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Section Two The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, Wednesday, September 18, 1996 3 Eagles Eager to Get Season Underway Junior A Hockey Club Hosts Ajax on Sunday Night in Home Opener by Chris Rourke The Bowmanville Eagles are ready to soar into their sophomore season. The Eagles have picked their team and they are ready to get the Provincial Jr. A season underway, which starts on the road this Friday, September 20, in Lindsay. Bowmanville returns home on September 22 for their home opener against the Ajax Axemen. A number of special events planned for the home opener. There is a barbecue, which is sponsored by M&M Meats, that starts at 3 p.m. The players will be at the barbecue from 3-5p.m. to sign autographs and mingle with the fans. Other special events at the barbecue include: a remote broadcast from 3-8 p.m. by Magic 94.9 FM in Oshawa; and the band Prime Time will be entertaining fans in the parking lot. The team will also be having having Toro night for the home opener. Every Clarington Toro player that wears his jersey to the home opener will get into the game free. The hockey club will also be running contests and bin gos between periods, as well as a contest for kids, where they shoot baskets. The kid who sinks the most baskets will win a free pair of Toronto Toronto Raptors tickets. Eagles President and General General Manager, Mike Laing, thinks the barbecue will be a big success. "We want people to come out and meet the players and get into the home opener at a reasonable price," he said in a recent interview. "It's a good way to meet the players. I want the Bowmanville Bowmanville Eagles to be a family family thing and I want the community community involved," new Eagles head coach Guy Jacob said. Jacob is really excited about the season. "So far I'm really pleased with the chemistry of the hockey club," he told The Statesman during a practice on Thursday, September 12. "The chemistry is the biggest part of this team. When you have all the kids believing it is so contagious." Jacob said he is happy with the team's roster. "The players are willing to do whatever it takes to put the Bowmanville Eagles back on the winning tradition," he said. GM Laing said one of his missions was to bring in skill and size along with local talent. talent. "Niel Maynard (from the Kick, Pass and Run Winner OHL's Ottawa 67's) " and Brian Jones (bought from Milton) will bring size to the first two lines," Laing said. "One of the 12 forwards signed is (Bowmanville's) Ryan Jackman (brother of OHL's Guelph Storm Jason Jackman), who I think will be a popular signing. He has a lot of skill. He'll be our fourth line centre." Coach Jacob likes the look of the hockey club. "We're going to be very strong up front. We have the potential to lead the league in scoring," he said. "We have three strong lines that will score at will." Jacob said he was very impressed impressed with the character, will and maturity of new captain captain Scott Imrie. The Eagles have lowered tickets prices this year to $5 for adults, $4 for students and seniors, and $3 for kids under 13. Kids under 13 can also buy an Eagles club membership membership card, which entitles them to $1 off each home game. Coach Jacob has a very simple coaching philosophy that he uses. "We (coaching staff) emphasize emphasize being positive be- Head Coach Guy Jacob 'idWon." cause once you become negative, negative, it's like a cancer that spreads, through the dressing room," he said. The coach doesn't expect too much in the season opener opener on Friday, September 20, in Lindsay, or the home opener two days later against Ajax. "It's going to be a learning experience for both teams (in the season opener) because we both went through a rebuilding rebuilding from last year," he said. "In the home opener we're, going to concentrate on dumping the puck in and driving to the net. We know what to expect from Ajax, unless they've revamped the whole team." EAGLES INSIDE: Home games will start at 6:45p.m. this season....Jake The Eagle is the team's new mascot. He'll give a free pizza to a lucky fan throughout each home game...Doug McMillan has been hired as the new equipment manager...GM Laing Laing traded the rights to Chris Pot to Lindsay for Paul Novak...Laing Novak...Laing has trades in the works with Lindsay, Cobourg and Milton. N ♦ ROSSLAND LU o o 5 □ NOS. 55 ADELAIDE • CL HWY. 401 ©j.p. 328 Ritsdn Rd. N., Oshawa 725-4744 if busy call 725-2831 WHOLESALE & RETAIL Rustic Pine T & G Wainscot 4" 25t lin. ft. 5" 30t lin. ft. 6" 35C lin. ft. John Lovell Craig Fitz-Gerald Cl 500 Silverado Extended-Cab Short-Box Pickup The Most Dependable, Longest-Lasting Trucks. CHEVY TRUCKS Football player Rory Johnson placed first overall in the 7-8 age category at a Skills Drill competition that was held at Civic Fields in Oshawa recently. Competitors Competitors accumulated points in kick, pass, and run events. The eight-year-old, grade four student at Lord Elgin Public School will be off to SkyDome oh Saturday, October October 5, to compete in the provincial finals. Following the competition, he will watch a Toronto Argonaut football football game from a Skybox. £3* IgTi ■Ji COMMERCIAL Us for All Your CENTRE ONTARIO MOTOR SALES LTD. 140 BOND STREET W., OSHAWA 725-6501