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Yum. like Brill, will be happy with a placing in the top dine. He expects WaterlooandOwenSw-dtobestmng contenders. Despite two pre-seuon hues to Elmira. the Station] coach [eels my in the league may be overamtimating the depth of the Sugar Kings. A strong; ad mad Mum should keep strattoextut or but the tor. As it has done for years, the Cullitons have acquired some impressive talent from south of the border, including Rick Olczyk from Chicago, younger brother of recent Toronto Maple Leaf acquisdon Ed Olczyk. The younger Olczyk may be teamed with Boston native Joe Cleary on the point. And 6'3", 200W goaltender Garth Snow from Boston could very well be the league's premier goalie, says Yantzi. Fourth-year junior B player Jeff Wett- laufter helps make the Culliton defence one of the league's best. Upftmtt,1mAforthebigtioetobeitmt White, Brian Rogers and Don Schmeichel, a unit which briefly played together last season. Only six players are returning from last year's powerhouse with the remainder of the line-up being filled by four MVyearolds and 11 17-year-oids. Defence has also been slow in develop- ing, but general manager Pete Brill predicts it will be one of the league's best when it comes together. J amie Pegg and Larry Rucchin head a list of tive returning rearguards. Waterloo is also working on a trade with Cambridge to obtain Ryan D'Arcy from the Winter Hawks. "Unfortunately," said Brill, "it's hard to get kids to go to Cambridge and that's slowing things down." Brill's pre-season goal is to finish in the top three of the standings. Kitchener, Stratford and Elmira will all field good teams, says Brill. As first-year coach Ross Yantzi puts it, Stratford is a squad that will rely on a great deal of raw talent to compensate for its lack of experience. Offensively, Waterloo should put a lot of numbers on the board. The line to be watched is comprised of three former Elliot Lake tier two players, namely Bob Shelp, Shawn Dubois and Deric Far- quhar. The time for talking is over. It's time to play hockey. The 18788 edition of the Midwestern Junior B Hockey League begins on two trains Thursday night, the curtain raisers on what could be a most interesting year. With new entries, from Brantford and Owen Sound, the expanded nineteam loop is touted by many to be as competitive as ever, with perennial powers Waterloo and Stratford once again expected to lead the way. Teams are listed in order of predicted finish. Last years record in parentheses. The only question mark that hangs over the mighty Siskins at this point is between the goal posts. Scott MacDonald, the league's number two goalie last year with a 2.86 GA average, has been shaky throughout the pre-season. But if he can get hot, teamed with Kitchener Ranger "A" castoff Dave Motz, Waterloo could once again be strong in the pipes. For a brief glimpse of the year to come, the Chronicle and the Cambridge Times have polled those in the know for predic- tions as well as a few facts and figures about individual teams. um Bryson and PM Cudhoa Chromcte Staff and Times sum Perennial powers should reign again Junior B Siskins, Cullitons appear teams to beat "AaEa0-t'tATeuat2CMmmtCtttti-rt--- Stratford Quinton (35-7-0) Waterloo Siskins (31-9-2) Even the doves were ftytettt dating WW Slalom final 'tr-tet duh mm Kitchener. (beheading is one are. when there is no concern. Sodttery native Mike Rabi. (ion: is expected to carry the land and perform well. Fourth-year left winger Greg Snyder will lead the offence with Len Fawcett adding maturity behind the blue line. Adding size and weight, but little ermeri- ence. in 15wa Join Vary. a 'T". That, however, was last year and 10 players from the championship squad are either gone or with OHL teams. But the Greys do have a winning tradition going for them. League winners in the tier two division of the DEA last year with an impressive 2F12-10 record, Greys went on to take the championship finals in four straight games against the Aurora Eagles. _ . "i'd like to think that we'll be in the middle of the pack (at the beginning) and then be league contenders by the end of the rd',,',',',',',,":,':'),:: Elmira is sound. Al ummu and Paul Drone are both back to anchor a blueline corp that was third best in the league last year. Goaltender Mark McCallum, a first-tearn all-star with St. Jerome's high school last year, has been a standout in pre-season and will begin the year as the number one goalie. If Owen Sound general manager Ray McKelvie can add the right pieces, there's no reason to believe the Greys won't be near the top of the standings at the end of February. But that's a big if. "What we have to do is add two or three good forwards to give us the offence we need," said McKelvie. Could realistically mm] as high as first or as low as sixth. Winger Terry Hoelschler is a