The SabreCats

'96, '97, '98 and '99 NOJHA Champs
'97 Central Canadian Champions

   Friday, October 2nd, 1998, I got at the arena around 10 after 7:00 (7:10) with Joe, Sarah & Sylvie.  We were all pretty hyper and the building with a capacity of 1000 people  was pretty full.  We sat at the top of the bleachers and watched the Sabrecats warm up on one side of the ice while the Timmins Golden Bears warmed up on the other.  I didn't recognize or know any of the players except for the #17 Joey Belanger and the #34 Don Tellier.

    The Sabrecats ended up winning that game 6-3.  A week later they won VS. the Elliot Lake Ice 2-0, then VS. the Esponola Screaming Eagles 11-0, then VS. the Parry Sound Shamrocks 8-5.  And I could go on but I won't.

    Over time I got to recognize all the players and to learn about the team.  For instance they had great goaltending, thanks to Luc Lamothe and B.J. Mierlo then later on through the season Charlie Beauparlant and Jason Gaggi.  They didn't have an offensive problem as they averaged about 5 goals a game through the regular season.  Also they had high scorers like Todd Crane #89, Darren Debrie #39, Jeremy Murphy #27, Mike McCartney #91, Luc Messier #42 and Mark Haynes #44.
They had their tough guys: Greg Tymchuk #74 and Chad Woodrow #19.
They had size: Matt Jenkins #4, Chris Kerr #12 and the #24 Alex Tomaras.
They had speed: Don Tellier #34, Joey Belanger #17 and Troy Turyk #22.
They had skill: Yves Niquet #10, Ian Frantz #13, George Piquette #15, Trevor Swain #21 and Nevin Patterson #23.
And they were GOOD!

Unfortunately, the Cats lost four games straight VS. the Bramalea Blues to have a chance at the Canadian title in Yorkton, Saskatchewan.  But to me they had a great season, they played well, and they won.  In fact the man between the pipes Jason Gaggi won MVP in the playoffs, and the team was awarded the James Aspin League Championship trophy and the Bob Park Trophy for being the regular season and playoff champions.

The Sabrecats have made me jump and cheer and they deserved the NOJHA Championship!