The Glengarry Sports Scene
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Glens claim third straight St. Lawrence Division championship
Submitted by sportseditor on 14 March 2009 - 11:23pm
Though none of the players wanted to touch the trophy after the game, a 4-2 victory on the ice in Williamstown Saturday night was enough to clinch the St. Lawrence Division playoff championship, Alexandria's third in as many years.
The Glens built a 3-0 lead by the first intermission, though play was far from one-sided as Char-Lan had plenty of scoring opportunities, only stopped by a few goal posts and the strong play of Alexandria netminder Dominic Quann.
The Rebels finally were rewarded early in the second frame, but the Glens responded quickly to make it a 4-1 advantage for the visitors in a hard hitting, evenly played period. With 37 seconds left, Char-Lan turned the red light on again, finding life as the boys headed into the third.
As the Rebels general manager, John Chafee, put it, "The story's not ready to be written yet."
The home team pulled out all the stops in the third, throwing everything they had at Quann and his Alexandria teammates, but the Glens tightened up their defensive play to secure the win in the game and the series, both by 4-2 margins.
Alexandria Coach Marc Sauve called it "quite the relief" to finally close out the division, adding the series was also "quite fun."
He pointed to the "strength of the core of the Glens," referring to the veteran playes who were part of two successive league championships the past two seasons, as key in maintaining an even keel in what was a tumultuous series that swung back and forth.
Next up for the Glens will be Gananoque, the Rideau Division champs, with the series likely to start in Alexandria on Friday.
Men's broomball teams to battle in finals on Sunday
Submitted by sportseditor on 14 March 2009 - 1:19pmRebs, Glens to battle in game six tonight
Submitted by sportseditor on 14 March 2009 - 1:14pmGame six is a do-or-die affair for Char-Lan's Junior B Rebels tonight, as the Glens grabbed a three-games-to-two advantage Friday night in Alexandria, doubling Char-Lan 6-3.
Last night's game at the Sports Palace saw Char-Lan with a two-goal lead early on, but from there the Alexandria boys took over. In the final frame, things got chippy as players wore a path to the sin bin. The period also included two fights, resulting in a pair of players from each side being tossed.
Game six goes tonight in Williamstown with a 7:45 p.m. start time. The Glens will be looking to finish it off and snag the St. Lawrence Division title, while the Rebels will be striving to stave off elimination.
If needed, game seven will be played back in Alexandria on Monday night.
Minor Midget Glens score East title
Submitted by sportseditor on 13 March 2009 - 2:11pmBothy Brew scores men's indoor soccer title
Submitted by sportseditor on 12 March 2009 - 9:44pmThe Bothy Brew nabbed the Glengarry Soccer League's indoor title tonight, beating Glen Nevis 2-1 in game two to win the final series two games to none.
Leo Booyink scored both markers for the winning side in what was a chippy affair.
Glens coach satisfied with home ice advantage in Battle of Glengarry
Submitted by sportseditor on 12 March 2009 - 5:14pmDespite dropping a 1-0 decision in Williamstown on Wednesday to the Jr. B Rebels, the Alexandria Glens coach, Marc Sauve, says he is still optimistic with his team maintaining home-ice advantage and playing in front of a big crowd with "lots of energy" when the boys will take to the Sports Palace ice Friday night in game five of the St. Lawrence Division final series.
He says Char-Lan goaltender Sebastien Parker "stole the show" Wednesday night, though admits some of the Glens "didn't show up to play."
Sauve adds, the Glens "need to play like champs," something he is not worried about as the series continues this weekend.
Alexandria netminder Dominic Quann returned to the team for both games three and four this week and was "very solid" according to his coach. He had been knocked out of game two in Williamstown last weekend after a Char-Lan player collided with him.
Game five in the best-of-seven series goes Friday night at 8 p.m. in Alexandria, with the series moving on to Williamstown Saturday night for game six at 7:45 p.m.
Junior B Rebels square series at two games apiece
Submitted by sportseditor on 12 March 2009 - 1:52pmWith a 1-0 victory on home ice Wednesday night, Char-Lan's Junior B hockey team evened the division final series at two games apiece, blanking the visiting Alexandria Glens.
The pivotal game five is slated for Friday night in Alexandria, starting at 8 p.m., with game six returning to Williamstown Saturday night for a 7:45 p.m. puck drop.