sure bet to surpass last year's MNFpoint season. with a realistic chance to capture the league's scoring crown. And if one Hoelschler is not enough for opposing teams to worry about, younger brother Jeff is also expected to make his presence felt this season, Randy -Pearce, a rugged 17-yearold winger currently with the Kitchener Rangers "A", would be another bonus if With a lineup teaming seven players from last year's team and “no real weaknesses" to be hand. Lose! appears to have every reason to be optimistic. General manager Dan loge! feels his sqtudwi1lmaheabigstridetttisyearamt overtake Stratford for second place in the league standings. Waterloo, he says, is headed for a first-place ttnish. Owen Sound Greys (not in]eague) ira Sugar Kings _ji0r1C-o), The newest entry into the Midwestern Junior B hockey league could be in for what conch Ken Murray calls a rebuilding "atrfromthefmratodheetottserhte. Siupended from leagué burarGear in to a tteactreiearing bnwl in the playoffs against M. Catherine. two nea- Up front, big things are expected from left winger Dan Gardiner and right winger Bob Duval, both returnees. Mike Farrell will be another key should he not survive the final cuts of the OHL Rangers. dons. One or two -defensive acquisiitions could Take a major difference. If everything falls in plug, McNichol (eels_ mauve! can finish as high as Bolstered by a solid core of eight taunting players. Cyclone president Rob ert McNichol sees no reason his club cannot be competitive every time they taketotheice. The key to success here will be patience from the veterans and unexpected heroics from a suspect defence. This team cannot afford to get down on itself. Goaltending is strong with Matt McLeod returning and North Bay native Tom Hawking performing, well above expecta- Good teams are not built overnight, and if Listowel management and players keep that in mind, they're going to turn a lot of heads this season. A virtually unknown commodity, but could be serious challengers. Could finish-as high as third, but not likely. Returning veterans include Bill Kuch- ma, Martin Grouix, Eck Palmer. Frank Santarossa, Jamie Patenall and Brad Jenks. Mark Lehnen has been picked up Paul Wolanski, a selection to Otttario's under-IT team, and Troy Stephens appear to be well on their way to outstanding rookie campaigns. Jim Jenks will take on the dual role as coach and GM, replacing Ken Bye in the from office. from Cambridge. Listowel Cyclones ( 1 3-26- 1) The 1W~88 season appears to be yet another rebuilding year for Kitchener, with as many as 12-14 rookies on the starting roster. If not}! could be I long season. With bigger defenceman throughout the Midwestern Junior B league, it's not going to be easy for uninvited forwards to stick around the crease area for too long. They could end up taking a stick to the helmet if they try. lurk Moon photos Kitchener Raniger Ba - (2248-1) Brandon] Classics (not in lgnguc) hook for them to buitle Cambridge for Int. A sixth-plum finish had been dubbed Ichleynlple by the Guelph coach. The key to any sort of immediate success will depend on how four of the top prospects make out in their respective OHL camps. Rigt winger Dale Serytuk and defenceman Dave McVicker are working with the Guelph Planers while rearguard Bob Crawford and forward Jeff Tomllson are in Kitchener. "If we lose those tour, it could really hurt us," said Washkurak. Guelph will again carry a roster com- prised mainly of " and l7-yenr-olds. Another team that appears to have adopted a year-by-year growing strategy, rookie coach Wally Washkurak says it will be another three years before Guelph emerges as a league power. 7A3 the saying goes, to go but up. "We'll haye a very young club this season," admits Murray, a former NHL journeyman player. Goaltender Rob McNeish, defenceman Shawn Allen and midget forwards Chris Murray and Mary Ferras round out the list of returning players. Murray is looking to finish this season in the middle of the pack and build from there. Topping that list is Dan Boyd, a solid defenceman who played last season with Kitchener. compiling 19 goals and 25 as- sists. General manager Ron Woodworth has added some muscle and weight on his blueline in the form of former Waterloo Siskin defeneman Tim Webb and Bill Rose, a 6'I", 180") midget from Ayr. sons ago, the Classics have only five players returning from that team. A much-improved defence will be the key to Cambridge having any sort of year. Without it, the club will go through another disastrous season. The reason for last year's lack of success is obvious. The team managed to score Just, 155 goals while allowing 341. Twenty-year-old Steve Watson, a "steal" from the Guelph minor hockey system, is expected to have a nice touch around the net this season. Cambridge Winter Hawks Could be a very long year. Guelph Be (3-38-0) (8-34-0) Guelph has nowhere