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Tuesday, January 4, 1994 Vacation special' for teams in the SHL * With a belly full of turkey and other Christmas goodies, the players of the Scugog Hockey League (SHL) managed to drag . themselves off the couch Boxing Day to start their three-game "vacation special." Here are the highlights of games held in the last week. BOXING DAY--The red hot Compton Comets led by Brian Samis, Darcy Milligan and Mike McQuade d d the Pinerid, the Blazers to end the Ggmbler It was John Kotarba leading the Van and Truck World Shark attack in game three as they clipped first place Pizza Delight Devils 3-1. Shark sponsor Mike Adam had visions pil a certain "Chinese buffet" in mind as his team met the first place challenge. History wasiade in Game 4 a3 the Mi Phantoms 6-4 in game one. Phantoms were missing some top gunners for this one and the Comets showed no mercy. Game 2 saw the Harrison Blazers turn up the heat to smoke the Crandells Gamblers 5-2. John Mackey and Rock Campbell had strong games for he Me Clippers 4-1. Big Jack Monsma led his team to the first win of the season. The large crowd on hand ushered the 'Clippers from the ice with a rousing chorus of & well known hockey song that ends with 'hey, hey, good bye." The final game of the day had a John Varga may have a long and successful career in-the NHL and never suit up with the calibre of players he practised with as a kid: He'll never hava a practice rink like the one he grew up in, either. Varga, the Western Hockey Léague's scoring leader with Tacoma several hundred miles away. The world's greatest hackey rink and John Varga had It to himsaif for hours! John's dad Lou has been a Black Hawks' trainer and equipment manager since 1969. He's always the first one at the rink to open it up and the last one 10 leave after the players have gone home. John spent much of. his youth tagging along and skating for a couple of hours before the players arrived. After practice, he'd hang around for a litle shinny with Denis Savard, Doug Wilson or any other Hawk who might be Into some extra skating. Nica fife, don't you think? No wonder this kid can play. who would escort him to hockey games with the Chicago Young Americans, the top youth hackey organization in the city. Hockey, you may surmise, has been a big part of the Vargas' life and it's been good to them. John is 19 now and doesnt go to the rink with his dad but talks to him on the phone constantly. This season they've had a lot to talk about. John has risen to prominence in his third year of junior hockey and Is currently playing with Team USA at the world junior championships. The dream of playing looks Hike it might come true and John gives a lot of credit to his trainer. "We were a hockey family but it was different. My dad wasn't a gifted player, he was a hard-working guy and that's what he taught me to be." He's aiso seen a fow players come and go since he started with the Hawks almost 25 years ago. Among them Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Steve Larmer, Jeremy Roenick and a whole bunch of players whose names barsly made The Hockley News. Needless to say, Lou's seen enough to pass along some useful advice. Not only did John practise at Chicago Stadium, as a teenager he began working there as a stickboy for visiting teams. Coincidentally, the first team he helped out gs a 13-year-old was the Washington Capitals - the team that drafted him in 1992. There had bean some hope of being selected by the Black Hawks and had that happened the Vargas joked there wouldn't be a signing bonus, they'd just call it even for all the ice time John had asa kid. The Sitfousty ed Varga asd chance 1 lay {oF am, Thay had' him spend the g out with other Do ets great season. Right now, John's sights are set on a world junior championship, even it an American upset might split the family. (His folks are from Welland, Ontario, and many stil follow his progress from there.) After that It's back to Tacoma where he has a target of 50 goals and hopes of play mines pietessions PEckey io the Cape-chal in 83s. Modest goals for a hard worker who comes by it honestly, He's had a good trainer, not to mention a decent practice rink. "flim Hucehson" is sponsored by YAMAHA Rockets, grew up in Chicago and the Stadium was pretty much his | home rink. Yes, the same Stadium you've seen on TV and heard from When he wasn't with his dad or at school, John was with his mother, . Taylor Aces grab sole possession of first place with a 3-1 win over J and D Hawks. Jason Warner and Ken Little teams up to give the Aces the important two points. "The Day After Xmas® closed with Terry Coyne and Doug Dempsey of