..FROM THE DESK OF MIKE HAYAKAWA..
SEPTEMBER 20, 2001
The Markham Waxers had some positives they could dwell on in Monday's
Provincial Junior A Hockey League contest against the visiting Wexford
Raiders.
But it was the negatives that ultimately produced their first loss of the
season, a heartbreaking 7-6 overtime verdict.
"We took some bad penalties and it cost us," explained a dejected Waxers
head coach Russ Herrington afterwards. "We didn't execute our penalty
killing system very well and we didn't execute our defensive zone coverage
very well."
Indeed, bad penalties by the Waxers put them into an early hole as the
Raiders capitalized on three extra strength opportunities to take leads of
2-1 through 20 minutes and 5-4 through two periods.
With the Raiders taking three untimely infractions within a minute span
early in the third period, the Waxers deposited two, two-man advantage goals
by Pat Porretta and Jesse Boucher, who recorded his second hat trick of the
season, to take their first lead of the game at 6-5.
That would be shortlived as the Raiders tied the game near the midway point
and forced overtime on the first of two goals by Matt Christie on what
appreared to be a harmless shot from the side of the net that eluded goalie
Nick Kemp.
Christie struck again at the first minute of the five-minute overtime
session when the Raiders' transition game caught the Waxers' defence out of
position after they failed to cash in on a scoring opportunity. The win by
the Raiders improved their first-place record in the south conference to
3-0-0.
"Our two defence got caught flatfooted," cited Herrington on the
game-winning goal. "You canąt afford to do that against a team like
Wexford."
If there was one aspect that pleased Herrington it was the club's refusal to
pack it in after being down by two goals in the second period.
"We took what was a poor, frustrating effort and turned it into one point
for us against a good team. That was promising. And our power play looked
good again tonight," said Herrington.
Ryan Steane, on a power-play effort, and Jason Young accounted for the other
two Waxers' goals.
Upon conclusion of the game, the Raiders' coaching staff had concerns with
the way the game was being timed and questioned the off-ice timekeeper.
Waxers' general manager Larry Herrington was upset with the approach the
Raiders' coaching staff took rather than going directly to him.
The Waxers will be a busy club this weekend as they host the Oshawa
Legionaires tomorrow at 8 p.m. and then play their first road game of the
season Saturday against the Thornhill Rattlers at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, the
Waxers will play the Milton Merchants as part of the league's annual College
Day Weekend in Mississauga at 9 a.m.

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