Short Bench But Big Win For Cycs

With only 10 forwards and the 4 defence the Listowel Cyclones squared off with the Waterloo Siskins in a battle for 6th place in the Midwest GOJHL standings last night.
The Cyclones took advantage of some sloppy defensive play by the Siskins and jumped out to a 2-0 lead.  Early in the second period and with a long 5 on 3 powerplay coming up coach Dave Williams called a time out.  The Listowel coach drew up a play on the rinkboard and his special teams unit executed it perfectly and scored a highlight reel goal by Jarret Kup. And from that point on the floodgates opened and Listowel cruised to a 7-0 victory.  Captain Brett McGuinness scored twice, chipped in an assist and left the game in the 3rd after going toe to toe with a much bigger Waterloo player for the Gordie Howe hattrick.

Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Hanover Mark 40th Anniversary

The Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Hanover and District are on a recruitment campaign.

Executive Director Chantal LaDuke says in the past they usually have 10 to 20 youngsters on their waiting list.   They now have over 100. 

To celebrate its 40th anniversary, the organization hopes to recruit 40 big brothers and sisters over 40 days. 
LaDuke says by helping youngsters improve their lives, big brothers and sisters help their community.   As well she says, they find it a rewarding experience.

Anyone interested in becoming a big brother or big sister can call the Hanover organization at 519-364-1444.

Downtown Mitchell Moves Forward With Plans

West Perth and the local Business Improvement Association are working together to develop a theme and make some improvements in time for the 2013 International Plowing Match.

Mayor Walter McKenzie says a request for proposals has been issued to obtain the services of a landscape designer to develop some projects before hosting the high profile event. McKenzie suggests some initiatives like erecting flags and banners can be completed fairly quickly but anything requiring major construction will be part of a long term strategy.

McKenzie indicates the impact on snow removal and other municipal services will be carefully considered before any physical changes are made to the Main Street. He adds making some visual improvements to downtown Mitchell before hosting the 2013 IPM is a focus, but slowing traffic and improving pedestrian safety are key priorities as well.

Rural Hospitals Prone to Emergency Department Staffing Problems

Staffing Emergency Departments in rural hospitals continues to be a problem as a growing number of doctors choose not to include that as part of their practice.

Huron-Perth Healthcare Alliance Chief of Staff Doctor Laurel Moore agrees with Clinton Site Chief Doctor Maarten Bokhout that part of the reason can be traced back to training. Doctors are trained in large urban centres were medical practice is more specialized. Moore says family doctors practice family medicine and emergency ward doctors practic in emergency wards and the two don't cross paths. She adds when many of the doctors come to a rural community they don't see emergency department staffing as part of the job and they're not comfortable doing it.

Moore says they try to get as many doctors as possible in the four Alliance hospitals during their residency so that they do feel comfortable filling shifts in the Emergency Department.

Schedule for Saturday, February 4th

NHL
Toronto at Ottawa, 7 p.m.
Washington at Montreal, 2 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Boston, 1 p.m.
New Jersey at Philadelphia, 1 p.m.
Vancouver at Colorado, 3 p.m.
Buffalo at N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.
Los Angeles at Carolina, 7 p.m.
Florida at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.
St. Louis at Nashville, 8 p.m.
Minnesota at Dallas, 8 p.m.
San Jose at Phoenix, 8 p.m.
Detroit at Edmonton, 10 p.m.

AHL
Abbotsford at Toronto, 5 p.m.
Worcester at St. John's, 6 p.m.
Hamilton at Grand Rapids, 7 p.m.
Providence at Adirondack, 7 p.m.
Manchester at Bridgeport, 7 p.m.
Connecticut at Hershey, 7 p.m.
Binghamton at Portland, 7 p.m.
Norfolk at Springfield, 7 p.m.
Albany at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 7:05 p.m.
Rochester at Syracuse, 7:30 p.m.
Peoria at Chicago, 8 p.m.
Charlotte at Texas, 8 p.m.
Lake Erie at Houston, 8:35 p.m.

