..FROM THE DESK OF MIKE HAYAKAWA..
APRIL 1, 2003
Give the Markham Waxers an A plus for effort in last Friday's Provincial Junior A Hockey League semi-final contest against the visiting Wellington Dukes. While in most instances a performance of that magnitude would have enabled them to emerge with a win, it wasn't enough as their postseason party came to an end as they were swept in four straight that culminated with a 4-2 loss.

What the Waxers didn't have working for them were the intangibles.

A friendly bounce of the puck during a couple of key moments might have enabled the Waxers to stave off elimination before a boisterous Centennial Arena crowd that included two busloads of supporters from Wellington.

The Dukes will now face the Aurora Tigers, who won their semi-final series over the Georgetown Raiders, for the league title.

"When you're down 3-0 (in games), the odds of getting any favourable bounces are slim," said a disconsolate Waxers' head coach Russ Herrington upon conclusion of the game.

"They got most of the bounces throughout the whole series," added Waxers' veteran forward Ryan Steane. "But we worked a lot harder (on Friday). We showed a lot more heart and a will to win. It's too bad we didn't play like that for the rest of the series."

Displaying a sense of urgency and playing for pride, the Waxers trailed 1-0 through 20 minutes and 2-1 through two.

What might have been the game's turning point though, took place early in the third period when the Waxers were handed an opportunity to tie the game when referee Scott Oakman awarded Pat Porretta a penalty shot at the 3:31-mark after being hauled down on a breakaway.

Porretta fired a shot on Dukes' goalie Dayne Davis that appeared to go through his legs. But the puck somehow struck Davis' foot and deflected wide of the net. Minutes later, the Dukes capitalized on a power-play opportunity when Mark Campbell was behind the Waxers' net and lifted the puck that struck Markham goalie Scott Gray off the back of his head and into the goal to give Wellington a 3-1 lead.

Waxers' forward Ben Cottreau, who scored the club's first goal on a power play, acknowledged that goal took the wind out of their sails. "Even though we were down we had a positive feeling. But that third goal really deflated us. Hockey is a game of bounces. Wellington got them when they needed them. They took advantage of their opportunities," he said.

Liam Bowen kept the Waxers' faint hopes alive with a goal late in the third period to cut their deficit to a goal. With the Waxers pulling Gray in favour of an extra attacker, the Dukes deposited an insurance marker with 47 seconds remaining.

If there were any positives to be derived from their season-ending loss, Herrington dwelled on the manner in which his charges came to compete. It was a far cry from what they did in the first three games, he said.

"Tonight I thought we played with a sense of pride and that's all you want.

If we played that well for the other three games maybe we're in a different spot, but at this point I don't care. We're still the south conference champions," said Herrington, who also felt his club was emotionally and physically worn out from their two prior playoff encounters against the St. Michael's Buzzers and Wexford Raiders that went six and seven games respectively.

Not to take anything away from the Dukes, Herrington praised their performance and conceded they were by far, the best team his club faced all season long. He even went on the record to predict they will win the league title.

"Their intensity level is their best weapon, between that and the experience they have with 12 guys back from a team that went to the league final last year," he cited.

Cottreau compared the Dukes' style of play to that of a European team, an experience he had in his minor hockey days.

"I heard that Wexford was a big team, but it felt like we played a European team in the way they moved the puck and they're well disciplined." Although the club felt short in reaching the final, Herrington had a good reason to accentuate the positives.

"It was a fantastic year. The guys came in and put in their time and effort for seven to eight months now and did things that no team in Markham has done in 30 years."

"I was extremely happy with the season," added Cottreau. "I think we overachieved in a sense in winning the south division title.

"Sure it's disappointing now," Steane acknowledged. "But in a week or so from now we'll say it was a very successful year. I'm proud of the guys and this team has a lot of good young guys coming back next year. They should be successful for the next few years."

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