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Dynes, Thunderbirds collide! There shouldn't be an empty seat, a dull moment, and, most definitely, not a four-game sweep. No way. Both the Jewellers and the Birds are coming off four-game sweeps with Barrie Colts and Orillia Travelways respectively and what more can you ask? When the Oak Ridges Dynes Jewellers and Thornhill Thunderbirds open their Mid-Ontario Junior ‘B’ hockey championship final Friday night several things shouldn’t happen. “It’s going to be a tough series,” said Demise That’s the good news. The bad, of course, is the quick demise of the Provincial Junior A Richmond Hill Rams. They fell before the onrushing North York Rangers in five. This is where I’ve been coming in for the past nine or 10 years. In stride I talked to Rams’ president Dick Ball about it all and he seemed to be taking it in his stride. “It was our misfortune to draw North York right away,” he said. “We might have given them a better battle if we had won that second game in overtime after taking the first one.” The world is full of “if’s”. Ball added that his team was going through “a rebuilding year and that takes time.” There’s no way I’m going to predict a winner. But I will predict some exciting hockey. Imagine, two area teams battling it out for the championship. That’s drama. Don’t remember it happening for quite awhile. I’ve been sitting here trying to collect myself. And that‘s not easy for a man my age. To my right is a calendar which sends a warm glow coursing through me every time I look at it. That should be quite a play-off match between the Oak Ridges Dynes Jewellers and the Thomhill Thunderbirds of the Mid~0ntario Junior B hockey league. Play-off time The first game starts Friday night at 8 pm. in Thomhill Community Centre. I suggest you sashay on down there for that and the rest of the series. It says “March 1” on it and I want to reach out and fondle it. We made it. February has finally hit the dust. Nothing can stop me now. Steady, Fred. There’s Work to be done. Which means I had better do some chatting about the local junior hockey playoff scene. Things are happening. 7 _ _ If the Rams could coax an average of 600 fans to a game they would be making plans for entry into the World Hockey Association. A la the Cleveland Barons. Why bother? My first reaction was, ‘.‘why bother?” If no one is interested in watching junior hockey, just forget it. Happy note The happiest note was his com- ment that the Rams managed to tighten up on finances this year and make inroads on their deficits garnered in other years. This in spite of the Rams having their poorest year at the gate. Attendance was down about 40 per cent with attendance averaging (on a clear day) maybe around 300. Sports Pete Artemchuk . . he’s confident Time ’Marches’ On Wednesday, March 2, 1977 Excuse me now, I‘ve got a date with March. My calendar anyway. It just fell off the wall. That means six more months of winter. Doesn’t it? Dynes’ coach Pete Artemchuk. “I think the team that wins this will go a long ways in the subsequent playoff rounds.” Snowmobile Oak Ridges Club 99 will be holding a “Snowmobile Safety Training Course" Sunday from 9 am. to 2 pm. Locale is 12 Beaverton Road in Richmond Hill. For further in- formation call Dick Brocklehurst at 884â€"3865, after 6 pm. That’s a good point. I hope he's right. It just strikes me as a very frustrating business to be in. Providing entertainment for empty houses. That’s not for me. Just maybe? I actually long for those old days when arenas were packed with spectators, people were falling over the boards, ringing cow-bells, and all that. So come on someone out there. Give Mary a sponsorship so Rich- mond Hill can go “class” to it. Would be much appreciated. Call her at 884â€"7620. Anyway, Mary is still on the search for a real-live sponsor for her team. This is a big year for junior ball female-style in Richmond Hill. This place is going to host the Ontario Junior Girl’s championship the weekend of June 24. Tough games Artemchuk observed that “we had some tough games with Thornhill throughout the schedule. We won some and lost some but it’s a new season now. 7 He figures that “this series will go to the team that wants it the most. We really warntAit. guys gre up?” __ Arfemchuk will g6 'with essentially the same team that carried him to first place in the regular schedule with