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

"© Se Citizen -- Tuesday, October 8, 1991 -- 7 4a VIEWPOINT/COUNTERPOINT Reg Nay- a ' - John B. McClelland | Congratulations to the Port Perry Malacks on the Start of their 20th season in this community. The lub opened the 20th ygar Sunday night withan impressive pre-game ceremony in 'whichsmembers of the original executive were introduced at centre ice and presented with plagues 10 thank them for the contribu- tions they'made in the "early days." A$ usual when the club does something, it was done witha touch of class. | And the good crowd on hand for the home opener against Little Britain was treated to some exciting hockey as the Malacks pulled out a 7-6'victory in overtime. (see sports pages) , Ja Over the last two decades this franchise has been a success both on and ofthe ice. Oh, sure, there have been some rocky moments along the way, but that happens with anything in life. 1 wasn't around when the team first started but I have spent the last 15 winters watching this club, scribbling notes on paper, writing storics about the good times and the ol good times. In my view, there are several reasons why this team has earned its reputation in the Central Junior C League. The first is good people "behind the scenes." The executive work very hard on all the "little details" that are sQ necessary. It may be dangerous 10 sin-, gle out certain individuals, but I think I'm safé" in noting that in general manager Murray Parliament, the MoJacks have someone who knows all aspects of the believe me, hockey at this level is a domplex affair. Certainly a big factor in the long ten suc- cess of the franchise has been sponsorship, Ken Jackson, first through Flamingo Pastries and now Mother Jackgons Open Kitchens, has been with the club since day one. And that says something these days "when corporate sponsors of sports teams come and go, | may stand corrected on this, but I dot there is another club in the league that can boast 20 years continuous sponsorship by one compa- ny.» As long as | have been around the team, it has operated with class. People are treated right. Certainly a good example of this was "the opening ceremonies Sunday night. That's a nice touch, and hot just because nostalgia is big in sports these days. The start of another Junior C season is always.a time of excitement for me. Will this be their year to "go all thg way?" Who knows? Winning an all-Ontario champi- onship is so tough, as the Mojacks found out back in 1988 when they had 10 settle for the silver medals, However, from what I've seen there is room for optimism that this year's team is going 10 be very competitive and pro- vide fans here with lots 10 talk about between now and golf season. * In reaghing into my treasure chest of "Molack memories," it's no accident that most of them involve games with Bowmanville Eagles. There's a real rivalry here and it comes out every time the teams get Most exciting moment? Without a doubf® thod@Vertige victory two seasons ago in Bowmanville. Not far behind was the game that clinched the series against Hanover Bgrons (remember them) at the Scugog Arena jammed to the rafters with screaming fans. Nothing has matched those two games for sheer gut-wrenching intensity. But in my view, the best game ever was a series clincher in the old Wellington Arena. I think the final 'was 5-2 and the cam was nearly perfect that night in every department. . Biggest downer? The loss 10 Mooretown in the all-Ontario. Stull think MoJacks were the better team. Best fight? I've seen hundreds in 15%years, but two sick in my mind. Last season, Flip McBride €hallenged the Bowmanville bench and the poor guy,who answered the challenge wished he hadn't. The other was the night Bob Horton showed a pair of lightning fast I don't know what the big attraction is. Well, [ guess I do. I just resent the fact that the big, wild, world out there is tak- ing so many of my friends away. Last week, two of our closest friends fulfilled a burning ambition when they purchased a hardware storey in Sutton. Now I know Sutton isn't all that fag away. But it's far.enough to make casual visits less-than casual, and it's busy gnough to take almost all their time and energy. Another friend made visiting all but impossible when he moved to Edmonton. Mark (of Mark From Markham fame) has beer my best friend since I was in grade five. Our family had only just mdved into the house on Windridge Dr. whenAhe neighbour lady fiext door, who had been busy trimming her hed, let out a screech to wake the dead. It was a noise that attracted kids Tike-bees to honey. Suddenly there were kidS everywhere, looking big-cyed as the woman was whisked off to the hospital. Her son was acting like he'd just gotten an 'A" on his report card. "She cyt her fin- ger off" he hissed through his teeth, his six-year-old chest puffed out, his eyes wide and fiercely proud. The crowd sucked in a collective breath, "0000oh", a breath of admiration, to be sure. Nobody clse had a mother with less than 10 fingers. "Let's look for it," her kid said cagerly, We need- ed no further urging, happily spending the afternoon searching for the finger. « We never did find the finger, but I did make some new friends, including Mark From Markham. From that time on, we walked to school together -- actually, he walked a couple of feet in front of me cause he walked faster and wouldn't wait up; we talked, we hung out, we bought the same winter coats, we suffered through girlfriends and boyfriends and fights with our parents. Al{'the stuff friendstgo through. Bven after I was harried, Mark contin- "ued to be a good friend, He'd come out on weekends and eventually he be¢ame as good a friend to my husband as he is to me. But last spring, Mar was offered a job he couldn't refuse, a job all his years of university and training was equal to. So one day he packed up his car and said good-bye. These days my lif¢ is not as full as | want it to be. Friendship can make a per- son rich. Yes, indeed. hands to tattoo an Eagle in the Scugog Arena a few years back. . Scariest moment? The Wild brawl in the old Bowmanville Arena a féWw years back with everyone from both teams on the ice. | Zanicst moment? The night (again in the Bowmanville band-box) when a very unhap- py Malack fan heaved a full garbage ¢an onto "the ice. Tt was serious at the time, though. Best shooter? Brian Nicholson. Best playmaker? Brad Menzies. Best skater? Thane Ellis in full flight was a joy to watch. Dito, Warren Geer. Best defenseman? Rob Metcalfe. Best goalie? Hard to call, but I'd like to have seen Ken Harman with better teams in front of him?" Toughest moment? The tragic death of Vaughan McKee. Toughest player? There have been plenty of them, but I never saw "Flip" McBride even come. close to losing a "fight. N Happiest moment? Watching Charlie Bourgeois dance a "jig" after the Hanover series. Heck, even George Bumett was grin- ning from ear to ear that night. So many memories. But enough nostalgia. The new season (the )-is underway and let's see where the boys afe next March, In the meantime, happy birthday.and let's play some hockey. . Tt P-- UNSOLVED MYSTERY « If you think you can solve this week's unsolved mystery, call curator Gail Sheridan at Scugog Shores Museum -- 985-3589. 3 -- SNAPSHOT OF THE WEEK Scu606 CITIZENS] nice smile. Hang in"there! David and Sylvie Gardner brought in this photo of daughter Carolyne, who seems' to have advanced muscle development and a |* Send us your tavonte snapshots -- of your family, your pets, your vacation, whatever photo you've taken and you're proud of! Citizen staffers will select their favorite snaps and run them in, this space. Then, at the end of the year, we'll have a panel of judges choose their favorite pic- tyre, and, the photographer will win a brand new 35mm camera. Our .address is 36 Water St., Introducing Margaret Scott. She's capable of just about anything -- just don't ask her to sing! Margaret is a pro- fessional accountant, teaching at Georgian College in "Barrie, meaning early morn- ings ang late nights. And she' still manages to do a super job as chairperson of 'the librdry board. A long- - time resident of Port squash and ca Perry, Margaret was the first woman District Accountant for UCO and also dabbled in local business ventures before * teaching. To relax, Margaret likes to watch did movies, play e with.her hubby. Watch for Margaret at the library's Harvest Gala Oct."17th! v .