..FROM THE DESK OF MIKE HAYAKAWA..
JANUARY 8, 2002
The Markham Waxers didnıt make any New Yearıs resolutions when Jan. 1 rolled
around.
But they did begin the 2002 calendar year on a positive note last Friday by
defeating the Vaughan Vipers 4-3 at Centennial Arena.
For the Waxers, the victory snapped a three-game losing streak and improved
their third-place Provincial Junior A Hockey League south conference
portfolio at 20-16-4-1.
While elated to earn the two points, Waxersı head coach Russ Herrington was
relieved to see his charges snap out of their Christmas doldrums.
³(Winning) was the most important thing. We played a lot better. It was
definitely a good way to start the nw year,² said Herrington.
The Waxers seized a 1-0 first-period lead on Steve Nobiliıs shorthanded
tally and padded it to 3-1 after 40 minutes on goals by Derek Doucette and
Jason Duffy on a power play.
Jesse Boucher added a shorthanded goal early in the third period to stake
the Waxers to a 4-1 lead before the Vipers lit the lamp twice before time
expired.
In explaining the clubıs reversal of fortune, Herrington said he tinkered
with their systems and did some minor shuffling with two lines as rookie Pat
Porretta was moved to the wing to play alongside veterans Kevin Cribari and
Jason Young while rookie Joey Grasso centered a line with Ben Cottreau and
Jason Duffy.
³The guys didnıt score, but they generated plenty of scoring chances. It
provided a little more spark,² he said.
What impressed Herrington about their win was the total effort the players
put in for 60 minutes.
³At least we scrapped hard right until the end and we didnıt get nervous or
excited when Vaughan closed the gap. We stuck to our gameplan.²
Herrington was quick to point out the coaching staff did not say too much to
the players about snapping out of their mini slump. He noted the players
felt responsible for their actions and took it upon themselves to get back
on the winning track.
And with seven games left on their regular season schedule, they realized to
wrap up third place in their division they must win their remaining
contests.
³I think the guys were embarassed two weeks in a row and they just said
Oenough was enough, itıs time to play hockey.ı²
With the Jan. 10 trade deadline looming, Herrington didnıt foresee his club
making any major transactions.
³I donıt think thereıs nothing really available partly because most teams
feel they still have a chance to win (the league title). Between that and
the fact that weıre not playing for the nationals anymore, the guys arenıt
looking to move a lot of people,² he cited.
The Waxers resume league play this Friday when they host the Aurora Tigers
at 8 p.m.

Copyright İ 1998 - 2005, Savolainen.Com Inc. and Restoration Environmental Contractors.
All rights reserved.
Don Bremner and Restoration Environmental Contractors were the proud owners of the
Markham Waxers Junior "A" Hockey Club from 1994 - June 17, 2005.
Proud to continue as Sponsors.