The Milton Canadian Champion and Robin Inscoeof The Acton Free Press Barrie Colts Group champions of the nowdefunct MldOnlario League Barne Colts have lost nine players to overage and college teams but expect to be Just as strong as they were last season nevertheless Colts finished second in regular season play won the group lltle but were shipped four straight In the OHA quarter finals by the eventual champs Stratford Key losses are last years team scoring leader Eric Cummings who will play at the University or Guelph and Brad McDonald a brilliant student who has been to Waterloos University at the age of First goalie Bob Toffan went overage and will play at Lake Superior State College in Michigan but Colls have their second and netminders back again Colts will rely heavily on the experience of former Niagara Falls Flyer Hick Bowman and Eric Guest who is back in after attending the training camp of the Major Junior A Brentford Alexanders Bowman left the Flyers to come to through last season The club is coached by Howie Forbes a former Senior A player with the Barrie Flyers and this year will have the advantage of a womans point of view Carol Jer- mey who has worked her way up through the minor hockey system takes over as manager If they get in trouble Colts can always call up top quality midgets and juveniles The minor hockey Association is reputed to be one of the strongest In the province and has consistently produced champions Colt colors are the same as those worn by the Georgetown Gemini green gold and white Georgetown Geminis After the Gems finished sixth last year and were shipped four straight in the group semi finals by Streetsville manager Bob Tost said he was convinced the team would need a full complement of seven imports In order to become a serious for group honors this year but two players on last year s roster were homebrews Yet after a half dozen training camp sessions the Gemini have not signed a single experienced import Good Imports are either scarce or cost money and Tost now says the club will have to wait and see whats left when the Junior A teams made their training camp cuts On the positive side 15 year old Lance just of bantam has sparkled in exhibition games and signed with the Gems passing up an offer from the Toronto Marlboro midgets Also inked the clubs first two preseason contests a loss to the Tier Junior A Royal York Royals and a win over the same team were holdovers Marty Power who was drafted by the Niagara Falls Flyers Bob McCandless and Bob Allison Georgetown juvenile Steve and Mike McMenemy and Greg Thompson up from Georgetown midgets Ron Dixon returning for his second year as Gemini coach used five goalies In the games holdovers Brad Miller and Tost Steve Garry from Dundas Juveniles and John and Mark Winner from Brampton Forwards Paul Ancinelll and Paul Martin both of whom have two years Junior 8 experience are in camp with Mark a draftee and John rated a good chance to make the club as rookies Centre Tim Turner defenccman Mark and goalie Bill Humphries who ail saw action with the Gems last year trying out with Junior A clubs at press lime Humphries was drafted by Toronto Marlboros Gems will miss Doug Barnes who scored over 100 goals In three seasons of Junior B play centre Chris Milne and BUI Allison Blake Short ill and Paul Allison Gemini executives feel much more comfortable now that S McLaughlin Associates have taken the club That may have a positive psychological effect on the teams performance on the ice Orillia Travelways Although only five players are returning from last years team which finished fourth In a five team group manager Don Dale promises the Travelways will be ready for action when their Central Junior B season opens in Milton Friday September Bill Cartmill begins his 13th consecutive year coaching Junior hockey in the Orillia Barrie area minus five players who went overage and several others who will play college hockey Using a team of midgets and juveniles none of whom have Junior B experience Orillia posted an victory over the Henry Carr Crusaders Secondary School team from Toronto in their first exhibition outing Crusaders won the Metro Toronto high school championship last season had five more exhibition games planned Inn short five day period In places like Grimsby Kitchener and to test his prospects Dale says he expects the Travelways to be Improved this season and that hell bring in as many imports as necessary to make the team competitive So far the only two players reasonably assured of positions arc year old right winger Bruce McDonough who ranked fifth among MidOntario Junior B scorers last backup goalie Some prospects are still at Junior A