HT feels pain on the court in OFSAA consolation final
Submitted by sportseditor on 11 March 2009 - 11:14pmSquaring off against E.S. Paincourt for the second time at OFSAA, the senior boys basketball team from Holy Trinity was looking to win again as they had done in the opening match on Monday, despite struggling from the free-throw line and with turnover.
However, in the consolation final today, HT trailed for much of playing time, dropping a close one, 30-28, to settle for second place in the relegation bracket.
The boys survived sending a Paincourt player to the foul line with 4.7 seconds left. As he failed to capitalize, that gave the Falcons one last chance at the tie.
Matt McRae had it, moving the ball up court, firing it at the buzzer only to have it clank off the rim. Kevin Aleinik was the team's top scorer with 11 points in the contest.
In the gold medal final, defending champion Academie Mere Teresa Jaguars from Hamilton put on an offensive clinic, pounding Kenora's St. Thomas Aquinas High School Saints 96-48 to retain the provincial A title.
Glen Sandfield extends women's soccer series
Submitted by sportseditor on 11 March 2009 - 7:30pmWith a 3-2 victory Tuesday night against the Northerners, Glen Sandfield's women's soccer team knotted the indoor soccer semifinal series at a game apiece, forcing a deciding match for Thursday night. Game time is 6:30 p.m. at GDHS gym 3. The winner will advance to play Alexandria in the final series.
The men's final series sees game two take to the GDHS floor on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. The Bothy Brew won game one last week and with a victory Thursday night will snag the A title. However, they will need to get past Glen Nevis to do it.
MacDougall skates with Colts into playoffs
Submitted by sportseditor on 11 March 2009 - 7:23pmFormer Char-Lan Rebel Grant MacDougall joined the Jr. A Colts mid-season, counting 10 points in 23 games.
His Cornwall tier 2 junior team is now battling in the first round of the playoffs against the Pembroke Lumber Kings, the second-place squad from the regular season. The Colts are 1-1 through two games, with game three Friday night on the road and game four back on home ice Saturday.
Holy Trinity wins OFSAA basketball consolation semi
Submitted by sportseditor on 11 March 2009 - 7:17pmToday on the floor at St. Joseph's, the senior boys basketball team from Holy Trinity held on for a 38-37 victory in a consolation semifinal game against Arthur Voaden Secondary School from St. Thomas.
After a first quarter that saw the teams tied at eight points apiece, the Falcons fell behind Arthur Voaden, trailing by as much as seven points, but a strong effort in the final quarter led by Kevin Aleinik and Dave McDonell gave the local side the advantage as they held on for the one-point victory despite the St. Thomas troop having a chance to tie from the line with 2.2 seconds left on the clock.
Alexandria grabs a 2-1 lead in the Battle of Glengarry
Submitted by sportseditor on 10 March 2009 - 11:51pmTonight at the Sports Palace in Alexandria, the Jr. B Glens grabbed a two-games-to-one advantage over Char-Lan with a 7-4 victory in game three of the St. Lawrence Division final series.
Game four is scheduled for Wednesday night in Williamstown, starting at 8:15 p.m.
Glengarry soccer star nets best first-half chance for Canada against Russia
Submitted by sportseditor on 10 March 2009 - 10:04pmPlaying in Cyprus today for Team Canada, Williamstown's Christina Julien netted her country's best scoring chance of the opening half of play against Russia.
The 20-year-old started the play off, booting the ball upfield for Kelly Parker, who in turn got past a Russian defender and sent the ball on to Julien who fired it just wide of the mark and into the side netting.
After a scoreless first half, counted a pair of markers in the second period, beating Russia 2-0 and earning a berth in the Cyprus Cup championship match to be played March 12.
Char-Lan boys forced to swallow bitter EOSSAA pill
Submitted by sportseditor on 10 March 2009 - 8:27pmAfter coming back from a two-goal deficit to win their second round-robin contest 3-2 against La Salle, the Crusaders boys hockey team was looking for a strong effort in the championship match and a second straight EOSSAA title.
Playing on home ice in Williamstown, Char-Lan faced off against Bishop Smith in a hard-fought final that once again saw the boys need a third-period comeback to overcome a two goal deficit. Kyle MacDougall found himself all alone in the slot, the recipient of a puck that somehow found its way through a crowd, and he made no mistake to bulge the twine for the equalizer that knotted the affair at 3-3.