the Maybe we’ll get some of that in the Oak Ridges-Thornhill series. Wouldn’t it be wonderful? March notes ' Lovely March notes here: Talked to Mary Williamson of the Richmond Hill Junior Girls softball team. That’s a sure sign of spring. Nothing really changes, eh? Until that big change. Ball figures it’s a combination of several things. The fact there are a number of other clubs in the area competing for often the same spectators. Maybe even the disillusionment with hockey in general. High salaries, squabbles, and low-calorie performances from the players. Miracle Ball admitted it would take a miracle to fill the local arenas again and he’s not looking for miracles. But he gets a charge out of providing a vehicle for young hockey players with stars in their eyes. “Where would they develop without clubs such as ours‘?”, he asks. “It’s always satisfying to see young people pass through the ranks to Major A hockey or colleges and the like." Yéu name it. Who knows for sure? But why bother? No go Why 'don’t people go to hockey games anymore? Pack your tent and steal away into the desert. Or buy a new color television set and watch 18-hour segments of those new blockâ€"buster movies. fred simpson Finally Ralph Beer . so’s he exception of regular goalie Doug Brumwell who will be out of action for some time Bad. good news “Losing Doug with an eye injury was bad news.” said Artemchuk. “The good news was picking up Rob Benson from Markham. He’s come up real good for us, a very pleasant surprise." Fire power Coach Artemchuk expects to go with much the same “go-go" fire power offence he’s employed all season against all the teams. Despite Artemchuk‘s kind words, it was all Dynes for at least three out of the four games. Praises Barrie “They’re a darn good hockey club,” said Artemchuk. “A good, clean- playing group of players who, man for man, are probably the strongest in the league.”r He added “They had a lot of depth at the beginning but injuries hurt them. But they kept coming on.” The Jewellers won the opener 5-1, the second game by an 8-3 score, the third 6-5. Instead of the Jeweller’s having just downed the Colts 8-2 for a clean sweep of their best-ofâ€"four Mid-Ontario Junior B hockey semi-final series. Over Barrie Colts Good times for Bayview in world of wres t/ing RICHMOND HILL â€" Bayview Secondary School maintained its hammer-lock on high school wrestling by winning the Georgian Bay cham- pionships for the third year in a row. They did all right in the Ontarios too. Coach Larry Johnson’s gladiators placed eighth in the Ontario Wrestling Association championships on the weekend â€" their best showing in some OAK RIDGES â€" The way Richmond Hill Dynes‘ coach Pete Artemchuk was praising the late-Barrie Colts you’d have thought both teams had just finished a grueling seven-game series. THORNHILL â€" The Thornhill Thunderbirds literally power-played their way into the Mid-Ontario Junior B finals with Oak Ridges Dynes Jewellers. The Thunderbirds scored no less than four povier play goals Saturday night as they downed Orillia Travelway 5-2 and bounced them right out of the playoffs in four straight games. Thomhill Won’the first game of the series. the second one by 6-1 and the “You don‘t change that much,” he This is just a slight disagreement. You ought to see them when they’re mad. That’s Dave Kinzett on top and Steve Penyige on Jewellers do it in 4... said. Maybe you come up with a few quirks they don’t expect, exploit any weaknesses you didn’t concentrate on in the regular season.” Artemchuk expects a tough series, “a physical one but I think they’ll stick to hockey. You can‘t play Shorthanded in the playoffs or you get murdered. We certainly intend to stick to hockey, anyway." Birds ready Also expecting a tough series is Thunderbirds’ coach Ralph Beer. “Let’s face it,” he saidâ€"“Oak Ridges has a good hockey club. Any club that leading by only 1-0 at the end of the first and 2-0 going into the final 20 minutes. The third period rang the death knell for the Colts. Richmond Hill goals saw Cam Reston opening the scoring in the first from Dale Roffey who was a big point in the series. Big guns The Jeweller’s unleashed their big guns in the third with the following results: Dale Roffey unassisted just a minute into the period; then it was Jim Clement from Tony Robinson and Bob McCullough. Barrie’s Jamie Law got his team on the board but