Wednesday, September 13, 2006 · Page 15 Canadiens trounce 73's once again in hard-hitting exhibition rematch BY DANIEL SCHWAB Boards shook, bodies crashed and fists flew as the Essex 73's treated the crowd at their first exhibition home game to a physical showdown against the Belle iver Canadiens Sept. 5. In the finesse side of the ame, the Canadiens outlayed the 73's, dominating he exhibition 8-4. But Essex's young playrs, who made up the majorty of the night's roster, roved they're not the type o shy away from the ougher side of the game. Essex's Chris Barr put the ome team ahead a minutend-a-half into the game, nocking the puck into the et thanks to a well-timed ass by rookie player Mike uempel. Later in the game, uempel, 17, was involved n one of three fights the two eams would instigate durng the game. The tussle ost Puempel a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct. "This league is a lot more physical and a lot faster," Puempel said of Junior "C" compared to the travel team he played for last season. For the remainder of the first period, the Canadiens managed a series of two-onones, netting goal after goal. A pair by Travis Brown and one by Justin Brown made it 3-1 for Belle River at the close of the period. At the start of the second, Puempel landed his second assist with a set up to Tanner Gallant on the power play to bring the 73's back into the game. The referees kept their whistles in hand as penalty after penalty sent players from both teams to the box. The Canadiens quickly took advantage. At 3:14, a Belle River wrist-shot from the top of the circle sailed over 73's goalie Ryan Barnett's glove. Shortly after, Belle River's Shawn Quigley sent a pass to Josh Battison in front of the goal, who easily tipped the puck into the top corner to make it 5-2. With about eight minutes left, amidst a clutter of players in front of the Canadiens' goal, Essex's Evan Stibbard banged in a loose puck to give the 73's a third goal. But hopes of a speedy comeback faded when a high-pressure Belle River power play extended the Canadiens' lead to 6-3. Two minutes later, on another Canadiens' power play, Craig Rivait lobbed in a shot from the blue line that split through a crowd of Essex players in front of their screened goalie to put the visitors ahead by four goals near the end of the second period. Three-and-a-half minutes into the third, Brad Quinlan netted a goal for the 73's with assists from Ryan Breault and Chris Warren. As the final minutes dwin- LANDSCAPING · SPRINKLER INSTALLATIONS · POST HOLES & DESIGN INC. O PENING N IGHT N IGHT N IGHT O PENING O PENING O PENING N IGHT N IGHT EssEss ex 73's exEss 73's 73's ex Ess 73's ex vs. vs. vs. vs. vs.vs. vs. n . K vs.en JrKing DreJr. Jr. s D r sdeinging DreDre esdK Jr. D r sdesde King s esdn Jr JrKing . D en Jr. . sing resdnKing enK s K D r sde . Dre en Jr ing esdn dled down, tensions ran high as Quinlan and Canadiens' Matt Meloche came to blows. A final goal by Belle River ended the game with an 8-4 win for the visitors. After the game, 73's head coach Tony Piroski said the game was "a good test for our guys." "We've only had one practice as a team so far," he said. "Lots of practices, that's what we need." Piroski said by the time the team hosts the Dresden Jr. Kings for their first regular season home game Sept. 19, the line-up will be "pretty close to being complete." "We've still got about four to six cuts to make," he said. Belle River head coach George Winter, whose team also beat the 73's in the first exhibition Aug. 29, said, "Anytime we strap on skates we want to win." "It's still just an exhibition game but it's an important way to start a season - winning," he said. Ph. 519.776.6826 wn eto om rs H Sta TUES., SEPT. 19, 2006 Goo 7:30 P.M. EsdeLxuck s COME OUT AND CHEER ON YOUR ESSEX 73'S TO ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON! HOURS: Mon-Wed 9am-5:30pm Thurs 9am-8pm Fri 9am-9pm Sat 9am-5:30pm Sun 11am-3pm HIGH PRICE$ 9 AM - 4PM 9 AM - 4PM $ 209 Graf 301 99 Jr Vector Zone $ Sr $289.99 109 99 Jr Flexlite 2 $ Sr $149.99 79 99 Yth 9 AM - 9PM 9 AM - 9PM SEPT. 13 2004 FREESTAR 9 AM - 9PM 9 AM - 9PM $ SEPT. 14 9 AM - 8PM 9 AM - 8PM PONY PKG 38,000 K COUPE SEPT. 15 SEPT. 16 Jr $89.99 Sr $99.99 Synergy 555 O N LY 1195 YOUTH 5 PIECE PACKAGE Itech 1195 Shin Pad 7-10" Itech 1195 Shoulder Pad Itech 1195 Elbow Pad Itech 1195 Glove 8-10" Itech 1195 Pant $99 $ 99 59 9Yth 9 2 0 0 4 M O N TA N A $ 15,900 $ 2004 F250 SPORT DVD PLAYER STOWAY SEATS S/C 4X4 LOW KMS MANY EXTRAS YOUR CHOICE 13, 757 2002 MUSTANG $ YOUR CHOICE 22, 627 2003 EXPEDITION EDDIE BAUER ULTIMATE LUXURY Jr $64.99 Sr $69.99 2 0 0 3 I M PA L A L S $ 15,900 $ 2 0 0 4 E S C A P E X LT $16,900 $ Vapour Select II $ Powertek PTK 100 Powertek PTK 2000 Pink S AV E $ 2 0 $ 4 9 9 9 $5 4 9 9 $5 9 9 9 Jr Int Sr 10-12" $44.99 13-15" $59.99 29 99 2004 F250 DIESEL $ 69 /W K 2 003 SEBRIN G LXi $11 ,9 00 $ 69 /WK 2 0 0 6 TA U R U S S E L $17,900 $ 77 / WK 2002 JETTA 8-9" $32 ,500 2000 J AGU AR XJ 8 $ 1 51 54 /WK 2 0 0 3 L I N C O L N LS $ 54 / WK 2 002 PRO TE GE $ 82 2000 GR MARQUIS 2001 WINDSTAR 2002 SATURN Moonroof, leather, 75,000 $15,900 $10,850 $8,999 $9,123 /WK One owner trade, 44,000 kms. 2003 F150 S/C 4X4 Low Kms., flareside. Sport Pkg., quads, rear A/C, low kms. $19,828 2002 TRAILERBL A ZE R $15,921 $ $13,900 /WK $17,900 2 002 FOCU S S VT $ 82 54 /WK 2003 F350 DIESEL $2 6,887 $11,686 56 /WK 2002 TAURUS Totally loaded 4_Door, auto., air, clean We know our stuff!TM 25 TALBOT ST. N., ESSEX Phone: (519)776-5115 69 2002 TAURUS WGN SEL., moonroof, spoiler $10,368 $15,900 /WK u K e n K n a p p F o r d S a l e s Do"wInn tBoewanutEisfs el x " $11 ,9 00 / WK 2001 SPORT TRAC $10,821 Moonroof, leather, tonneau cover, 4x4. 3 9 0 Ta l b o t S t . N . · E s s e x · ( 5 1 9 ) 7 7 7 6 - 6 4 4 7