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

PAGE 12THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, MARCH 20,2002 Orono lands three teams in Ontario finals BY BRAD KELLY Sta ff Writer ORONO - In an attempt to cash in on the trifecta, three Orono teams opened their respective Ontario Ontario Minor Hockey Association final scries this past weekend with mixed results. The most successful of the three teams were the midgets, who opened with a pair of wins while the bantams split a pair of games and the juveniles lost their opener. In the OMHA D finals, the midgets recorded 3-1 and 4-0 wins in Thcdford to take a commanding lead in the best-of-seven scries, with Games 3 and 4 in Orono this weekend. Thcdford scored the first goal of the scries in Game 1, short-handed, and then it was all Orono after that, scoring seven unanswered goals over two games. Coach Dale Millson described Thcdford as a "good team" that "passes well." The bantams also opened the OMHA D finals with a pair of games in Thcdford, losing the opener 5-2, but winning Game 2 in overtime 6-5 on a Doug Garlick goal. "We are fairly evenly matched," said coach Brian Allen, who added that Thcdford, the defending provincial champions, are a "good- sized team with solid goaltendirig." The juveniles opened their OMHA C-CC series in Dresden, coming up short with a 4-0 loss in Game 1 of the best-of-five scries. "(Dresden) were a little quicker than we've seen," said coach Jim Knight of first impressions. "We were flat-footed from the long bus ride," that resulted in Dresden scoring twice in the first 55 seconds seconds of the game, he added. All three teams are back in action action this weekend during tripler headers at the Orono arena. On Saturday, the bantams play at 5 p.m., followed by the midgets at 7 p.m. and the juveniles at 9 p.m. It will be more of the same Sunday, with the bantams playing at 2 p.m., the midgets at 4 p.m. and the juveniles juveniles at 6 p.m. Gens draw Belleville Bulls in playoffs Series opens Friday in Oshawa BY BRIAN DEGREE Spans Editor OSHAWA - George Burnett says his Oshawa Generals will need to be 'quietly 'quietly confident' entering their Ontario Hockey League playoff scries against the Belleville Bulls. . They'll need to be that and a whole lot more if they plan on making any kind of noise against the East Division champion champion Bulls, who will enter the best-of- seven Eastern Conference quarterfinal as prohibitive favourites. The Bulls finished atop the East Division Division with a 39-23-4-2 record, good for 84 points, 26 ahead of fourth-place Oshawa Oshawa (23-33-7-5-58). Due to a scheduling quirk, the Generals Generals will open the scries at the Civic Auditorium Auditorium Friday (7:35 p.m., AM-1350). Game 2 is Monday in Belleville (7:30 p.m.) and the Bulls will also host Game 3 Wednesday (7:05 p.m.). Game 4 is back in Oshawa Friday, March 29 (7:35 p.m.). The Bulls arc a dynamic offensive club who outdistance the Generals in just about every statistical category. Most notably, Bellcvillc.led the OHL in scoring this season and boasts the league's top three point producers in Nathan Robinson (47-63-110), Mike Renzi (44-64-108) and Jason Spezza (42-63-105). Throw in Matthew Stajan (33-52-85) and Adam Paiement (29-35- 64) and it is abundantly clear Oshawa's ability to neutralize Belleville's attack will be the key to the series. "We understand the task is a formidable formidable one and yet right now we both have zeroes," says Burnett. "We're going to go through the next few days preparing very strongly and RON PIETRON1RO/ Statesman photo Josh Manning of the Oshawa Generals tries to go through Mississauga's Daniel Sisca (97) during Sunday's game. Michael Mole very specifically about matchups, who will play against who and the situations that will arise during games and make sure we're hopefully the best