OHL
Belleville at Owen Sound, 7:30 p.m.
Mississauga at London, 7 p.m.
Kingston at Ottawa, 2 p.m.
Saginaw at Erie, 7 p.m.
Brampton at Niagara, 7 p.m.
Sudbury at Peterborough, 7:05 p.m.
Windsor at Plymouth, 7:05 p.m.
Sault Ste. Marie at Barrie, 7:30 p.m.

GOJHL
Guelph at Cambridge, 7 p.m.
Stratford at Brantford, 7:30 p.m.

Western Junior "C"
Quarter-Finals Best of 7
Goderich at Walkerton, 6:30 p.m. (Game 2)
Kincardine at Wingham, 7:30 p.m. (Game 2)

Junior "D"
Exeter at Mount Brydges, 7:30 p.m.

WOAA Senior Hockey
"AA" Playoffs First Round Best of 7
South Division
Tillsonburg at Monkton, 8:30 p.m. (Game 2)
Petorlia at Komoka, 7:15 p.m. (Game 1)
Goderich at Tavistock, 8:30 p.m. (Game 2)
North Division
Ripley at Shelburne, 8 p.m. (Game 2)
Lucknow at Saugeen Shores, 8:30 p.m. (Game 2)
Elora at Shallow Lake, 8:45 p.m. (Game 2)

14th Annual Women's Silver Stick in Sarnia

Midget "AA"
Saugeen-Maitland vs. Oakville, 12:15 p.m.
Stratford vs. Etobicoke, 12:15 p.m.
Bluewater vs. Kitchener, 1:25 p.m.
Quarter-Finals, 5:20 p.m., 5:35 p.m., 6:40, 6:55 p.m.

Midget "A"
Saugeen-Maitland vs. Sarnia, 9:20 a.m.
Quarter-Finals, 6:55 p.m., 8:00 p.m., 8:15 p.m.

Midget "BB"
Stratford vs. Aurora, 10:40 a.m.
Goderich vs. Guelph, 10:40 a.m.
Quater-Finals, 4 p.m., 4:15 p.m., 8 p.m., 8:15 p.m.

Midget "B"
Grey Highlands vs. Mount Brydges, 4 p.m.
Milverton vs. Caledon, 5:20 p.m.
Chatsworth vs. Lambton Shores, 5:20 p.m.
Saugeen-Maitland vs. Walkerton, 5:35 p.m.
Quater-Finals, 9:20 p.m. and 9:35 p.m.

Pee Wee "AA"
Saugeen vs. Oakville, 2:55 p.m.
Saugeen vs. Mississauga, 8 p.m.

Pee Wee "BB"
Walkerton vs. Stratford, 1 p.m.

NBA
Philadelphia at Atlanta, 7 p.m.
Orlando at Indiana, 7 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Washington, 7 p.m.
Dallas at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
New Orleans at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
New Jersey at New York, 7:30 p.m.
Houston at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Oklahoma City at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Chicago at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.
Charlotte at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Utah, 9 p.m.
Golden State at Sacramento, 10 p.m.
Denver at Portland, 10 p.m.

Scores From Friday, February 3rd

NHL
Calgary 3 Chicago 1
N.Y. Islanders 2 Ottawa 1 (OT)
Florida 2 Winnipeg 1
St. Louis 1 Los Angeles 0
Columbus 3 Anaheim 2 (OT)

AHL
St. John's 3 Worcester 2
Hamilton 5 Grand Rapids 2
Toronto 5 Syracuse 2
Abbotsford 3 Rochester 2 (OT)
Adirondack 3 Norfolk 1
Connecticut 3 Albany 2
Manchester 3 Binghamton 2 (OT)
Bridgeport 6 Portland 2
Providence 4 Springfield 1
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 4 Hershey 3
Charlotte 3 Oklahoma City 1
Lake Erie 3 San Antonio 1
Chicago 4 Rockford 2
Peoria 4 Milwaukee 2

