Prescott Major Midget AA/AAA
Hockey Tournament
London Jr. Knights shoot for the Stars with win over Richmond Hill in
final
By David Dickenson, Journal Staff Writer
PRESCOTT - The Knights reigned supreme at the 32nd annual major midget
AA/AAA tournament in Prescott by capturing the title after a strong 6-1
victory over the Richmond Hill Stars in the championship game Saturday night.
"It was a strong finish to our year," explained London Jr.
Knights coach Chuck Dufton. "This was our sixth tournament of the year
and our third win. We've been here before, so we knew how big the tournament
is and we really appreciate how the community treated us and opened up their
homes to us."
The game was a tight-checking affair, which turned chippy as the game
progressed.
Richmond Hill took an early 1-0 lead to the game with a shot from the
point, but London managed to bounce right back with a pair of unanswered
goals to end the first period with a 2-1 lead. After a hard-fought second
period which saw a Stars goal disallowed because of the net being off its
pegs, the Knights came to life again with a four-goal third period to defeat
Richmond Hill.
For the kids who got a chance to play in the final, the memory is one
they won't soon forget.
"It's just a really great tournament," said Knights captain
Kent Lucien. "The fans, the billets and all the great people have kept
coming back all weekend and supporting all the teams.
"Besides winning, The Row and all the kids coming up and asking
for autographs has to be my favourite part. It really shows how much the
kids love the game here and how many dedicated people there are here to
put on this tournament."
Even after their defeat in the finals, the Richmond Hill team was thrilled
with their experience and the added bonus of being awarded the critic's
choice award from The Row.
"I really enjoyed myself," explained Stars defenceman Darryl
Burkart. "It's our second season coming to the area and the fans and
kids are just great. With the way they treat the players here, showing support
and giving us so many gifts it really shows that they care a lot about the
players who come here. It's one of the best tournaments I've ever been to
and probably the most memorable."
In the consolation final, the Clarington Toros continued their strong
offensive play to score a 4-1 win over the Calgary Rangers. The Toros, who
started the tournament with eight - players before a few more showed up;
battled through the ranks to rack up a lot of points and win the award as
the tournament's most gentlemanly team.
In the Dr. Peters championship, the Cambridge Hawks scored a 5-2 win
over the Don Mills Flyers, while the Mississauga Senators captured the Dr.
Peters consolation title with a 4-0 win over Yorba Linda in a brawl filled
game, which had to be called with five minutes left in the game.
Players, coaches and fans were thrilled with how the weekend went and
were quick to pass along credit to the tournament committee and the town
for being great hosts.
Wayne Yandon, the father of Richmond Hill player Steve Yandon, was quick
to praise the organizers for putting on a great weekend.
"We've been to a lot of tournaments and this is as good as any,"
said Yandon. "The organizers really do an amazing job and it's even
more impressive for such a small community.
"We were at the Cardinal tournament last year and it was a consensus
the guys wanted to come back. It was a good weekend last year and another
one this year. We were finalists last year in Cardinal, finalists this year
in Prescott, maybe the third year will be the charm for us to win it."
Tournament committee co-chair Tom Elliott considered the weekend a success
for all involved.
"Even with 14 teams, we were happy with how everything went,"
said Elliott. "We're going to try to get 16 next year. It was a tough
year with teams disbanded for the season and the american teams having regional
championships this week and March break, but a special thank you really
has to go out to not only the whole committee, the SGMHA and the volunteers,
but to Tracy Swan who has spent countless hours working to try and get teams
right up until late Tuesday night."
Elliott was quick to put into perspective what the committee felt the
tournament was all about.
"It's about the kids," said Elliott. "With all the awards,
trophies and prizes we give out, it's a great thing for the kids (taking
part) to get and its a great thing for the kids of South Grenville to be
part of it and enjoy it."
Elliott indicated by his early estimation the Prescott and Cardinal tournaments
combined will once again raise $15,000 to helep offset the rising costs
of registration in the South Grenville Minor Hockey Association.
Prescott welcomes home Spike
By David Dickenson, Journal Staff Writer
PRESCOTT - To his players and in California he's known as Spencer, but
they quickly found out the hometown boy goes by "Spike" while
back in the Fort Town.
