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Your Region, Thursday, March 31, 2016
sports
Tough road ahead to North-East playoffs for Canes, Tigers
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ot to be a killjoy to the hopes of several teams even before spring camps start next month, but the 2016-17 season in the OJHL’s North-East Conference is already shaping up to be a brute. With the Dudley Hewitt Cup and Royal Bank Cup being hosted by the Trenton Golden Hawks and Cobourg Cougars, respectively, you can bet those two teams, along with the neighbouring Wellington Dukes and Kingston Voyageurs, will be stocking up rosters for a relatively inexpensive run at two berths available. It is difficult to imagine those organizations will overlook the relative proximity of the two events, a concurrence rarely seen in Ontario. One or the other tournament would have been appealing, but both? Consider that somebody will win the North Division and the first or second seed that spot carries with it, and that’s five playoff spots likely spoken for before the first puck drop. The question is, of course, which North team will it be
‘With the Dudley Hewitt Cup and Royal Bank Cup being hosted by the Trenton Golden Hawks and Cobourg Cougars, respectively, you can bet those two teams, along with the neighbouring Wellington Dukes and Kingston Voyageurs, will be stocking up rosters.’ to grab the top slot?
Little sympathy It is doubtful even one tear drop is being shed within Baseball Ontario’s community-operated baseball circles for Ontario Blue Jays director of baseball operations Dan Bleiwas, who was the subject of investigation by police on charges of sexual abuse.
Many baseball folks wouldn’t know Bleiwas if they tripped over him on their way to first base, but plenty resent the man for the impact his showcase program has had on their operations. For Baseball Ontario, Bleiwas was among the leaders in loosening its grip on all things baseball in this province. His OBJs are at least among the most prominent so-called alternate programs that have sprung up over the past couple of decades. There is some feeling he intimidates the Baseball Ontario crowd with the everpresent threat of gobbling up more and more players by expanding the operation. Yet players and their families eagerly hand over thousands of dollars to gain exposure in hopes of landing a chance to play ball at a United States college or university. Until recently, there was an agreement that the alternate programs, including OBJs, would restrict their reach to upper high school ages and not touch players at younger and developmental age groups. That has changed, as the
R U O Y T E L T ’ N O D E S A E L E VEHICL . N W O D U O Y N I CHA . T U O T BUS
John Cudmore Cuddy Shark OBJs, among others, broke away to form a new league with an eye on lowering their age limits to well below previous cutoff lines. Until recently, Baseball Ontario has grudgingly accepted the alternate programs as a necessary evil and hasn’t liked it one bit. It prompted the provincial body to launch its own showcase program last season at the midget and, for 2016, bantam age groups. There’s no reason to change its thinking now, but you can guess there are a few sighs of relief around the Baseball Ontario loop these days. That said, there is still
a long road ahead for Baseball Ontario in its turf wars with alternate baseball programs. Just Jawin’ … When Newmarket-native Brian Elliott posted his third consecutive shutout Friday night with 15 saves in a 4-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks, it was also the third time the York Simcoe Express alum has pulled off the rare hat trick in his career, all as a member of the Blues. Only Greg Millen (1989) has matched the feat. Elliott’s streak ended in Tuesday night’s 3-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche… Keeping score: the combined record for Newmarket Redmen rep teams for the 2015-16 season was 646560-159. For the Aurora Tigers, it was 639-661-198. Meanwhile, East Gwillimbury Eagles rep teams posted a 347-443-80 overall mark … The Toronto Blue Jays’ success last season is reminiscent of the World Series seasons in the early 1990s, in that registration at grassroots levels sparked a boom in the sport. Already in Toronto, there is concern demand will outpace the supply of playing facilities.
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