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THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, DECEMBER 19,2001 PAGE B1 CANADIAN STATES MA N DEC. I 9 . 2 0 01 Brian McNair Staff Writer hmcmiira ilurluinirv^ion. coin Whitby i minor hockey chums out ' three national players Wlial a weekend for Whitby. In wlial might become old hat if it wasn't such a significant accomplishment accomplishment time after time, three graduates of the Whitby Minor Hockey Association were selected Saturday to represent Canada at the absolute highest level of play. Dallas Stars centre Joe Nieuwendyk and Colorado Avalanche defenceman Adam Foote have been invited back to the Olympics after a disappointing trip to Nagano four years ago, while Brampton Battalion blue-liner Jay Harrison has been chosen to play for the national junior team for a second straight year. "We're thrilled again," says an understandably proud Peter Lang, president of the WMHA. "I think we have a strong corps of volunteer coaches who through the years have been able to bring out the best in players." Although Lang's comments are very much what one might expect to hear, they nevertheless ring true. It must be more than mere coincidence coincidence that Whitby minor hockey products keep popping up in prominent prominent places. "I don't think we can be construed construed as a factory, but we're certainly certainly doing a good job developing our players." In fact, Whitby could be considered considered a hockey factory. Nieuwendyk and Foote are two of six current National Hockey League players who cut their teeth on Whitby ice rinks while Harrison is one of several Whitby boys plying plying their trade in the Ontario Hockey Hockey League. Many of the others are also significant significant contributors to their hockey clubs, including Philadelphia Flyers centre Keith Primeau, who joined Nieuwendyk and Foote in Japan four years ago, Gary Roberts, the Toronto Maple Leafs' leading goal- scorer last season, Blaine Down, the Barrie Colts' top point producer, and his teammate, David Chant, the best goalie in the OHL this season. Beyond the coaching and perhaps perhaps the drinking water, what is it that makes these players tick? Some have suggested lacrosse, the game most of the Whitby hockey hockey stars played through the summer while growing up, hones important skills while adding an element of grit and determination. The theory certainly stands up when looking at Nieuwendyk, who has among the softest hands in the game, and the other Whitby NHLers, who make the most of their ability and routinely show up to play when it matters most. Five Stanley Cup rings (two each for Nieuwendyk and Foote, one for Roberts) and one Conn Smythe Trophy Trophy (Nieuwendyk) attest to that. Whatever the reason, expect Nieuwendyk and Foote - and possibly possibly Primeau if Mario Lemieux can't answer the bell - to be key figures in Salt Lake City in February and Harrison Harrison likewise in the Czech Republic Republic beginning this month as Canada tries to regain hockey supremacy. Hals off to Whitby and its hockey hockey talent. JASON LIEBREGTS/ Statesman photo Bowmanvilie Eagles forward Rob Convery tries to loss, leaving the Eagles with only one of a possible six elude the check of Lindsay Mttskies'defenceman Rod points during three games on the weekend. Bow- Porter (5) daring Sunday's Provincial Junior League manville tied Port Hope 3-3 and were edged in hockey game. Lindsay handed Bowmanvilie a 2-1 Wellington 5-4. Pair of one-goal losses puts damper on weekend BY IIRAD KELLY Sports Editor It's difficult to put a positive spin on a hockey team that has only manufactured manufactured one win in its last 10 games, but that was the approach coach and general manager Curtis Hodgins has taken with his Bowmanvilie Eagles. After garnering only one of six points in three weekend outings. Hod- gins wasn't berating his players for a lost opportunity to move up in the standings. Instead, he praised his team for its commitment and desire. "The guys are pretty positive. There's a pretty good chemistry," in the dressing room he said. "I can't ask for more because they are giving everything they've got. "Some teams could fold up with the lineup we have and lose seven or eight to one, but we're in every hockey hockey game." While a tidy three-game winning streak would have been preferred this past weekend, the odds were really stacked against the Eagles. Consider the following: • In a span of less than 48 hours, Bowmanvilie travelled to Wellington on Friday night, Port Hope Saturday night and hosted Lindsay Sunday afternoon. afternoon. • The final two games were particularly particularly difficult, playing in Port Hope at 8 p.m. then hosting Lindsay at 2:30 p.m. the following afternoon. • The lineup is decimated with injuries. injuries. Among those on the sidelines are Kyle Crouch, Pat O'Halloran, Dan Caird, Andrew Gronross and Josh Rutledge. That list grew, on Sunday when Kyle Branson and