Pineridge Sports treating thé league to some * "delectable delights" in the true Harrison Blazers downed the slumping J and D Hawks 4-2. Despite the ice blast from old man winter, both teams had full rosters for this game that was penalty free. John Mackey continued his pace for leading scorer with two assists. Game two saw Pineridge blank the Gamblers 2-0 despite a lack of skaters. John Harman had both Phantom goals and John Moore filling for Richard Huggins had the shut-out. In a bid to get back in the running for first place, the . Devils and Clippers had to Settle for a 2-2 tie in game three. Tempers became just a bit frayed in the closing moments as both teams gave that extra effort to get the win. In the 4th match-up, Taylor Aces grabbed a three-point lead in the standings with 81 hi over the Sharks. The Sharks were aiming to tie the Aces on top in this game but Todd Healey and Ivan Geer had other crucial ideas as they led the Aces to the victory. ; Monsma Chargers wrapped the day up with a 2-2 tie with the Comets. A Comet goal midway through the third prevented Chargers from taking their second win of the season in as many days, much to the relief of Comet Brian Samis, Thus, 1993 ended with Taylor Fuels in first place and the Chargers getting ready to some serious noise with just five games left until the playoffs! get JANUARY 2--Welcome to a brand new year. The first Sunday of 1994 had all ten teams in an attempt to start the year in winning fashion. Although 4 down two goals early in the first, the sharks staged a feeding frenzy to come back for a 3-3 tie with the Clippers. Shark Richis LeFort led the short- staffed troops with two goals and "vocal support" to" get this important paint. Game two saw the Hawks continue their pre-Christmas slump as they lost to the Devils 4-1. Bill Van Camp, Willy- Edwards and Tony Oxley led the way for the Pizza gang as they kept pace with the Aces for the league lead. Harrison Blazers must have liked the' Vacation Special as they won their third in as many starts, 3-2 over the Comets. Jim Beatty has his team firing on all cylinders and this may be the team to watch in the final games of the schedule. > The fans gathered quickly to see if the Monsma Chargers could maintain their streak in game 4. Despite giving up two goals early in the first, took control to battle back for a 2-2 tie with Pineridge. The Monsma boys have solved an attendance problem and are Double '0' takes Printers out of putting together a solid attack for netminder Don Card. The final game had Crandells Gamblers put out an excellent effort right to the final buzzer, but weré not able to corral the high flying Taylor Aces. With the 3-2 victory, the Aces start 1994 in sole possession of first place and a balanced attack that commands respect from all teams in the league. Now that the cold snap is here, one wonders if sponsor Wayne Taylor has added some "fuel deals" as incentives to the ayers; This coming Sunday, the SHL will take a "vacation" for the annual ringette tournament at the Scugog Arena. With just four weeks of league action left, there will be some great games down the stretch as teams Jockey for playoff spots. Here is the sched for the games January 16: Crandells vs Van and Truck at 7:50 ; Blazers vs Clippers at 8:50; toms vs Aces at 9:50; J and D Hawks vs Comets at 10:50; and Chargers vs Devils at 11:50." i Uxbridge event Port Perry Printing gave it their best effort in 8 Novice House tournament held December 30 in Uxbridge. The Printers battled right ! down to the wire against Uxbridge Brandon Ford for the A Division championship, finally losing 4-3 in double overtime to - 'the host team. The coaching staff is extremely proud of the way this team handled itself on and off the ice. In the championship game, Mark Lott was named MVP for his work in the goal. Doing the gearing for the Printers was Ryan May with a pair and a single to Derek Bond. James Stevenson and Devon Howsam each helped the cause with an assist. The Printers opened the with a 8-0 shut-out victory over Uxbridge Family Trust. Derek Bond with two and Luke Pilkey with one did the scoring for the Print.shop gang: Pat Lewis, Jonathan Breen and Devon Howsam were in on the goals in a play- role and Mike Lott was outstanding the pipes to g¥eg well shut-out. oir next game was against ck Hawks and again Matt had a fine outing in the cage to help his team to the 4-1 win. Four different players notched the goals in this one--Ryan May, Derek Bond, Devon Howsam and lock. a - ES dining experienc, STABLES AT pr SREVION: ye = Ny YON fvwurite beverage on 11 13 p Port Perry RT The Atom Hoses | League : d on each hoy singles, helpers were Rich: it Beau