camps however Dale claims that Orillia with a population of only and more or less Isolated from highly populated bordering areas has less drawing power for players than any team in the league with the exception of Acton What be didnt say is that the midget and Juvenile clubs which Travelways will be relying on for replacements for their have been doing quite well in the past two years During that period has won an OMHA Minor Midget championship and had a finalist in each of the major midget and juvenile categories colors are blue and white Oak Ridge Dynes Fans who havent hear of Oak Ridges shouldnt bother themselves about that Bill Woloski general manager of the Dynes reports his club is actually an aggregation of Rich- MILTON FLYERS Hap Perrott attempts to make a stop on Streetsville attackers in game three of the CentralJr B League finals last season Flyer Rob Frame mond Hill players playing out Oak Ridges and everybody in the Peel Halton area is well aware of the hockey tradition in The Hill Junior A dub but haven big recruiting advantage as Dixie and do because they re situated within the boundaries of Metro Toronto according to OHA regulations That means they have the privilege of picking up players from the minor systems of Metro teams not affiliated with Junior clubs and registering them as homebrews Last year Oak Ridges finished first In the Mid Onto no Junior League before losing to In seven games in the group final Woloski reports least two thirds of this years team will be new Six players arc gone because they arc either overage or have accepted college scholarships and another half dozen arc still floating around Junior A camps waiting for their releases from the Dynes Dynes will especially miss Steve Sherman who has left to at Lake Superior State College Sherman was the Mid Ontario group scoring champion two seasons ago and was nosed out last year by teammate Brant Dobson Dobson however Is returning even though he was drafted by the Major Junior A Brantford Other reliable returnees are Blair Lewis David Baker and Cam Res ton who was with the team when they won the Ontario Winter Games silver medal In the season Goalie David drafted by Cornwall Royals of the Quebec Major Junior A League has just relumed to the Dynes camp coaches the Dynes and Hal Murphy is manager Both arc natives of Saskatchewan In exhibition play so far Oak Ridges has beaten Toronto Red Wings and but also lost A3 to Etobicoke Team colors arc green and white Oakville Blades The key for Oakville Blades this year will be experience and size Traditionally a physically small club the Blades will be commanding some respect along the boards this season they picked players that wilt add muscle to their style Eric Smith is returning to his third season behind the bench and has former Blade Ray Chisholm fresh from the University of Minnesota backing him up Blades only lost three players Ventresca Doug Taylor and Sum overage Todd Inouye Shane Payette and Willie will be back for their fourth seasons with the club and Ihcir top scorer In 1977 Frank Co ma vote is back Murray Walker manager said the Blades wont be changing their style of hockey because theyve added size to the team He stressed they wouldnt be going with meat balls or goons but that they may be a little more physically aggressive in their game The Blades were eliminated from the Central League semi finals last year by the Milton Flyers after Milton them at the blue line and in fronl of their own net Burlington Cougars Every game from the season opener will be of great porta nee to the Burlington Cougars Hockey Club as they have set their sights on first or second place In league by Nov 7 The reaion Is they want to enter the qualifying round of Ihe Ontario games Cougars have their top scorer Mike Carr their top Jim Cochran and goal tender Mitch Lovelock back with the I97fl79 squad Team manager Mike McCauley said the team has an ex mixture of returning players and young talent in a balanced offense and defence The earn Is physically larger than In the past and Bob Is taking the reins for the second has assistant coach Bob Ward back for another year and Don Ames from the Burlington midget reps working with Cougars opened camp with hopefuls and have cut the roster to but as of Monday no one was According to McCauley they have quite a few midgets worth mention and said they have impressed both the coach and himself with heir abilities Cougars will stick with their local players unless on import can display exceptional came in to make the check but Flyers fell to four straight for the second consecutive year promise Cougars were dropped in the first round of playoffs last season by the