The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Lopsided Win for T-Mac Insulation On February 20, T-Mac Insulation Insulation Old timers defeated a short- handed Brooking Transport team by a 13-0 count. Dan Wilcox made several good saves at the start of the game to preserve preserve die shutout. It took Mike Harper only 20 second second to set die tempo of this game as he took a pass from John Vcslcrs, slatted in and deposited his first of three goals right upstairs. Other goals came from John Allen Allen and Wayne Bradley with two each. Single markers went to Hack Bnlson, Gerry Snowden, Kelt Hammond, Hammond, Glen Rice, John Vcslcrs, and Phil Solomon, The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, Wednesday, February 23.1994 9 Bj^Brad JCellV- Why are Teams Forced to Play at Darlington Arena? I shudder every time I venture out to the Darlington Sports Centre. Not because of the cold temperatures that await inside, but rather because of the scheduling that forces the local OMHA teams to continue to use Bowmanville's second-string arena. Sunday night was another in a long list of games that left me shaking my head. Game seven. The ultimate in hockey excitement for fans, players, and of course, media. Nothing draws more attention then the seventh and deciding deciding game of a hockey playoff series. Especially in these parts, where this town has long carried a tradition of hockey excellence amongst the players it has produced, and the coaches coaches who oversee these gifted athletes. The teams that represent Bowmanville are looked upon as being a reflection reflection of their home town. Play well and bring home as many championships championships as local teams do each year, and a wealth of respect is earned from communities from across Ontario. The same can be said if a team is undisciplined, creating havoc both on the ice, and in the stands amongst the fans. The entire town which the team represents is painted with the same brush, good or bad. Which makes me wonder what impression people have of this fine town each time they visit and have to sit through a hockey game at the Darlington Sports Centre. The best solution would be to go back in time and chastise the people responsible for allowing an arena to be built at such an out-of-the-way location. location. How can they not be embarrassed by their decision? Rehashing bad decisions that the rest of us are left to live with would accomplish nothing. Instead, we are left to make the best of what we have. There is no comparison. The best is the Recreation Complex. Which makes me wonder why our best hockey players from the Bowmanville Bowmanville Minor Hockey Association are left each year to represent our town in a sub-par facility? There are excuses made each year as to why home games as well as the majority of playoff games are played each year at Darlington. That, too often, is the easy way to solve a problem. , Enough time has elapsed over the years that a workable solution could have been derived to allow teams equal access to play in the best arena available. What we need are some results, without excuses. Not only would the opportunity to play games at the Recreation Complex Complex appease players and fans, but think of the impression it would leave with out-of-town visitors. How much longer can we keep the Recreation Complex a secret? Outside Outside of the Checkers Christmas Classic tournament, the only time all-star teams can gain entry into this area's best facility is if they pay an admission admission price at the box office. That is a shame. In many towns, the Darlington arena would be welcomed with open arms. Areas who are struggling financially, would gladly accept an arena like Darlington's. But here, where over six million dollars was raised and poured into the Recreation Complex, the Darlington arena is nothing more than a practice facility. It's not the first time the issue has been brought up, and it quite likely won't be the last. As the hockey season draws to a conclusion, and teams begin to jockey jockey for ice time for next year, it would be a welcomed change to have each hockey association, from minor age to men's league, allotted equal hours at the Recreation Complex. A mistake was made by building the Darlington arena where it currently currently stands. Let's stop making the mistake of forcing particular teams to use it year after year. *- ' j Minor Novice Toros Waiting For Next Playoff Opponent Local Referee Off to World Championships Since that time, he has worked his way through the National Referees' Referees' Certification Program, attaining a Level 6, which is the highest available available in amateur hockey. Those lofty credentials contributed contributed to his selection for the World B Championship Tournament. And much will be expected of Houston upon his arrival in Denmark. Denmark. European officials have a longstanding reputation as being inadequate inadequate at calling international games. "The North American referee is considered the elite official," said Houston. "The Europeans have always always got a bad rap. But, they are trying and getting better. "We are used to tiie North Amer ican style of hockey and the Europeans Europeans are used to what they've got The European refs who are sent to International competitions are the best they've got" Comfortably settled in his Newcastle Newcastle home, Houston still spends many evenings refereeing OHA games. Combined with his shift work with the Regional Police, there aren't many nights he gets to spend at home with his.three daughters. Which, he says, is something he may have to rectify. "It's getting harder to walk out the door every night," he admits. But, the World Championships offer an opportunity that he just couldn't reject. It may open the door to something even bigger in the coming years. The Minor Novice Toros have been very busy as they have been waiting to continue their OMHA playoffs. The baby bulls encountered encountered a tough battle with the Orono minor/major Select team, and survived survived with a 2-0 win. Ajax Knights, who were defeated in the first round by the Toros, were granted another kick at the can and were shut out by the bulls 4-0. Nostalgia set in for their next game as the;bulls were invited to Cobourg for a game. Many