SportspO k ill 26 SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email [email protected] • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011 'Horns struggling in return to Bronte It hasn’t been a storybook return to Bronte Athletic Field so far for the Oakville Longhorns. The Longhorns, back at Bronte this year after sitting out the 2009 Northern Football Conference season and then playing the 2010 campaign at Burlington’s Corpus Christi Catholic Secondary School, have been soundly beaten in their first two games — both at home. Oakville dropped its season opener 40-15 to the Sudbury Spartans last month, then was routed 37-0 by the Tri-City Outlaws Saturday. Such results aren’t familiar for an organization that was once the class of the NFC, winning an unprecedented 11 consecu- tive league championships and three national titles between 1992 and 2003. Several different factors have led to Oakville’s slow start, according to Longhorns head coach Howard DAN HO / SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Betty. ROYAL TREATMENT: Colton Watkinson of the Oakville Buzz (left) fights off Orillia Kings player Jesse Van Tassel during Sunday's Ontario “Part of the reason is it’s harder now to get the Lacrosse Association junior B contest at Glen Abbey Recreation Centre. Watkinson recorded a hat trick to help the Buzz win its final home game kids to come out to practice,” said Betty. of the regular season, 18-8. “They all want to show up on game day.” That issue is exacerbated by a shortage of NFC veterans on the Oakville roster, meaning that Buzz draws Akwesasne in Round 1 inexperienced players are learning on the fly. “The system is not what they’re used to. You Going into last night’s (Tuesday’s) season finale, members of Akwesasne. have to find the universi- the Oakville Buzz knew their travel plans over the next couple Oakville carried an 13-6 record into last night’s contest after ty-type kids that can go “Part of the rea- weeks included a trip through eastern Ontario. winning two of three games over the past week. The Buzz through these systems, son is it's harder They just didn’t know when that trip would be, or for how dropped an 11-3 decision to the South East Division-leading but (our) kids are coming now to get the long. Halton Hills Bulldogs Thursday in Georgetown, then dumped out of the junior systems,” kids to come out Regardless of the outcome of last night’s contest in Newmarket the Mississauga Tomahawks 11-4 Friday and the Orillia Kings Betty said. (a game that began after the Beaver’s press deadlines), the Buzz 18-8 Sunday at Glen Abbey Recreation Centre. “Sometimes, when to practice. They will face the Akwesasne Lightning in the first round of the Gianni Bianchin, Colton Watkinson and Jake Jagodkin scored they’re not used to things, all want to show Ontario Lacrosse Association junior B playoffs. goals for Oakville in the loss to the Bulldogs. Halton Hills led 4-0 they have a tendency to up on game dayy.” If Oakville defeated or tied the Saints last night, or if after one period and then outscored the Buzz 6-1 in the third walk away from it, rather Akwesasne lost or tied its game with Kahnawake, the Buzz period to coast to its third win over Oakville in as many meetings than try to learn some- ■ Longhorns coach would finish fourth in the Eastern Conference standings and this season. thing.” Howard Betty hold home-floor advantage for the best-of-five series with the Friday, it was Oakville that used a dominant third period to And Betty has already Lightning. An Oakville loss and an Akwesasne win or tie break open a victory. The Buzz led Mississauga 5-4 through two seen several players walk away this year, even wwould mean that Akwesasne would finish ahead of Oakville periods before scoring six unanswered goals in the final frame. before the season began. Registration costs have and potentially host three of five contests in the opening Spencer Gallant and Bianchin both netted hat tricks, Jack risen over the years to the point that many young- round. Matthews scored a pair and Elliott Cowburn, Eric Wales and er players decide they can’t afford to play. Due to the distance between the two communities, the Matt Worlidge added singles in support of winning goaltender “We had about four to six kids quit after train- higher-ranked team will have the option of hosting either the Tyler Sullivan. ing camp. They went right through mini camp first three or last three games of the series in order to minimize The Buzz then blitzed Orillia early and often in its final home and then when (they) had to pay (their) money, all travel. game of the regular season Sunday, building a 7-0 lead before of a sudden they were going back to university or This year marks the first postseason meeting between the the game was 17 minutes old. The Buzz added another nine couldn’t stay this summer,” said Betty, noting that Buzz and Lightning since 2008, when Oakville prevailed in five goals in the second period to build a 16-7 advantage through 40 fees this year were roughly $400 a player. games. That series was particularly memorable because a dis- minutes. Wales paced the Oakville attack with four goals and two “You know it’s not that they don’t want to play, pute over scheduling caused the OLA to rule that the top-seeded assists, while Todd Nakasuji, Robert Bentivegna and Colton it’s that they don’t have the finances.” Buzz and eighth-ranked Lightning would play the fifth and Watkinson all struck for three goals each. Bianchin potted two That’s left the Longhorns with as little depth as deciding game on a neutral floor in Bowmanville. and Keyan McQueen, Cowburn and Jagodkin also tallied in the one of The Real Housewives of Orange County. The Buzz was victorious in its lone regular-season meeting laugher. Sullivan recorded the win in net as the teams combined In Saturday’s loss to Tri-City, there were times with the Lightning this year, earning a 4-3 win May 1 in for 126 minutes in penalties. See Lack, page 27.