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1 THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, APRIL 4,2001 PAGE B1 • » • • 1 "■ ANDREW IWANOWSKI/ Statesman photo Brent Veinstone (4) of the Orono peewees brings the puck up the onship series on Sunday. A seventh game will be needed to deice deice while teammate Doug Garlick runs a little interference on a cide the championship series this Saturday afternoon in Tlted- Thedforcl player during Game 6 of the All-Ontario D champi- ford Orono peewees miss out on chance to finish series Thedford forces seventh game in Ontario finals BY BRAD KELLY Sports Editor All -clichés aside, Orono peewee coach George Gauthier Gauthier was able to put his best-of- seven Ontario D championship championship series into proper perspective. perspective. "One team is going to walk away the winner and one is going to be the loser." Such is the scenario facing Orono and Thedford, who will play the seventh and deciding game of their provincial championship series this Saturday Saturday in Thedford after a weekend split forced a final game. With the series tied 2-2, Orono took control with a 4-1. win in Game 5 in Thedford on Friday night, and had the opportunity opportunity to clinch the championship championship with a victory on home ice Sunday afternoon in Game 6. But despite the support of the hometown fans, Orono couldn't close out the series as Thedford stayed alive with a 7-4 win to tie the series 3-3, forcing Saturday's final game. "The boys were a little overconfident and we had some defensive zone breakdowns," breakdowns," said Gauthier of the missed chance to finish the series series Sunday. The teams were tied 4-4 after two periods, but a goal by Thedford 15 seconds into the third period set the tone for the final result. ' "That (goal) took the wind out of our sails," admitted Gauthier. In Saturday's 4-1 win, Justin Caruana had a pair of goals with one each to Evan Moore and Doug Garlick. Steve Hicks, Caruana, Caruana, Moore and Garlick scored in Sunday's 7-4 loss. Looking ahead to Saturday's win- ner-take-all game in Thedford, Gauthier Gauthier is expecting his team to bounce back from the disappointing loss in Game b.-Iri fact, he believes his team Will pull out a win. "I think we can win the game," he said confidently. "We will come out ready to play. We always do when our backs are against the wall." Game time in Thedford on Saturday Saturday is 12:30 p.m. Soccer flames avoid crash and burn BY BRIAN McNAIR Staff Writer It's high time the Durham Flames start taking the word 'professional' a little more seriously. And, it seems they are. At a press conference to introduce their third season in the Canadian Professional Soccer League, the Flames showed a greater understanding understanding that stability and professionalism professionalism both on and off the pitch are keys to success. And, let's face it, both have been lacking to date. Despite some impressive strides in the first season, coach Jens Kraemer was fired midway through and replaced replaced by Stan Bombino. Bombino, who guided the team to a combined record of 3-14-3 in league and Clip play last season, was then replaced replaced this off-season by Danny Stewart, but not told about the decision until informed informed by this reporter. He deserved better. Mistakes are inevitable for a fledgling franchise, but it's lime to start learning from them. The press conference was a good start. It vvas organized and well attended, not only by soccer officials at all relevant relevant levels, but also by a number of prospective players. players. Striker Jimmy Kuzin Kuzin anovski, the CPSL's rook- ie-of-the-year last season, and goalkeeper Pieter Meule- man, who will lead Canada's under-20 squad into the World Youlh Cup this summer, summer, could be franchise cornerstones cornerstones for years to come. As such, they were appropriately appropriately featured at the head table. But the best indication things are headed in the right direction is at the top, where Stewart, assistant Robin Megraw and general manager manager Tbmmy Gill bring years of experience at the provincial and national levels. "I hope to bring to the players, staff and team professionalism," professionalism," says Gill, a 60-year-old retiree from Pickering. "I drink it's vitally important to do so... It's not going to be a Mickey Mouse operation." A former professional player in Scotland, England and the United States, Gill's primary focus of late has been developing players aged six to 10 throughout Canada. He has extensive experience scouting and managing elite teams in Ontario and Canada. Canada. "We want to put soccer- minded people in positions so they can dedicate all their effort to the team," says president president Steve Kralj. "I really believe tiris coaching staff is going to be in place longterm." longterm." One gets the sense that as long as die elder Gill is involved, involved, the Flames have turned die comer to becoming becoming a Uuly professional soccer soccer outfit. mm Annum league $40 per person (includes disc and t-shirt) • Co-ed, 19 yrs. +, recreational (no experience necessary). .• Games are in Oshawa every ' ■ Sunday night! 7pm - 8:30pm • Sign up individually or as a team • Registration: Sat. April 28th 12-Spm at Shoeless Joe's (Taunton & Simcoe) • or contact Kevin MacLeod and Dan Macmaster at kevin12@sympatlco.ca Visit our website www.durhamultimateclub.nav.to Future of girls' high school hockey looks promising after St. Stephen's, BBS reach OFSAA Bulk of players on both teams in Grades 9 and 10 BY BRAD KELLY . Sports Editor While the girls' hockey teams from Bowmanville High School and St. Stephen's Secondary Secondary School didn't return home with a medal from the OFSAA championships, both teams are already making plans to return next season. Both Clarington schools entered the provincial championships championships with relatively young line-ups, with the bulk of play ers on both teams in Grades 9 and 10. With all of the players expected back next season, both teams will be considered contenders for a medal. Even with the young roster, St. Stephen's almost advanced through to the gold medal game in Division C, losing out in the semi-finals to Sydenham 2-1. The winning goal was scored on the power play by Sydenham with 1:21 left in the game. "It was one of the best games of the tournament," said one of the coaches of the team, Phil McDonell. Sydenham went on to win the gold medal with a 3-1 vic tory over East Elgin of Aylmer in the Division C final. St. Stephen's finished in a logjam for first place in its division division after the round robin, with all four teams finishing with three points. St. Stephen's was placed first and advanced to the semis based on having a better goals for and against ratio. In the round robin, St. Stephen's beat Holy Cross of St. Catharines 4-0, tied Cardinal Cardinal Leger of Brampton 3-3 and lost to Nepean's Mother Teresa 5-4. "We had hoped to get to the See HOCKEY page 2 "AAA & A" Clarington Toros Hockey Tiyouts (held at Garnet B. Rickard Arena) for the 2001-2002 Season Minor Novice thru Minor Bantam Minor Novice 'AAA' April 08 1:00 p.m. 1.5 hrs. a Minor Atom 'AAA' April 08 4:00 p.m. 1.5 hrs. a Minor PeeWee 'AAA' April 08 7:00 p.m. 2.0 hrs. a Major Novice 'AAA' April 08 2:30 p.m. 1.5 hrs. a Major Atom 'AAA' April 08 5:30 p.m. 1.5 hrs. a Major PeeWee 'AAA' April 06 8:00 p.m. 2.0 hrs. a Minor Bantam 'AAA' April 09 8:30 p.m. 2.0 hrs. b All Rep 2000 - 2001 CMHA players must attend "AAA" tryouts "A" tryout schedules will be handed out upon "AAA" releases • Tryout Costs are $7.00/hour. • Any Questions or Concerns call Linda Steele at 623-2811 WHITBY • OSHAW 723-8507 1614 Dundas St. E., Whitby N/1! Corner ofThlckson X Dumbs STORK HOURS Moiulay-Krlday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m, to 6 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.