Spike Birnie made a triumphant return to the Prescott area over the weekend
as a coach at the major midget AA/AAA tournament.
Birnie headed up this year's "it" team at the tournament, which
caught everyone's eye, travelling all the way from Yorba Linda, California.
"It's a long way to come and pretty expensive," Birnie told
The Journal, "but everyone is loving it. The players and parents
want to come back next year. They are really appreciating the tournament
and are excited to watch the other teams, play some strong competition and
bring back some fond memories."
Birnie indicated that his California boys are loving the little things
at the tournament.
"They're getting plenty of exposure here and are loving the fans,"
said Birnie. "They see all the kids here helping out and that's just
awesome. This is their first time seeing the Canadian style of hockey, and
I really hope it rubs off on them."
The young coach indicated his nickname was confusing a few of his players
at first.
"It was kind of funny," said Birnie. "Guys in the area
were talking to them about hockey and they would mention me as 'Spike',
but no one knew who they were talking about at first, because they know
me as Spencer."
On top of getting a chance for some Canadian exposure for his team, Birnie
also got a nice perk in getting to return to his hometown.
"I got to see my family and friends which was great," said
Birnie. "I remember coming to watch all the excitement and it's brought
back a lot of memories."
The local hockey legend, who played minor pro hockey in California, got
involved in coaching while in Yorba Linda and joined up with Steve Chelios
(brother of NHL star Chris Chelios) to start the Yorba Linda Blackhawks
hockey program.
"It's only our second year of operation," explained Birnie.
"We're still new and developing the way the Rideau-St. Lawrence Kings
program did, but this year we had a midget, bantam and two peewee squads,
giving us a good base to build off of. We're trying to get a major and minor
midget team for next year so we can come back and compete in Cardinal and
Prescott."
Next generation of 'The Row' finding its legs for final flood
By Cortney Willard, Special to The Journal
PRESCOTT - Sometimes a handful of people with one common goal can make
a difference. The new and old members of "The Row" fit that description
to a tee.
The Row began 33 years ago when the Jr. B Saints were on the ice. Bob
Beattie, Mark Kirkby, Ronnie Bro, Dale Byrd and Dean Kirkby could never
have envisioned what The Row was to become and what it would mean for Prescott.
Fathers and friends of the players, all of them decided to support their
team as one unit, which would become known as The Row.
The Row now consists of a mix of fathers and sons, mothers and daughters,
but their message is still the same, "We are here to support the Rangers,
but we want all of the teams to know that we are there for them too and
will cheer and support them as well," said Dino Bologna, member and
co-organizer of The Row.
"Two years ago, us old guys handed over The Row to the young guys,"
said Dean Kirkby, referring to Bologna, Jason Saunders, Steve Smith and
his nephew Ryan Kirkby.
The Row organized the chuck-a-puck, sold Row pins and put together a
final flood that was one of the highlights, as it is every year of the tournament.
Bologna had a lot of people to thank for volunteering their time and
energy to making this year's tournament fun and memorable for fans and players
alike. "We would like to thank Wayne Reid (Brock Limousine), Riverside,
Perrin's, Sherri Bro, Mike McCaw, Matt McCaw, Steve Smith, Brenda Byrd,
Jeff Byrd, Dean Kirkby, Greg Williams and Carmen Maggio. All of these people
and companies donated their time and in some cases their vehicles for the
final flood to The Row. We could not have done it without them." Bologna
also had one special co-organizer to mention. "I would also like to
thank Jason Saunders who drives down from Toronto every year for this tournament;
that's the kind of spirit we want to keep."
The Row had a few gifts of their own to give out, one of them being a
Montreal Canadians colored jersey with "Old Coach" on the back
and The Row on the front. This jersey was presented to Ron Baker, better
known around the rink as Old Coach for his 37 years of coaching little hockey
players on their way up. Speaking for The Row, Bologna stressed just what
Baker has meant to this town. "He's coached us, our kids and in some
cases our grandchildren, we'd like to thank him for dedicating his life
to us and our children."
While Bologna feels there is always room for improvement and has stated
next year The Row will be even better, Dean Kirkby had something to say
to the young Row organizers. "From the old guys to the young guys,
you are doing a great job." | 