prepared team in the scries." Belleville's vaunted attack will face an Oshawa club that was weak defensively defensively during the regular season, finishing finishing tied with North Bay for the 14th best goals against mark in the 20-team league at 3.63. Belleville's goals against mark is 3.20, which is-$tjmewhat deceiving since it dipped consideftiblÿtri'ter the acquisi tion of veteran goalie from Mississauga. In 26 games with the Bulls, Mole posted a sterling 20-4-2 won-loss record, with two shutouts, a 2.51 goals against mark and .921 save percentage. Conversely, a rookie will start in goal for Oshawa, with either Kevin Druce (7- 12-3. 3.47 GAA. .894 save percentage) or Chris Beckford-Tscu (2-3-0. 3.34, .900) getting the start, as veteran Cory Roberts continues to be the odd man out. In head-to-head play this season, the Bulls won four of six meetings, outscor- ing Oshawa 31-18. The Bulls won all three games at home (6-5, 6-1, 8-1), while Oshawa won two of three at the Civic (54 and 3-2, and losing 4-1). "I like the fact we're starting at home," says Burnett. "That's something that can help us if we make it help us. Obviously if you're behind in Game 1 and go down there for Games 2 and 3, it makes it much more difficult, but as long as we have 24 guys that arc quietly confident confident then we can be our best and we'll need to be our best to have success." GENERALLY SPEAKING: The Generals finished the regular season with a 2-2 tic against Mississauga Sunday Sunday before 3,107 at the Civic. Nathan Horton and Jamie Johnson scored for the Generals, Bowmanvillc's Andrew Smale and Chris Curran replied for the IccDogs...Johnson was named winner of the Auto Workers Community Credit Union award as Oshawa's most valuable player this season. Johnson led the Generals Generals with 17-61-78 totals this season. . .Although forwards Brandon Nolan and Tobias Whelan were assessed two- game suspensions for their bit in a fracas in Friday's 7-1 win over Peterborough, those two suspensions can be 'bought back' and the two will be in the lineup Friday. But overage defenceman Richard Spence, who has served eight of his 10-game sentence for an incident in Shawinigan will miss the first two. games of the playoffs. Apparently you can't 'buy back' his type of suspension. ■ FAX cMuffli sports game results CALL NOW TO REGISTER! oshawa@icesports.com Oshawa www.icesports.com 905-725-6951 1809 SOCCER CLUB INC We are currently looking for Coaches for our All Star teams. These teams are tournament teams only. The children will stay in our houseleague program during the week. Tryouts for these teams will be held the beginning of May. New this year will be a junior league for ages 17 and 18. If you are interested in joining we are still taking registrations. Our Men's and Ladies Sunday Night Recreational Leagues are stUft^king ^giçtratjojfTsrjSjDace is J( J; Jiirtitçd,|sc).regjsjere^rly.j' j For more information regarding any of the above notices, please call our soccer office at (905) 623-7309, or dysc@globalserve.net www.darlingtonsoccer.allcanadiansport.ca Gemini STARS -¥■ Gymnastics Spring Recreational Program 0 Week Session Ages IS months to Adult Parent & Tot Kindergym Adv. IC'gym Girls Rec Boys Rcc Adv. Rec Teen Rcc Adult Rec •*★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ Î REGISTRATION STARTS MAR. 6 * £ CLASSES BEGIN APR. 5 * Email sports stories to bkelly@durhamregion.com BROKEN WINDSHIELD? GET SMART!!! WE PAY YOUR DEDUCTIBLE PLUS ... DINNER FOR TWO AT A AUTO GLASS DW. of 3012276 Nova Scotfa Limited 12 TEMPERANCE STREET BOWMANVILLE | 905-623-0783 j DRIVE CLEAN ACCREDITEDTEST AND REPAIR CENTRES for more information call 1-888-758-2999 www.driveclean.com Some Restrictions Apply Offer expires March 27/02 NP03-1060? HOURS N.-FRI 7:30-9P.M. SATURDAY 7:30-6P.M. SUNDAY 11-5P.M. 'Copyright 2002. Scars Canada Inc. S a 8 a I » .4