Milton Flyers Missing from camp so far are Todd Pearson who is at Toronto Marlboroughs camp Dave with Peter borough Petes Art Joyce with Hamilton As tier two Jr A Kent Wagner with North York Rangers Kevin Char- who in college hockey and Hal Montford who has not reported to camp but was seeking a baseball scholarship There have been players return from last years squad Streetsville Derbys Two time league champions the Streetsville Derbys promise to be bruisers again Combining fast skating curate passing and more muscle than any other Jr B team In the league the Derbys promise to deliver the same punch as previous seasons Tom Barrett will be starting his loth year behind the kennel unleashing Jim Bayington Snarr Steve Blair Leo Smith and Al Vitonas the opposition A bright young prospect at the Derby camp 13 Jim who had just finished two years with Kingston Canadians He was drafted by St Louis Blues of the NHL but doesnt want to play pro hockey In North America just yet Derbys have a pair of 16 yearolds In Fred truck of Sudbury and Drew Goreau of Deep River both will probably be drafted into major A clubs next year Nine last years team have split the scene as Jim Baker Bill Randy Strong Paul Bates Rob Morrison and Hike Prestldge are off playing college hockey and Mo Mantha Is at Toronto camp Shawn Doherty is In Niagara Falls and Rick La I err is working with the Petes of Peterborough Russell Evans said there were 11 eligible to return and pretty well all arc back in town Their first exhibition Is scheduled for Sept when they host Oak Ridges a Central League expansion club at tree lies Vic Johnson Memorial Arena at p Milton Flyers Will Milton Flyers be able to handle the Streetsville Derbys this year For the past two seasons both clubs battled their way to the Central Jr B league finals and doused Flyers flames four games straight both years Coach Gerry has moved the Georgetown In A Raiders and Flyers selected Doug Peters to handle the young Flyer club Peters had led the Burlington Mohawks to a pair of Central League titles and guided the Sheridan College Bruins to one Ontario championship two Ontario finals and the Canadian College Finals once Flyers have signed a dozen already with Todd Shepherd young defenceman Mike Murray Brett Patlerson Dave Turner sharpshooter Paul steady Rod Gooding hustling forward Brian Gordon Marty Vcnncr Tom Norm and Imports J of Burlington and Mike Katapaka of Streetsville Flyers have had a successful exhibition schedule to dale they edged tier two Jr A Royal York Rangers tied defeated Thornhlll and lied the Toronto Red Wings two Jr A club They host Hesplor Shamrocks Friday at Milton Arena Flyers will be without team leader Ron who fell to the age limit with Rob Frame Pierre Piloto and Brent Murray Paul Martin has gone bock to Georgetown Gem in Is Ivo was put out of the running for a while after he suffered a separated shoulder in an exhibition game Acton Sabres Acton Sabres have completed two seasons In the ranks of Junior B hockey Over that period of time Acton has won only seven games In tries Last season the Sabres won four and tied two for a lowly 10 points The Sabres will head into the season with a new coach their third in three years Fred Buchanan Is looking for a season from his club He feels the teams problem is still on defence The only returnee at that position will be John Sabres lost the services of the leagues scoring champion of two seasons ago Dave Chapman The only other Sabre to go overage was Doug Elliott who will remain with the team as assistant manager and scout Brad Buchanan from last years club is still with the Platers but has not signed Coach Buchanan is very pleased with the forwards he has In camp He feels that If the Sabres shots against are cut down to around 30 shots a game the forward will pot enough goals to win hockey games Returnees to the Sabres camp include wingers Kelly who played last year as a minor midget Wade Vickery Art and David who has Just relumed from A camps At centre Mark Schinkcl Is back for another try and Jeff Shields who spent last season with the Acton Juveniles will be with the B squad Scott Malcolm is expected in camp after giving it a try with Junior A clubs Jamie Ryan and Glenn Murray who toiled last season for the Junior C Stonecrushers have looked good on defence and have had junior experience Bob Denis and Kelly Shaw are rookies who will likely be with the clubat that position Sabres have signed forward Neil Anderson and goal tender Rob Brenner also from folded at the end of last season In preseason play Acton downed Port Colborne Junior Bs but fell to the London Diamonds 74 Acton will have a relatively young club and with hard work