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Page 12 ♦ THE CANADIAN STATESMAN ♦ March 8,2006 durhamregion.com ^ Shawn Cayley Good break followed by bad one Jay Harrison catches eye of Toronto Maple Leafs. It was a long road travelled, but every minute of it was worth the struggle for Jay Harrison. Nearly five years after being selected in the third round, 82nd overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs, the 23-year-old Whitby native got the break he was hoping for. Seemingly buried in the organizational organizational depth chart, Harrison was jettisoned to the AHL's Toronto Marlies to begin the season. Disappointed, yet still holding out hope, Harrison commented last fall that playing with the Marlies was a huge opportunity he saw coming when Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment moved their American Hockey League franchise from St. John's, Newfoundland, Newfoundland, to just down the street from the Air Canada Centre at the Ricoh Coli-. scum. Not ipnlyt^did;i hef;gë t lioticed fenough-j to earn' a call from Maple Leafs brass towards the end of January when injuries injuries depleted an already suspect blueline, blueline, but he sure left in impression on many during his brief stint that concluded concluded just prior to the Olympic break. Harrison suited up in eight games for the 'Buds' bringing a certain element element of grit and nastiness to the Maple Leafs' defence corps, which is an area' the Leafs have been lacking for quite sometime. Not only that, but Harrison showed he was more than able to handle some of the league's most dynamic players including Jaromir Jagr, Ilya Kovalchuk, Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecava- lier. The evidence lies within the fact that, despite having only played eight gapies, and none since Feb. II, Harrison Harrison remains tops on the Maple Leafs in plus/minus with a pltis-5. Ironically, after being sent back to the Marlies during the Olympics, Harrison endured another break. This time, it prevented him from suiting up with the Maple Leafs. Saturday night, Leafs blue-liner Andy Wozniewski was injured against the Ottawa Senators, meaning yet another call would be placed to the Marlies requesting help. That call would have likely went to Harrison had it not been for a broken bone in his hand which he sustained Feb. 25 against the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights. However, as of yesterday, the news was encouraging for Harrison as he is expected to return to the Marlies by the end of the week, meaning he is that much closer to returning to the parent club. ; There is little doubt that with his successful successful audition last month, Harrison has done what he set out to do last fall. Catch the eye of the Maple Leafs. Whether it's this season or next, in all likelihood, Harrison will find his way back into his No. 43 Toronto Maple Leafs jersey. Shawn Cayley's" column appears every third Wednesday. E-mail: scayley@durhamreyion. com FROM THE NET OUT Durham junior hockey scene through the eyes of our writers... DURHAMREGION.COM 'Each team has some different tangibles they bring and I think it is a great matchup for both teams. It should be a great series to watch. Obviously Obviously Port Hope is the defending East Conference champions so they will come prepared to defend. They have a very good offensive game and we better be prepared.' Perry Bowles Eagles general manager 'The Eagles have been one of the best teams in the province and in the country this year -- all you need to do is ask them. They are well- coached and play a strong disciplined game. It will be an offence against defence series. I believe our team will rise to the challenge to beat the division's first-place hockey club.' Tim Clayden Predators hockey operations director It's supposed to be this way. Number one Eagles versus number two Predators BY BRAD KELLY Sports Editor BOWMANVILLE - It's supposed to be this way, isn't it? As expected and predicted, the East Conference championship series will feature the best two teams during the regular season, as the Bowmanville Eagles and Port Hope Predators are set to clash in what should be a memorable best-of-seven final. And there is every indication that all seven games may be required to determine determine a champion. The Eagles enter the series as the slight