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PAGE 12THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, JULY 30,2003 Ckirington's Award-Winning Newspaper Since 1854 Œljc Cmmbtmt Statesman www.durhamrcgion.com infodurham .com Brian McNair St (iff Writer biiicnairta durluimrcgion.com Round robin an exercise in futility for Redmen Major Series semifinal could prove to be final everyone was hoping for One would have thought the Ontario Ontario Laerosse Association learned its lesson 12 years ago. That was the last time the Major Series used a double round robin in the playoffs - and it ended in a fiasco. fiasco. With the Brooklin Redmen, Brampton Excelsiors and Peterborough Peterborough Lakers vying lor two spots in the 1991 final, the round robin actually actually ended with the Redmen and Lakers trying to score into their own nets. Here's how it shook down: The Excelsiors had already locked up one spot with a 2-2 record and a positive goal differential, which meant the Lakers had to beat the Redmen by eight goals in order to advance. Since the game was tied headed into the final minute, the Redmen pulled their goalie and scored into their own net to avoid a 10-minute overtime period where, theoretically, the Lakers could meet the quota. Naturally, the Lakers replied in kind, pulling their goalie and scoring a nifty goal despite defensive defensive (or should that be offensive?) offensive?) efforts of the Redmen. Anyway, the game went into overtime, the Lakers won by a goal and the Redmen moved on. Fast forward a dozen years and the Major Scries has managed to put together a 14-game regular season and four-game round robin that has been, for the most part, meaningless. meaningless. The regular season was meaningless meaningless in the sense that every team made the playoffs. The round robin was meaningless meaningless in the sense that most knew which four teams would advance: Brooklin and Peterborough in the east: Brampton and St. Catharines in the west. It's only at that point the regular season becomes important again, since the teams with the superior records will have home floor advantage advantage when they cross over for best- of-seven semifinals. The bottom line for the Redmen is they will be playing a semifinal series against the defending Mann Cup champion Brampton Excelsiors. Excelsiors. a series most would rather see as the final. It seems the Excelsiors have been playing possum for much of the season. season. finishing tied in third place at 8-6 but hammering the first-place Athletics 17-9 in St. Catharines Saturday. Saturday. The Excelsiors and Athletics clinched semifinal spots Sunday, leaving two absolutely meaningless games in Brampton this week. The Redmen. meantime, will also have a pair of nothing games - tonight at home against Peterborough Peterborough (8 p.m.) and Thursday in Cornwall - providing Peterborough beat Akwesasne last night (after our deadline). Redmen general manager Barry Johnson expects the series against Brampton to gel under way at the Iroquois Park Sports Centre on Monday. Aug. 4 or Tuesday, Aug. 5. Molding off until the traditional Wednesday home date is unlikely because the series must be completed completed by Aug. 15. £235253X323231 MSDIA 9 !too5r rt A.J. GROEN/ Statesman photo Stretching it to the limit BOWMANVILLE - Nicholas Burnic stretches his body to the limit rep team, was tending goal for a shooting drill. Members of the to make a save during an instructional clinic at the Hydro Fields in Toronto Lynx professional soccer team were in attendance offering Bowmanville on Sunday. Nicholas, a member of the Darlington U9 tips to young players. Hall of Fame opens doors to inductees History of sports in Clarington, as well as present-day contributions recognized as inaugural athletes, builders and teams make the grade CLARINGTON - The Clarington Sports Hall of Fame has its first residents. residents. A total of 10 prominent sporting people and teams have been announced announced as the inaugural inductees into the sporting shrine that will take up residence at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex in Bowmanville. The initial group runs the gamut dating back to as early as 1846, to present present day volunteers and sponsors who continue to make a significant impact on the sporting community in Clarington. Clarington. "It's a good cross-section acknowledging acknowledging both the history and the broad spectrum of sports in the community," says Skip Crosby, recreation co-ordinator co-ordinator for the municipality's community community services department. Over the past few months, Crosby has guided a steering committee through the process of establishing criteria, criteria, sifting through nominations and making the initial selections. "The community should be proud of each and every one of the inductees," inductees," he added. Under the athlete category, legendary legendary runner Aille Shrubb, former NHL'er Brent Hughes, Olympic marathoner Sylvia Reugger, bowler Doris Joli and multi-sport competitor Bill Bagncll made the initial grade. sïy* J „u. ClA Th is jp® i •' Ambb'- " •' ■ ' j - a,-. A) liE a ...» . * less line of teams and players throughout throughout the years. "To go back through so many years and try and remember everything you've done is hard to do," says the 77-year-old Kendal Hills resident. "It's been a great honour to be involved." involved." Lowery was equally humbled at the news of his induction. He has devoted much of his life to minor sports, particularly particularly soccer, in Orono. "You don't start out looking for this sort of thing, but it's a good feeling that people think I'm worthy of going into a Hall of Fame," he says. The initial group of 10 will be formally formally inducted Saturday, Oct. 25 at a dinner at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Recreation Complex in Bowmanville. The evening promises to be a memorable memorable one, with Brian McFarlane serving as the guest speaker. The former former Hockey Night in Canada broadcaster broadcaster is best known as the creator of the cartoon character Peter Puck and has also penned a number of books on hockey. No stranger to Hall of Fame ceremonies, McFarlane is a member of the Whitby Sports Hall of Fame, Hockey Hall of Fame, Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame and St. Lawrence University University Hall of Fame. Radio broadcaster Mike Richards w-ill be master of ceremonies for the evening. He has been an on-air personality personality at the Fan 590, 1050 CHUM and Mix 99.9 during his career. His experience in sports comedy will bring an entertaining element to the evening. While ticket prices have yet to be confirmed for the evening, Crosby expects expects they will be in the $40 to $50 range for the catered dinner and awards ceremony that will begin with cocktails at 6:30 p.m. followed by a formal dinner at 7:30 p.m. The Hall of Fame committee expects expects lo sell between 250 to 350 tickets tickets for the induction ceremony. Gortl Lowery: 'You don't go out looking lor this sort of thing, but it's a good feeling that people think I'm worthy of going into a Hall of Fame.' The Orono Orphans hockey and baseball teams, the 1955-56 Bowmanville Bowmanville Juvenile B Lcgionaires Ontario Ontario hockey champions and the Darlington Darlington Cricket Club of the 1800s will be enshrined in the team category. Tom Cowan and Cord Lowery, lifelong lifelong contributors to minor spoils in the community through sponsorship and volunteering respectively, will be inducted under the builder's category. "It was a real surprise," says Cowan of the honour. The lifelong Clarington resident and owner of Cowan Ponliac- Buick Ltd. in Bowmanville grew up playing sports in the community, and has contributed financially to an end- CLARINGTON RECREATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE COACHES Visit CRHL is accepting coaches applications for House League teams for all levels - Minor Tyke to Juvenile. Those interested in coaching select must have their applications in by July 31/03. Select Applications are being accepted for Major Tyke, Minor Atom, Minor Peewee, Minor Bantam and Minor Midget. Any questions please contact Wayne Johnson at 905-435-0969 Poet Hope Port Hope (iolfcT Country Club E w /lï" ■ $ 22 £ per iHii-so" Lfv, 18 Holes & Cart $/liY IGOLF -- | JL^ÉJÊL M/ii/i.•/•>/. 'J limon» /nr ni il I Uni Tine Rtl, south ol the lilllo tliiliiin Kil. At tho Stono Pillois. 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