However, a few minutes later, a Bishop Smith bullet put the visitors back in front once more, and they salted it away late with an empty-netter to round out the scoring in a 5-3 Char-Lan loss.
The defeat for the Crusaders likely means the team will not advance to the provincial championships, OFSAA, as they did a year ago, thus marking the end of this season having to settle for EOSSAA silver.
HT nabs win in b-ball consolation match
Submitted by sportseditor on 10 March 2009 - 8:20pmPlaying in the consolation bracket at OFSAA, the senior boys basketball team from Holy Trinity scored a decisive win against Notre Dame, the same squad that knocked the Falcons out of EOSSAA contention last week.
The HT boys opened with a 13-0 advantage, going on to victory with a 59-27 effort that saw Dave McDonell lead the scoring parade with 19 points, followed by Kevin Aleinik, 11 points, and Ben McAllister, 7 points. Jordan Rochon, Matt McRae, and Brett Perras each counted 5 points in the win earlier this afternoon.
EOSSAA boys hockey takes over Williamstown ice
Submitted by sportseditor on 10 March 2009 - 2:24pmThe Char-Lan Rec Centre is the site of today's EOSSAA boys hockey tournament, featuring the top high school hockey teams from across Eastern Ontario.
The host Crusaders, SD&G champions, opened with a 4-0 shutout victory against South Grenville. Game two for Char-Lan goes at 2 p.m. against La Salle Secondary School out of Kingston with a berth in the championship match on the line.
The final is scheduled for 5 p.m. Char-Lan is the defending EOSSAA champion.
Holy Trinity drops game two, moves on to relegation
Submitted by sportseditor on 10 March 2009 - 2:21pmAfter an OFSAA game-one victory on Monday, the senior boys basketball team from Holy Trinity was felled by Thorold Second School this morning, 46-40, to be relegated to the consolation round.
Despite 23 points from Kevin Aleinik, the Falcons were unable to contain a strong offensive effort by Thorold's Josh Vankralingen in the second half. HT did recover for a brief lead at the end of the third quarter, but it slipped away in the final frame.
The boys will next play Notre Dame at 5:15 p.m. with the match going at St. Joseph's Catholic Secondary School in Cornwall. Championship round matches continue at the Falcons' Nest as Mere Teresa looks to defend its 2008 championship.
Falcons fly into round two with opening victory at OFSAA
Submitted by sportseditor on 9 March 2009 - 1:19pmHoly Trinity's senior boys basketball team survived struggles from the free-throw line and numerous turnovers to prevail in the provincial championship opener, 41-33 against E.S. Paincourt this morning.
Kevin Aleinik led the offence, counting 21 points in the game.
The victory advances the eighth-seeded Falcons to a Tuesday morning round-two game against Thorold Secondary School, the 14th seed at OFSAA. Game time is 10:15 a.m. at the Falcons Nest with the victor going on to a quarter-final contest later in the day, while the loser is bounced to the consolation round.
Quick playoff exit for Major Midget Glens
Submitted by sportseditor on 8 March 2009 - 9:30pmAfter just one game, the playoffs are over for Alexandria's Major Midget B Glens, as the boys dropped their do-or-die semifinal match on home ice to South Stormont, 6-1.
The Glens had their chances early on, but got into penalty trouble, amassing 70 minutes in all, a fact the coach called "unbelievable."
Nonetheless, the season isn't quite over for the team, since a first-place finish from the 28-game regular season schedule has assured Alexandria a spot at the Tournament of Champions next month.
Catch some midget hockey tonight
Submitted by sportseditor on 8 March 2009 - 11:19amNorth Glengarry will see two midget hockey teams battle in playoff action tonight.
In Maxville starting at 5 p.m., the Eastern Ontario Wild AAA minor midget team which includes Williamstown's Eric Ming, takes to the ice against the Ottawa Senators minor midgets in game four of the OEMHL final series. The Senators won game one, while in game two, the squads finished in a draw. Game three, played last Thursday, went into the win column for the Wild, setting up this match to break the deadlock. The victor in the series will be the first team to capture seven points. Both currently have three.
At 7 p.m. in Alexandria, the first-place Major Midget B Glens will faceoff against the third-seeded South Stormont Selects in a one-game do-or-die opening playoff tilt. The winner of this contest advances the the East Division final, while the season will be over for the losing squad.