and determination they feel they could win a few games Brampton Logans Chevy Brampton finished last season with a points four points behind Georgetown for the last playoff spots Jack Mc Leila will start his first season behind the Logans Chevy bench McLellan replaced Eric Wilson behind the bench part way through last season Lloyd Vaughn coach of last seasons Blues will assist along with Gar Vasey coach of the Caledon Junior C Flyers two season ago Bill Held who is associated with the London Junior A Knights will look after the managers duties The only Chevy to go overage at the end of last season was John van Bllson Neil Jameson Eddy Howell and Cam Stew art will concentrate on university studies and Dave M has signed on with Aurora of the Provincial Junior A league The main loss to the Chevy team may be Paul Cook Cook one of the top ten scorers in the league has retired one year early Team officials according to Bill arc talking with Paul about returning Goal tenders Ken Martindale and Bill Held are attempting to make the squad for another year Randy Hunt Jim Roberts Dave Lowcock Dan McDonald Mike Bricks Gord Howe no relation Paul Rypka and Rob Campbell are all expected lo return to the club Coach said John Grey and Tom from Alllslon Junior C Hornets and Jim Can te Ion from Bolton look Impressive Brampton Is likely to go with a young team said McLellan He believes that a player whether bantam or midget should play to their ability He feels a must be prepared to lose a few games to inexperience if they intend to produce in the future Brampton is not looking for any miracles this year cording to The team Is hoping to get some credibility using as many local boys as they can The Chevy s open their exhibition season September against Dixie Dixie Beehives Dixie Beehives were a bit of a surprise second place finisher last season They finished points behind the powerful Derbys and points ahead of third place Burlington It was to have been a rebuilding year Dixie B are a farm team for the Tier Junior A squad and according to manager Bill it causes some confusion at presoason camp The Bs In most cases get the A cuts which leaves their lineup unbalanced until the Provncial junior season begins Dixie didnt lose any players to overage after last season but the As have inked Randy Dupre Gord Mlchaurd Mark Duck and Dave Dwycr The leagues rookie of the year and of the most valuable player Steve Cruikshank will not be back has accepted a scholarship at University Dave Hannifin and Rob Spsth have inked from last years squad and Neil Jerry Tim Peters Mike Palmer and goaltendcr Orst are expected back Coach Watson and manager will again be with the club The Beehives have signed Dave Scott and Chris from the Metro Black Hawks midgets last years Metro plons Also inked is Kelly Curtis Curtis played last season with the Burnoby Blazers of the Junior B league in British Columbia Manager said size will be the biggest change in Dixie team this year Last season according to Mahon the team was on the small size and got pushed around in the comers This season the Beehives will have a size advantage The Beehives topped Bramalea in their first exhibition game by a count Thornhill Thunderbirds Thunderbirds are one of the new teams in the league this season The Thunderbirds according to manager Ron Knight did not fair too well last season against teams from Barrie and Owen Sound losing out in the first round of the playoffs This season the will have a young team Last seasons minor midget AllOntario champions will be the basis for this years squad McKnight feels the team has an excellent in minor midget John Morris Other second year midgets expected in the line up include Kurt Pearson Rick Rob Bagg Todd Dan Anderson Steve MalletC Paul and Mark Wiltshire The players however wont be the only rookies in the line up Coach Al Morris and manager move up with the team from the minor midgets Morris Is National Coaches Certification Program Level Five coach The will have five or six returnees Including Mark Steele Rob Browning and forwards Bruce Bob Hun Jamie Kennedy Is looking forward to the new season and meeting players and teams they havent faced before In exhibition play Ihe met the Milton Flyers losing 73 They have exhibition games lined up with Markam Etoblcoke North York and Milton Morris is a systems coach said McKnight Expect their team to play good fast positional systems hockey and one thing they believe Isyou cant win games in the penally box will be one of the easiest teams in the league to identify this year With the expected young age most players will be used to wearing the mandatary of minor hockey so the entire squad will wear the mask