Markham Waxers (Waxers split weekend games, big trade follows loss to Vipers - by Mike Hayakawa Sports Editor Markham Economist and Sun)

StreetTalk with Mike Hayakawa

..FROM THE DESK OF MIKE HAYAKAWA..
WAXERS SPLIT WEEKEND GAMES, BIG TRADE FOLLOWS LOSS TO VIPERS
Markham Waxers' head coach Russ Herrington cannot figure it out. For some reason he can't fathom why his club could play well in a hard-fought 3-2 overtime win over the Oshawa Legionaires at Centennial Arena Friday and then do the opposite the following day in a 6-3 road loss to the Vaughan Vipers.

"We didn't want to lose Bobby...but you can't get two players of their stature with broken sticks and a bag of pucks."
Russ Herrington on Doucette trade

"We were consistently inconsistent," said Herrington of his club's weekend performance, which saw them drop into third place in the south conference standings with a 17-11-0 mark. "We moved the puck well and created a lot of scoring chances on Friday and on Saturday we did the opposite. We needed to stay focused on Saturday and we didn't."

The loss, which was the Waxers' fourth in their last five outings, prompted the club to make a move Monday when they traded centreman Bobby Fitkin to the Aurora Tigers for left winger Adam Doucette, 20, and his younger brother, Derek, an 18-year-old defenceman.

Herrington noted the move to trade Fitkin, who was the Waxers' second-leading scorer with 11 goals and 20 assists in 25 games, was to allow him to be closer to his home in Innisfil and at the same time, to obtain two quality players.

Adam Doucette was the Tigers' second-leading scorer with 20 goals and 22 assists while Derek was the club's third-leading scorer with nine goals and 20 assists.

"We didn't want to lose Bobby (Fitkin)," said Herrington. "He's been a great performer. But you can't get two players of their stature with broken sticks and a bag of pucks. Aurora was interested in Bobby and we felt it would be a good fit."

"Adam (Doucette) is a proven player in our league and Derek was one of Aurora's leading point getters as a defenceman. He gives us insurance with Jimmy Ball's injury (shoulder)."

This article was written by Mike Hayakawa and published in the Markham Economist and Sun. Minor edits may have been performed to the original article.

This has been reproduced with permission.

Noting that the league has a Dec. 1 roster cut down date, Herrington hinted some further changes could take place later this week. With Fitkin gone, Herrington revealed he will move Kevin Cribari into the vacant centre spot.

In Friday's game, which saw the Waxers raise $3,260 for Joshua Franey, who is recovering from a life-threatening brain injury back in June, Fitkin staked the Waxers to a 1-0 first-period lead before the Legionaires tied the game in the second period. The Legionaires then took the lead near the midway point of the third period before Jason Young tied the game on a power-play goal to force overtime. Mark Mitchell potted the winner just 1:20 into the extra session.

On Saturday, Jesse Boucher scored two power-play goals for the Waxers, who trailed 3-2 after one period and 4-3 through two. James Regan gave the Waxers a 1-0 lead.

The Waxers host the last-place North York Rangers this Friday at 8 p.m. and
then play at St. Michael's on Sunday at 7 p.m.

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