parents reminisced of the old days when Bowmanville and Cobourg were arch rivals, playing in the old rinks. Cobourg's old arena was the site of a very exciting, action-packed game between the minor/major Novice Selects. With a 2-1 loss fresh in the memory memory of the Toros from their last encounter, encounter, the bulls came out strong, opening the scoring in the first. The Cougars battled back, tying the game in the second, and taking the lead 3-2 late in the third. The Toros' coaching staff pulled the goalie with 37 seconds remaining and were rewarded rewarded with the tying goal, scored with only seven seconds remaining. This week will find the Toros playing Pickering, as they beat Whitby. The Panthers have been a toiigh battle all year for the baby bulls, as they seem to have their number. This will only create some very close, exciting hockey for all the spectators. We wish you all the best in your next round, and hope we have some positive scores to report report next week. by Brad.Kelly Encased in a glass-top table on the top floor of his Newcastle home is a wide assortment of pucks containing containing the logos of hockey teams that Jim Houston has refereed over his career. Across the room, hanging proudly proudly on the wall, are enlarged photographs photographs that serve as a reminder of the days when he toiled as an NHL linesman. "The players knew how hard you worked to get there, which was just as hard as they did, so they gave you the respect you earned for being there." Former NHL Linesman Jim Houston At the conclusion of his next assignment assignment in April, the impressive collection is expected to grow. Houston has been selected to referee referee at the upcoming World Senior 'B' Pool Hockey Championships that will be held in Copenhagen, Denmark, from April 5-17. It is the first step in what he hopes will be a progression that will one day lead to officiating games at the 'A' Pool World Championships, and perhaps, even an assignment at the Winter Olympics. "That would be nice," he said of the best-case scenario. Though this marks the first time he has been selected to work games at a World Championship, Houston does have a great deal of experience at the international level. As recently as November of 1993, he refereed a pre-Olympic exhibition exhibition game in Kitchener between Canada and the United Sates. It was the second time in his career that he had officiated in a game between the two. countries. He has also worked a pair of games between Canada and Russia. In December of last year, he was selected to work the game between the OHL all-stars and the Canadian World Junior team that ended in a 3- 3 tie. Only three minor penalties, were called. It was this type of experience that led national supervisors to select Houston to represent Canada in Denmark. •. Though .'his knowledge : .oL-thi?< rules of international hockey is simp, fresh in his mind, he admitted to having to refresh his memory before April. "I imagine all the way over, on the plane I'll be reading (the rules)," he said with a laugh. The Denmark assignment is the culmination of 20 years of experience experience for Houston. Starting at the age of 12 with four of his friends, his first games as a referee came in a church league in Oshawa. Of the four who started together, Former NHL linesman Jim Houston is shown above trying to intervene during a gathering of players he is the only one still refereeing. from a Quebec Nordiques and Pittsburgh Penguins game in the 1984-85 season. The Newcastle resident By the time he turned 16, he was was recently selected to referee at the upcoming World Sr. B Pool hockey championships being held in working games in the OHA, and Copenhagen, Denmark, in April. The assignment is a culmination of 20 years'experience as a referee. two years later, was a linesman at the Major Jr. A level. He then made his way to the American Hockey League, and in 1984-85, spent a month in the NHL covering for injured injured officials. Following that season, he was given a one-year contract by the NHL, but opted for the security that a position with the Durham Regional Regional Police offered. He still looks back on those days in the NHL fondly. "The players knew how hard you worked to get there, which was just as hard as they did, so they gave you the respect you earned for being there," he said of the relationship between NHL officials and players. One particular show of respect that sticks vividly in his mind was a game he worked between Pittsburgh and Calgary. Both teams cleared the benches at the end of the first period and became involved in a melee. Houston recalls looking at Calgary Calgary captain Lanny McDonald and telling him to take his team off the ice. "All of a sudden (Lanny) turned around and said *OK boys, let's go.' I just about dropped dead." "The North American referee referee is considered the elite official. The Europeans have always got a bad rap. But they are trying and getting getting better." He returned to professional hockey hockey in 1987-88 under the referee trainee program in the AHL. But, the travel and time commitment took its toll. A typical weekend included games in Kingston on Friday, Utica, NY, on Saturday, Rochester, NY, on Sunday, and then in Windsor on Monday. Among Jim Houston's many refereeing assignments was the 1991 Centennial Cup Tier II Championships that were held in Sudbury. «r 2 GREAT PIZZAS, 1 LOW PRICE 2 Pizzas (small) 2 toppings Additional toppings $1.09 each lor both pizzas." ALWAYS GREAT VALUE 2 PIZZAS... 1 LOW PRICE 2 EXTRA $8 *10 *12 29 large PIZZAS 79 2 MEDIUM PIZZAS 99 2 LARGE PIZZAS 2 SMALL 19 PIZZAS V Additional loppings $1.09 oach lor both pizza». Ate MiU)i4 h DM Ccka Uml one $1.49 4 pick * 7i e,i;h order ever $0 No Pu/J Pun rouponiMhCokaSNKMlpteM Eflch4nick$l 49pMUies Offer wp.ro* March 4, to<w "TiiMMtn Nocotxxnsw4hH»fMrtilNe.iN» Available at rort<ixilraPlU4Pura " Trues wvi No coupent win im rpeehlplea* Aval*H al [>irt< ixiing Pun Pu:» kxitkni unit March 4.19W NeCftfWM r»iw CN Ihtt HUM HI IW Hxut MM Additional toppings $1,29" oach lor bothpiim. AdUilional loppingi S1.59 oach lor bolh pi»,u. Additional topping» St.60 each lor bolh pin.it. 30 MINUTES 0B FREE OPEN DAILY FOR LUNCH FROM 11 AH 200 King Street E Bowmanville IhàJOàmyhtmmfmb HOWS WVMII-]-* Ttwi'H !!•)«•