NBA
Toronto 106 Washington 89
Miami 99 Philadelphia 79
Orlando 102 Cleveland 94
Detroit 88 Milwaukee 80
Minnesota 108 New Jersey 105
Houston 99 Phoenix 81
Oklahoma City 101 Memphis 94
Boston 91 New York 89
Indiana 98 Dallas 87
L.A. Lakers 93 Denver 89

OHL
Windsor 6 Owen Sound 5 (OT)
Belleville 6 Kitchener 3
Niagara 3 London 2
Saginaw 5 Guelph 2
Erie 7 Brampton 4
Sarnia 4 Plymouth 1
Peterborough 4 Kingston 2
Barrie 1 Mississauga 0
Ottawa 3 Oshawa 2
Sault Ste. Marie 7 Sudbury 3

GOJHL
Listowel 7 Waterloo 0
Stratford 6 Owen Sound 2
Lambton Shores 8 St. Marys 7

Western Junior "C"
Quarter-Finals Best of 7
Wingham 4 Kincardine 3 (Wingham leads series 1-0)
Walkerton 5 Goderich 0 (Walkerton leads series 1-0)
Hanover 5 Mount Forest 1 (Hanover leads series 2-0)

WOAA Senior Hockey
"AA" Playoffs First Round Best of 7
North Division
Shallow Lake 6 Elora 3 (Shallow Lake leads series 1-0)
Sagueen Shores 7 Lucknow 1 (Saugeen Shores leads series 1-0)
Ripley 4 Shelburne 3 (Ripley leads series 1-0)
Durham 5 Mapleton-Minto 1 (Durham leads series 1-0)
South Division
Tillsonburg 6 Monkton 2 (Tillsonburg leads series 1-0)
Clinton 7 Milverton 3 (Clinton leads series 1-0)
Tavistock 9 Goderich 3 (Tavistock leads series 1-0)

14th Annual Womens Silver Stick in Sarnia
Midget "AA"
Sarnia 4 Stratford 0
Pittsburgh 3 Bluewater 1
Saugeen-Maitland 6 Chatham 2
Saugeen-Maitland 3 Bluewater 0
Clearview 6 Stratford 1

Midget "A"
Saugeen-Maitland 2 Clearview 0
Saugeen-Maitland 3 Chicago 2

Midget "BB"
Goderich 2 Kent County 2
Stratford 2 Manitoulin 1
Stratford 6 North Halton 0
Goderich 10 King Cavalry 5

Midget "B"
Mount Brydges 1 Milverton 0
St. Clair 6 Saugeen-Maitland 0
Walkerton 6 Tillsonburg 1
Grey Highlands 4 Caledon 1
Chatsworth 1 North Halton 0
Walkerton 3 St. Clair 1
Saugeen 2 Tillsonburg 0
Grey Highlands 3 Milverton 2
West Seneca 3 Chatsworth 2

Pee Wee "AA"
Saugeen-Maitland 5 Honey Baked 1

Pee Wee "B"
Walkerton 2 St. Clair Shores 1
Stratford 4 Brampton 2
Brampton 6 Walkerton 0
St. Clair Shores 1 Stratford 0

North Perth Mennonite Building Project Denied

The third attempt by an Old Order Mennonite community to start a building project in North Perth has failed.

Perth County Council has refused an official plan amendment to allow a meeting house and cemetery on a farm property in the Elma Ward.   Planning staff maintain the proposal does not meet Minimum Distance Separation requirements or satisfy land use compatibility concerns. 

Representatives of the Old Order Mennonite Community have repeatedly indicated the North Perth property is the most appropriate site for a meeting house and cemetery for many reasons including travelling distance as well as horse and buggy traffic safety.

It has been over a year since the first attempt was made to move the project forward.