..FROM THE DESK OF MIKE HAYAKAWA..
FEBRUARY 4, 2002
The Markham Waxers got a first-hand look of who they will be facing off
against in the first round of their upcoming Provincial Junior A Hockey
League playoff series.
Concluding their 49-game regular season schedule Sunday, the Waxers
travelled to North York to meet the Rangers and set the tone for what they
hope will be a successful best-of-seven affair after skating off with a 7-4
win.
Finishing its south conference regular season in third place with a
26-17-4-2 mark, the Waxers and sixth-place Rangers (19-24-6-0) will start
their series this Friday at Markham Centennial Arena at 8 p.m. The second
game will be played at North York Centennial Arena at 7:30 p.m. and return
there for the third game on Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. The fourth game will return to
Markham on Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. A fifth game, if required, would be played at
Markham on Feb. 16 at 8:30 p.m. The Rangers would host a sixth game on Feb.
20 at 7 p.m. A seventh game would be played in Markham on Feb. 22.
Although the Waxers took three of four regular season meetings between the
two clubs, Markham head coach Russ Herrington isnıt taking anything for
granted.
³Every team has the same record entering the playoffs,² he warned. ³The
games arenıt played on paper. Look at the Super Bowl (in which the underdog
New England Patriots upended the heavily favored St. Louis Rams 20-17), the
team that plays together accomplishes great things.²
If the Waxers intend to go far into the playoffs, Herrington insists his
club has to take care of their own business first.
³Weıve got to show up in the right frame of mind. Weıve got to respect North
York. They beat us once handily (8-2 in Markham on Oct. 19) and theyıre a
team that doesnıt quit,² he said from their past head-to-head outings.
Herrington was also quick to point out in the history of playoff hockey,
teams that receive stellar netminding usually go a long ways. This season,
the Waxersı goaltending situation at best has been inconsistent.
Herrington is hoping that his tandem of Chris Lawrence and recently acquired
B.J. VanMierlo, will come up with some big saves.
³Goaltending will be the key. Our two guys have to play at a level where we
expect them to play,² cited Herrington.
As well, he notes the team must play disciplined hockey.
³Weıve got to play well without the puck and stay out of the penalty box.²
In Sundayıs outing against the Rangers, the Waxers took care of some
personal business as team captain and team-leading scorer Jesse Boucher
recorded his 49th, 50th and 51st goals of the season.
The three goals by Boucher placed him third on the clubıs single-season goal
scoring list behind Steve Thomas, who is first with 68 and Justin Cardwell,
second with 54.
While Herrington was happy to see Boucher reach the elusive 50-goal mark in
just 47 games, he said it would be all for naught if he doesnıt continue his
scoring prowess in the postseason.
³Heıs got to continue to do what he does in the second season. If he
doesnıt, I donıt know what kind of success weıll have,² said Herrington.
Kevin Cribari, on a power play; Steve Nobili, with a shorthanded marker, Ben
Cottreau and Pat Porretta rounded out the scoring for the Waxers, who
battled the Rangers to a 1-1 tie after 20 minutes before taking a 5-2 lead
through two periods.
Several regulars sat out the final game including: Albert Ferrante, Ryan
Steane and Eric Kleine, who were all sitting out a one-game suspension after
incurring fighting majors in Fridayıs 7-6 overtime loss to the St. Michaelıs
Buzzers. Jason Duffy, Joey Grasso and Jason Young were also on the sidelines
due to minor injuries. Ryan Olidis, a member of the Waxersı major bantams,
was called up.
In Fridayıs loss, Matt Neely, Porretta, Steane, Duffy, Travis OıRourke and
Cottreau each scored once for the Waxers, who led 6-5 late in the game
before the Buzzers forced overtime with the game-tying goal with just 51
seconds left in regulation time.
The Buzzers, who finished second in the south conference, scored the
game-winner with just 30 seconds remaining in the extra five-minute session.

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