favourite based on their No. 1 seed earned during a regular season in which they posted a 39-5-5-0 record, one point better than the second place Predators. The Eagles have also been in this same position recently, having won the East Conference title two seasons ago. Some would suggest that despite being the second seed, a slight edge should go to the Predators. They bettered the Eagles in the five encounters this season with a 3-1-1 mark, and are the defending defending conference champions. "Each team has some different tangibles tangibles they bring and I think it is a great matchup for both teams. It should be a great series to watch," says CM Perry Bowles of the impending final, which in all likelihood, will begin with Game 1 on Sunday night at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex. Dates and times for a schedule were still being worked out at press lime. If you were to ask Predators coach Cory Banika who the favourite is heading heading .into the much-anticipated showdown, showdown, he lias opted to pul his team in the underdog role and take some of the pressure off his hockey club. "They are the team to beat in the Last," says Banika of the Eagles. "They are a very good team, well-coached and powerful." powerful." Others within the Predators organization organization aren't as humble. "The Eagles have been one of the best teams in the province and in the Eagles will be ready BY BRAD KELLY Sports Editor BOWMANVILLE - Students and teachers alike are craving their annual annual rite with March break beginning for many at the end of the week. Oh how envious they must be of the Bowmanville Eagles, who have had the equivalent of two such breaks since the playoffs began just over three weeks ago. Such is the case for a team that has to this point thoroughly thoroughly outclassed its opposition. By virtue of their second straight sweep in the Provincial Junior A League playoffs, the Eagles are in the midst of another lengthy break, expecting to be off until the weekend before getting the East Conference finals underway. Whether it's better to have time off, or continue playing, is debatable. "There's two ways to look at it,", says GM Perry Bowles. "You can look at us tind ask if we will come out for the next series rusty. Or you can look at the other team and wonder if, after a six or seven game country this year - all you need to do is ask them," says Tim Clayden, Predators Predators hockey operations director. "They arc well-coached and play a strong disciplined game, It will he an offence against defence series. I believe our team will rise to the challenge to beat the division's first-place hockey club." The Predators secured a spot in the finals on Monday with a 3-1 victory in Wellington over the Dukes to prevail in Game 6 of the best-of-seven semifinal. In the opening round, they disposed of the Oswego Admirals in a four game sweep. series, if they will be drained and be ready for the next series." That is the scenario facing the Eagles. 1 ■ .. The Eagles went the minimum four games in sweeping the Lindsay Muskies in the opening round, and did likewise with the Kingston Voyageurs Voyageurs in the conference semifinals. In eight games, they have recorded three shutouts, and have outscored the opposition by a decisive 51-9 margin. With what could amount to a nine day layoff if the finals are to begin in Bowmanville on Sunday, Bowles dismisses any thoughts of his hockey club getting rusty. "We are practising hard and we have a dedicated bunch of players players and they are just waiting to get going. I don't anticipate any letdown or period of adjustment," he assures. "Our veterans will be ready, and the younger players will see that and respond." THE SCOOP - Any injuries sustained sustained in the Kingston scries will be healed in time for the next one against Port. Hope. Louke Oakley and Scott Freeman were forced to miss games against Kingston, but will be available for the finals. Sweeps were the route the Eagles look to the final, brushing aside the Lindsay Muskies in the opening round and then the Kingston Voyageurs in the minimum eight games required, Despite the easy wins, they are aware things will be different different in the finals. "Obviously Port Hope is the defending defending East Conference champions so they will come prepared to defend," notes