then it was Roffey again from Cam Reston; and Neil Crockford from Dave Stuart. And Mike Carevale from McCullough and Greg Bogaerts; and Reston from Steve Sherman and Roffey on a power play. Barrie‘s last goal was from Bob Coulson, also on a power play. Big goal Saturday night’s game at Bond Lake third one by 5-3. Nothing to it Thornhill took over in the second with Bob Hunter opening the scoring at the 9 minute mark followed by three power play goals in a row courtesy of Rob Young, Glen Daurio and Barry Howson. Saturday’s wind-up saw Orillia give it a good early try on opening period goals by Mark Lawson and Bruce Munro, the latter a power play effort. The' Thunderbirds added bne more power play in the third from the stick of “We’re coming on strong,” was Johnson’s cement, “and I was very pleased? time. They finished 13th in 1976. Over 500 schools were represented from 17 districts. Individual results saw Steve Penyige winning a bronze in the 141 pound class. Little disappointed Coach Johnson admits to being a little You were saying?! the bottom. Both are members of the Bayview Secondary School wrestling team which won both the York and Georgian Bay beats them has to play 60 minutes of hockey.” He indicated that the real winners could be “the hockey fans in Oak Ridges, Thornhill, and Richmond Hill. I think they’re going to see an exciting series.” Beer figures his team has “gotten up a good head of steam by taking Orillia four straight and we’re going to go out and play our usual game. Lots of tough, hard-skating hockey." D-wéatii-_Kfi;mchuk’vs and Beer's clubs are relatively free of injuries except for the usual aches and pains. saw the Jeweller’s in trouble Clement broke through for a score from Robinson to break a 5-5 tie with less than three minutes remaining. Barrie led this game 2-1 at the end of the first with the score tied 3-3 going into the third. For Dynes it was Mike Carnevale, Reston, Clement, Stuart and McCullough scoring the others. For Barrie, Bob Coulson got three goals with the others going to Law and Don Martin. disappointed with this result “Steve was favored to win a gold this time out,” said Johnson, “but he lost one close decision and that was too much to overcome.” The second game of the series was all Dynes who led 3-1 at the end of the first period and 5-2 going into the third. Parade Stuart and Sherman led the scoring parade with two goals apiece with singles going to Reston, Randy Irwin, Robinson and Carnevale. Roffey picked up three assists along with Reston with two each going to Shawn Parker and Boyd Young. Singles to Clement, Camevale, Mike Fit- zgibbens, and Bogaerts. The second game of the series wés no contest with Thornhill cruising to a 6-1 victory. 3 for Courtemanche Thomhill goals went to Dave Cour- temanche with a big three, Jamie Dave Kinzett finished seventh in the 136 pound class; Jim Houston, seventh in the 136 pound grouping; Roland Sch- midt, ninth in the 141; John Noble, 16th in the 90 pound class. Trail 2-0 v Dean Dorsey started in the nets and was replaced by Ed Takamatsu with the score 2-0 for Orillia. Takamatsu shutout Orillia the rest of the way. Gary Langfield Secondary School championships and then went on to a fine eighth place finish in the Ontario competitions. Other games, if necessary, will be held March 14 at Oak Ridges, March 18 at Thomhill; and March 19 at Bond Lake. All Oak Ridges games start at 7:30 pm. with the games at Thomhill at 8 p.m4 Exception, of course, is goalie Brumwell for Dynes. Here’s how the games are scheduled. The opener is Friday night at Thomhill Community Centre; the next two games are back at Bond Lake Arena Monday and Wednesday nights. The fourth game is in Thornhill the following Friday. Tops York Bayview has reigned supreme in the York County High School wrestling circles having won the championship five years in a row. The third game saw Thomhill move into an early 34) lead. The same old story. Rocky Pantalone was the big triggerman this time with two goals with singles going to Courtemanche, Mike Johns and Scott Howson. Dorsey was in the nets for the first three games and played steady all they way. “Most of our top wrestlers are younger than the top ones.” said Johnson, “so that bids well for next year. We should be much better.” Kennedy and Steve Cromb. Rocky Clark scored Orillia’s lone counter. Dale Roffey . . . lots of points (Photo by H099)