The big news on the local sports scene is the Stayner Siskins Junior C hockey team and the provincial Junior A Collingwood Blues swapping management teams.

Most significantly, Gord Zeggil, who was Stayner's head coach and general manager, accepted the general manager position with Collingwood, while Richard Gauthier moves to Stayner's general manager position after working as the Blues head coach.

After a dreadful season last year on and off the ice for the Siskins, Junior C insiders expected that Zeggil would not return.  

Taking the new duties has much to do with his connection with the Blues new owner Darrell Mussell.  He was Zeggil's goaltending coach with the Siskins.

For anybody that knows Gauthier, they know that he lives green and gold.  He was a formidable Siskins defenseman back in the 1990s.  

Notably, Gauthier had resounding success as a Stayner coach, winning several regular season league championships.  Ironically, the season the Siskins advanced to the quarter-finals was the year Gauthier was let go mid-way through the schedule.

Ironically again, the coach who replaced Gauthier as coach of the Siskins was Chad Moreau, who has since replaced him as coach of the Blues. Moreau was Gauthier's assistant coach with the Blues last year.

Gauthier has not named a coach yet but has several prospects and will be meeting with them shortly.  
He stated the next coach will have junior experience and a good background.

Impressively, five former Siskin players are now on the club's executive.  

Jeremy VanSeveren, a former Siskins goalie and assistant coach is a director, as is Kent McKenzie, also a former goaltender with Stayner.

Chris Millsap, one of the club's most prolific scorers in its long history, becomes the new treasurer; and Brent Trott, another accomplished player, accepted the vice-president's role.  Returning are Matt Holland, moving up from vice-president to president; Val Brady, secretary; Rick Metheral, director and Rob Stinson, director. Terry Kirbyson from Barrie is also a new director   

Said Gauthier, "We got the right guys back.  We got five players who played with the Siskins.  We're in it because we want to see the local players play and maintain the tradition that's been here for 35 years.  You know these guys have all the right reasons for being here."

Gauthier also mentioned that the biggest reason he is making the change is because the last couple of years he wasn't getting support from the Blues general manager.  

He added that from his experience as a coach he knows what a new coach needs and feels he can deliver, ultimately delivering a good rapport with a coach.  

The new no-nonsense general manager also felt it was the right time to take a step back and let some new young blood in. Reading between the lines, expect some young assistant coaches to sign.  

Some veterans will be back and you can bet your britches if there are any shenanigans players will be traded or asked to take off their jerseys. Gauthier expects to recruit players from Barrie and is looking forward to the young crop of minor hockey players coming up through the grass roots ranks.

A logistical change is eight league games will now be played on Saturday nights beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Gauthier said this will allow younger kids to come and watch games at a decent time.  Schomberg also plays Thursday night and this created a scheduling conflict.

"We're on our way," said Gauthier positively.

Following Zeggil to the Blues is Herb Hockley who was Stayner's president.  Hockley will work as a fundraiser and special events co-coordinator.

As well, Gary Fisch accepted the equipment manager/trainer position with the Blues.  Shannon Gowan returns as head trainer.  Gowan, by the way, was once Stayner's trainer.

Assistant coach and assistant general manager is Paul Jennings, who once was the head coach and assistant general manager of the Junior C Fergus Devils.

Zeggil said that the primary reason he is with the Blues is because "it was an opportunity to step up to the next level of hockey."

He said that the club's goal is to make the playoffs, as the club will have a young lineup.

In order to attract high caliber players, Zeggil has had discussions with Georgian College, created a position for a staff member to promote Collingwood players to the NCAA, is offering a fitness club membership to the players, and has hired a national level conditioning coach, Sarah Applegarth

In other junior hockey developments, Wes Parent, who led Penetang Kings to two provincial Junior C hockey championships, has signed as assistant coach with Couchiching of the provincial Junior A Hockey League. Wayne Pursky is Penetang's new coach, interestingly just one year after playing in the league.  Adam Schaap, a former Clearview Township resident, remains as the Kings' assistant coach.

And congratulations to Steve Walker for leading the East Berlin Polar Bears to the league championship in the elite German Professional Hockey League.  

Walker was named playoff MVP. Richard Spellman and Mike Carlton made it to a couple games of the finals against Cologne and witnessed Walker score the game winner with 29 seconds left after jumping out of the penalty box.  During the season, he finished second in league scoring after leading the league for most of the year. Walker suffered a partial ACL and missed the final three games.

Creemore wins Lisle baseball tournament
 The Lisle Astros Baseball Club hosted their Annual Victoria Day Baseball Tournament over the long weekend and taking the championship was the Creemore Braves, considered the league's top team.  New Lowell defeated Clearview to win the consolation final.

Continual rain on Sunday forced the postponement of four games, which were rescheduled to Monday, including the final.

And what a dandy the final game was. The Barrie Red Sox and the Creemore Braves took to the field shortly after 3 p.m., playing 12 complete innings, and ending close to 6:30 p.m. with a 2-1 victory for Creemore.

Ryan Bartley of Creemore scored the first run for his team in the fourth inning. Bartley who also started the pitching duty for the Braves held Barrie to no runs until the sixth inning, when Brian Moore plated a run.

With the game tied at one at the end of the seventh inning, extra innings were played with both Barrie and Creemore battling until the top of the 12th when Jason Thompson scored to put Creemore ahead for good.

Starting pitchers, Bartley for Creemore and Brian McNabb for Barrie continued their pitching chores for 10 complete innings. Brad Grieveson closed out the game for Creemore, while Moore pitched in relief for Barrie.

Tournament organizer Scott Anderson was pleased with the weekend overall. Although disappointed with the cold and wet weather, the tournament was a success with all games being played.

"The 12 inning championship final was a great way to wrap up a successful tournament," Anderson stated. "Both Barrie and Creemore played an excellent game and although long, it was great to watch."

Scores of the tournament are as follows: Bolton 7 - Lisle 0, New Lowell 1 - Creemore 3, Clearview 3 - Ivy 4, Barrie A 10 - Angus 2, Lisle 1 - New Lowell 3, Clearview 6 - Angus 2, Bolton 2 - Creemore 10, Ivy 2 - Barrie A 8, New Lowell 4 - Clearview 1 (Consolation),  Creemore 2 - Barrie A 1 (Championship)

Alex Hargrave is a sports writer for The Stayner Sun. His column appears each week.