2016 to include 7 honourees at ceremony planned for Oct 29
By
Mark Schadenberg
Everybody
knows about the pressure of a playoff hockey game when your team is leading by
just one goal as the seconds tick away slowly. You own the lead, but you don’t
want to make any mistakes and your quest is to hopefully score an empty net
goal to seal the win.
For
the Woodstock major atom boys’ hockey team of 2003-04, that was the nail biting
and crunch time at least twice in very important playoff games.
According
to their nomination for the Woodstock Sports Wall Of Fame, this Woodstock Minor
Hockey Association squad had completed its regular season 21-1-4 in Alliance
league action and also won a prestigious tourney in Ottawa in January leading
up to the playoff stretch.
The
WMHA is (was) sanctioned as a ‘A’ level centre, but the Alliance league
combines ‘AA’ and ‘A’ teams up until Christmas and then divides the top half
and lower half, so a ‘A’ calibre or classified team could most certainly win a
‘AA’ title, but it’s a daunting task.
On
Sunday, March 14, 2004, Woodstock won its Alliance playoff championship by
sweeping Stratford, including winning the last game 2-0 as Eric Housworth
earned the shutout.
In
preparing to be master of ceremonies for the induction of the Woodstock Sports
Hall Of Fame annually, I spend some time sitting at the microfilm machine at
the Woodstock Public Library. The Sentinel-Review minor hockey stories
surrounding the major atoms’ championship noted that Dylan Lazarus had scored
on a breakaway for the contest’s lone goal until quite late in the game and with
Stratford pulling its goalie to attempt to find the equalizer, it was
Woodstock’s Kyle Robertson who would score into the empty net to clinch the win
for the WMHA major atoms.
In
a close series with Stratford as good opposition, Woodstock had also won the
previous day 3-1 in an exciting finish as well.
OHF
PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
The
Ontario Hockey Federation championships in the second weekend of April would
include 6 teams – host Stratford, plus winners from the OMHA, northern Ontario
(Sault Ste Marie), and the Toronto region’s GTHL winners (Mississauga).
In
the semis, Woodstock beat Stratford again – this time 5-0.
In
the finals, it would be a 5-3 victory over Sault Ste Marie. This time Jordan
Minello had the game winning goalie, but once again it was Robertson with the
decisive late empty net goal.
The
story in The Sentinel-Review did add that all the players had an opportunity to
drink from the championship cup – Gatorade, or course.
Outscoring
its opponents at the OHF event 29-10, it is believed to be the only WMHA team
to win an OHF ‘AA’ championship.
Team
was:
Goalies:
Zach Bedard, Eric Housworth.
Defence:
Brett Culbert, Raymond Hettinga, Marcus Michalski, Ian Pasiak, Attilio Tonin
Forwards:
Derek Cowing, Trent Hanzel, Nicholas Harris, Dylan Lazarus, Tyler Lyons, Jordan
Minello, Taylor Nancekievill, Kyle Robertson and Neil Skinner.
Head
Coach: John Lazarus
Assistants:
Ron Hettinga, Ken Minello, Fred Murphy.
Trainer:
Scott Robinson.
SPORTS
HALL CEREMONY
The
Woodstock Sports Hall of Fame will introduce seven (7) new inductees on
Saturday, Oct. 29, with a 1:30 p.m. ceremony, and at the same time formally
unveil the new format for sports recognition locally at the Woodstock District
Community Complex.
Since
Southwood Arenas at the WDCC opened its doors 20 years ago in 1996, a series of
plaques have been affixed to the wall to honour athletes, coaches and builders,
historic figures, and teams. These plaques have faded – not in importance – but
by the sun through the tall sky windows in the foyer.
The
new look will be two 42-inch kiosk-like screens in the foyer in front of a
collage of noteworthy sports pictures.
The
monitors will be a touch-screen style to learn more about sporting
accomplishments of the Woodstock area, but also feature an ability to promote
local events such as Cowapolooza, the Victoria Day parade, and the Rec &
Leisure Fair, but also the art gallery, museum, library, and important public
meetings.
The
main reason to visit the Southwood Arenas complex Oct. 29, however, is to see
the induction ceremony for Kelly Paton and Branden Wilhelm in the individual
athlete categories. In historic (before 1970) the honourees will be two --
Herbert Clark and the Anderson family. The team to be honoured is the Woodstock
atom boys’ from 2004. The builder of sport is the late Alf Langdon. The
lifetime achievement recognition will be to the Oxford County Naval Veterans
Association.
LINKS:
A look
at list of previous inductees:
Chair Of Recreation Advisory Committee
& Full-Time Realtor For 17 Years
Mark Schadenberg, Sales
Representative
Senior Real Estate Specialist
(SRES designation)
Royal LePage Triland Realty
Independently Owned & Operated, Brokerage
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