Ryan Chamberlain Chamberlain left the game with injuries. When all of that is factored in, it's no wonder the Eagles came up just a little short, losing 5-4 in Wellington, tying Port Hope 3-3 and dropping-a 2- 1 decision to Lindsay at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex on Sunday Sunday afternoon to close out the three- games-in-three-days nightmare. The Eagles dropped to 12-16-5-2 on the season. "We're going through a tough time. no doubt about it," conceded Hodgins.' "Yet, they played hard in three, tough, close games." Against Lindsay, the Eagles had every reason to roll over and finish the weekend with a sub-par performance. But trailing 2-0 in the third period, the Eagles mounted a rally, and a goal by Matt Caruana with just over seven minutes to go cut the margin in half. The Eagles were able to get goal- tender Darryl Bouchard to the bench for an extra attacker with 1:17 to go. but couldn't score the equalizer. "One strengths of this team," said Hodgins, "is that we never quit. I'm pretty proud of the way they played today because they gave everything they had." The Eagles have a less hectic schedule before,the Christmas break hosting a pair of games. Port Hope visits tonight (Wednesday) at 7:30 p.m., while Trenton will be in town on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. The next game for the Eagles will be Jan. 5 in Port Hope. THE SCOOP - Goaltender Darryl Bouchard was named the team's player of the month for November-Matt November-Matt Caruana scored twice in the 5-4 loss in Wellington on Friday night. Dan Caird and Scan Brackin had the other goals for the Eagles, who trailed 4-1 after the first period...In period...In the 3-3 tie in Port Hope Saturday Saturday night, Colin Baker, Andrew Beck and Caruana had the goals for the Eagles. Generals hit sour note in Belleville, but in harmony against Kingston BY BRIAN LEGREE Staff Editor OSIIAWA - The song remains the same for the Oshawa Generals. The Ontario Hockey League club split a pair of weekend games, beating beating Kingston 4-1 Sunday following a 6-1 loss in Belleville Saturday. The Generals have pretty much followed the win-a-game, lose-a- game pace since the start of November, November, going 8-8 in their past 16 starts. "We played pretty well this weekend," weekend," says Oshawa coach and general general manager George Burnett, whose team only trailed 2-1 entering the third period in Belleville Saturday before the Bulls erupted for four goals. "We played poorly (Saturday) for 20 minutes and it hurt us, but there were a lot of good things in that game and nice to sec us respond (against Kingston)," says Burnett. Overager Derek Dolson took the loss in goal in Belleville, making 30 saves, while rookie Kevin Drucc got GEORGE BURNETT 7 like the ingredients that we have.' the win against Kingston, making 27 stops. The Generals have two more games prior to the Christmas break, travelling to Toronto to face the St. Michael's Majors Thursday before hosting the Ottawa 67's Friday (Civic Auditorium, 7:35 p.m.). Oshawa Oshawa will then be off until a Dec. 28 game in Guelph. The song also remains the same - at least for now - regarding Os- hawa's overage situation. OHL teams can only carry three overagers on their roster effective the trade deadline of Jan. 10, leaving Burnett to decide which one of his four overagers - Dolson, defenceman Richard Spence, forwards Brian Mc- Grattan or captain Chris Minard, will be the odd man out. Burnett has expressed an interest in resolving his overage situation prior to Christmas and the OHL imposes imposes a moratorium on trades between between Dec. 20 and Dec. 27, so a move could be imminent. "Christmas isn't a great tjme to be making a lot of changes, but there arc some benefits, 1 guess, to not waiting to the last two or three days," says Burnett. "Again, I'm not trying to make a lot of changes. I like the ingredients that we have, obviously we have to settle the overage situation, but for the most part I like a lot of the things that we have. "I like our youth and they're a big part of what we're doing. If we can improve and get a little bit younger and stay as strong, maybe get a little bit better, maybe add a little bit of speed, maybe a little more tenacity from a skating and grit standpoint, we'll look to do it." GENERALLY SPEAKING: Chris Minard (19th) had a goal and two assists Sunday, with Jamie Johnson (11th) adding a goal and an assist. Ben Eager (10th) and Brian McGrattan (11th) rounded out the scoring. Tobias Whelan (4th) scored Oshawa's only goal Saturday in Belleville. . .Kingston's power-play was held goalless in seven tries Sunday. Sunday. Men's Rockport, Clarks & Florsheim Shoes values to S150 (On Selected Styles) now $ÛÛ99 r 99 1 1 L DUNN'S TAILORS - OSHAWA CENTRE Across from Reitmans A SIZE FOR EVERY MAN SUNDAY 11:00-5:00 MON. TO FRI. 9:30-9:00 SATURDAY 9:30-6:00 VIS A ) MEN'S N.H.L PULLOVERS AND CARDIGANS $7095 WE CARRY SUIT SIZES FROM 34TO 54 •'iiÙÈHÈr FREI GIFT BOX