Posted By ALLISON SMITH , CHRONICLE ACTING MANAGING EDITOR
Posted August 26, 2009

Dan Minor is about to help make the Dunnville Terriers a winning team.

The 20-year-old is coming back to Dunnville as left winger for the Junior C team, which is rebuilding this season in a bid to become a contender among the best teams in the league.

This announcement is the first of many upcoming ones to come from the team, which hopes a renewed drive to win and an attitude makeover will inspire victory.

“We’re the new Dunnville Terriers,” said Matt Silverthorne, who takes on player development in 2009-2010. “Things are completely different. We’ve got a new face and a new attitude.”

The Terriers are hungry for a taste of championship glory. They have not won one since 1983. Recent history has not produced winning seasons, but fans will see “pretty big changes” coming in 2009-2010, said Silverthorne. Fans aren’t exactly jumping for joy like they’ve won the lottery or a jackpot, but many expressed optimism over Silverthorne’s statements. Ten Terriers will be from Dunnville.

“There probably hasn’t been as much talent in the last 10 years as is going to be (this season),” said Silverthorne, adding that for him it’s a “dream come true” to take an important role in directing the team. “Dan’s our rock. We have a chance to build the franchise. We want to put fear in the other teams.”  

Minor appears to take his responsibility in stride. “I’m playing to have fun,” he said. “I’ve always had to work hard for what I’ve got.”

Minor has been attending a business program at Niagara College, taking a break from a hockey career dating back to his youth. As a youth, Minor dreamed of playing professional hockey but that he’s looking forward to having fun in Dunnville.

Part of his job will be to help keep his team focused, he said.

“I wouldn’t be happy if we weren’t successful. I expect big things for the team and I’m expecting quite a lot from myself.”

“I’m going to finish my career in Dunnville,” he said, adding he hopes to show the younger generation there will be a good team to play for here.

“Dunnville kids can make it and can win,” he said. Dunnville is a natural fit for Minor -he and Silverthorne are longtime friends. Silverthorne said Minor will play a large role in helping rebuild the team to its height of 20 years ago.

The rebuilding is a family project -president Dave Silverthorne (Matt’s father) played goalie for the Terriers when they became champions in 1975-76 and brings a wealth of experience to benefit new recruits, said Matt. Dave remembers when the arena would be full of fans and seats sold out.

“If you weren’t there on time, you weren’t getting a seat. You couldn’t move in the rink,” he said. In those days, “we had talent and great goaltending. It was a family thing. We had a great bunch of guys.”

He’s hoping to see the new generation of Terriers have as much fun playing as he did and that Minor will flourish on ice this season. Dave said there has been much discussion locally. He is sure Dunnville will prove successful in recruiting more high quality players because of Minor’s presence.

Minor said the support he and his teammates will receive from Dave will not waver. “As a team, he’ll back us 100 per cent.”

The team’s goal is to win a championship within the next two seasons