Bowles. "They have a very good offensive offensive game and we better be prepared to skate and play defensively." --with files from Vince Versace * :oi .i ( J 7/j Scoreboard- e-mail game reports to bkelly@durhamregion.com Roy's Enterprise wraps up season ii bd ;0 ill I lit! CLARINGTON -- The Clarington : j Roy's Enterprise Minor Atom A Toros,)] finished their season in an exciting sec-' m ond round playoff series. ; • In the first round, the Toros faced 2r> Cobourg and took the best-of-five,^; series in the deciding game. In the final, Braden'Gray netted the winning goal in, n j overtime. jfi Round 2 was a match up of bovine,,[, between the Clarington Toros and the> vV Belleville Bulls. Belleville took the series! in three games, but not without a fight.;.|. Two of the three games went into over- -;; time; lid This was also a busy time for tour-y, naments for this team. After .qualify-, 1 /, ing in the Regional Silver Stick, they,,,, advanced to the International Silver) Stick and made it to the semifinals. At,,,, the Preston International tournament, , ; b they also got as far as the semifinals./; Bradley Houghton was selected to play, ni on the all-star team at the Preston tour-vi; nament. - In recent play, Roy's had 16 wiris.vo 20 losses and 3 ties including regular v o season games and tournaments. iv, Every member of this hard working.^, team has contributed in earning points;, L in this recent stretch of games and tour-,,it naments. Goalies Robert Hanthorn and Jo Cameron Zanussi shared the duties.q< ; and registered three shutouts. Strong;»/ offence was provided by forwards Ben;», Kalotài (19g,8a), Hunter Merritt (8g,9a), ;n) Austin Laniel (10g,15a), Braden Gray' (19g,12a), Bradley Houghton (23g,15a),,iq Danny White (9g,18a), Jeffery Reid/23 (3g,7a), Mark Holdbrook (8g,31a) and Carter Kolarek (3g,8a). The defence showed true grit with Mitchell Winterink (1a), Garrett Hill (4g, 1a), Jake Garneau' (1g,5a), Zach Williams (1g,3a), Ross-. Stenhouse (1g,5a) and Jacob Caughell ;! (.1g,4.a) collecting points! .• J&M Tire rolls to victory CLARINGTON ~ J&M Tire of'Sj the Clarington Recreational Hockey'N League's Atom Division captured the BÎÿi Championship at the Clarington Thun-'^ der Tournament. ffl J&M Tire started off with a 5-1 vic-w tory over the Stayner Cyclones, led byt£j Daniel Kim's two goals and two assists.^ J&M Tire lost their next match 6-3 toj§5 Noble King Knight's, setting up a must® win for the Tire crew against Thoroldw Red Hawks. J&M Tire came through tr as Blair Winner scored six goals in a* 7 11-2 victory advancing them to the B Final and a rematch against undefeated Noble King Knight's. . J&M Tire rolled to a 4-2 victory in the final with Ryan Nice scoring the i winning goal with 3:35 remaining. J&M i played as a team in the final led by the 8 fine goaltending of Patrick Donnelly. | The solid defence consisted of Kyle j Remillard (1a), Riley Meehan (5g), Blair j Winner (8g), Deacon Barbour (1a) and, j Hailey Shymko (1a). The strong fore- j checking and backchecking of the for-, j| wards completed an outstanding team l effort as.all players recorded points led 3 by Daniel Kim (4g,4a), Brandon Morris' 3 (1g,3a), Ryan Nice (1g,3a), Tyler Morin | (3g), Jonathon Zavitski (3a), Justin Wert j (1g,1a), Austin Cole (2a), Mitchell Reich; ] (1a) and Dakota Bourdignor (1a). ^ < Home for Kids ends round robin i CLARINGTON - The Clarington Homes For Kids Atom A Toros have -' completed their round robin portion of -j the Lakeshore League playoffs. 1 The Toros had two wins,' three ties ! and a loss which was good enough to ! advance to the next round. j The Toros recorded wins of 7-2 over j the Pickering Panthers and 4-2 over the ■ Peterborough Nationals. The Toros tied ! the Napanee Crunch 5-5 after falling ! behind 4-0, the Port Perry Predators | 4-4 and the Oshawa Generals 2-2. j Their only loss was a 5-1 setback at the j hands of the Trenton Golden Hawks. j Recording goals and assists in the i round robin were Jake Walker (5g), Conner Hart (4g,1a), Zachary Bellisle (3g,5a), Dylan Cowle (3g,5a), Joshua Joshua Galllna (2g,3a), Calvin Lepizzera (2g,2a), Dean Staikopoulos (2g,1a), Owen Clarke (1g,4a), Joshua Barker } (2a), Chad Hibbert (2a), Braden France | (2a), Joshua Arbour (1a) and Dallas Lyttle (1a). Goaltenders Matthew May- berry and Brandon Farrugia split the duties and both played well.