22 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, January 12, 1988 Swedish Bantams visit Captain Mikael Ehlis and Sean Bradbury took the ceremonial opening face-off with the % The Swedish coaching staff of Clas-Goran 'Bylon, Erik Sjoberg and Karl-Erik Ottosson dur- 9c acai gifts prior to the game in international hockey { puck dropped by Port Perry Bantam team spon- sors Diane and Ken Goreski. ing the opening ceremonies. 3 The players from both teams exchanged tradition. That's goaltender Paul Kett at left with his Mora counterpart Jocke Karlen. The Port Perry Goreski Bantams got 1988 off to a nice start as they hosted a team from Mora, Sweden in an exhibition game New Years Day at thé Scugog Arena. About 600 fans turned out to see the local Bantams take on the Swedes and they were treated to a good all-round game with Port Perry coming out on top by a score of 7-3. The Mora team, made up almost entirely of minor Bantams (14 years old) with four Pee Wee age players, displayed fine skating and puck handling skills, but the Goreski Ban- tams got the upper hand with their strong checking in the corners and along the boards. They also took ad- vantage of their scoring chances with some accurate sniping. After opening ceremonies at cen- tre ice in which players and coaches from both teams were introduced and short speeches from Minor Hockey president Don Steele and Scugog councillor Howard Hall, Port Perry Bantam team sponsors Diane and Ken Goreski dropped the puck to get the game underway. Mora got on the board first in the opening minute as- Johan Eberg scored quickly, but Port Perry came right back with a marker from the stick of Sean Bradbury. The Port Bantams took advantage. of a Mora penalty to take a 2-1 lead when Steve Staniland whistled a slap shot from just across the blue line. Per Liljedal tied the game at 2-2 when he displayed a fine shot along the ice. Late in the period, the Port Bantams took the lead for good when Chris Legere popped home a rebound. The remaining goals for the Port Bantams were scored by Scott Porter on a breakaway, Jarrett Harman, Eric Grosvenor and Ethan Lavereau. Replying for the Swedes was Magnus Holm, a smooth skating for- ward who stick-handled his way in front of the Port cage for a wrist shot to the corner. This was an entertaining game to watch with just a few minor Port Perry Minor Hockey president Don Steele and Mora team Scugog penalties as referees Dave Ball- ingall and Rob Franssen kept'an eye on the proceedings. Following the game at a dinner for both teams and officials, Port Perry coach Todd Wilbur had words - of praise for the way the players conducted themselves on the ice, and he noted the strong skating skills of the Swedish players. ~ Mora is a town of about 25,000 peo- ple located 300 km northeast of the Swedish capital of Stokholm. The Mora Bantam team plays about 25 games per season against other communities in that area of the country, and is near the top in stan- dings. The players also have several practise sessions each week. Mora is a manufacturing town and fans at the Scugog Arena New Years Day probably noticed a large brightly painted wooden horse at centre ice during the opening ceremonies. The wooden horses are hand carved and come in all sizes. They are a symbol of the Mora area and are sold throughout Sweden. After arriving in Canada December 27, the Mora team will have played nine exhibition games before departing for home the mid- dle of this week. The team took part in a Silver Stick tournament in Oshawa, winning one and losing two. The players took in thé Toron- to Maple Leaf game Saturday night and on Monday, they played an ex- hibition game in the Gardens against Ajax, which is hosting them on their tour of southern Ontario. The father of one of the Mora players told the Star this is the first trip to Canada for almost all the team members and for many, their first trip outside Sweden. He said the players are having a great time in Canada, but the pace and the number of hockey games was star- ting to wear them out. The team worked for over a year on a variety of fundraising ventures to pay for the trip to Canada which cost in ex- cess of $6,000. While in Canada, the Swedish players, parents and coaches have been billeted with families in the Ajax area. official Bjorn Aberg exchanged gifts and greetings.