17 | Wednesday, May 22, 2013 | 22, May | Wednesday, Jon Kuiperij Sports Editor “Connected to your Community”
[email protected] Sports CANADIAN CHAMP Another junior A hockey team coming to Halton OAKVILLE BEAVER Oakville native Oliver Wren will coach GMHL’s Cyclones | www.insideHALTON.com ers from the U.S. and overseas, which is much Local 11-year-old by Kevin Nagel Metroland Media Group more difficult to do through Hockey Canada,” Matthew Choi said Hetherman. “It’s got a bit more of a world- won a pair of gold wide flavour to it than the junior hockey that’s medals recently at There will be some unfamiliar junior hockey playing in Ontario right now.” the Canada Open teams visiting Halton in the fall. The OJHL recently cut down from 37 to taekwondo champi- With the arrival of the Burlington-based Hal- 23 teams to strengthen its product and entice onships in Toronto. ton Cyclones — a new Greater Metro Hockey more scouts to its games. Choi, a student at League junior A franchise — local fans might “It left (out) a lot of kids who are talented Joshua Creek Public see teams from as far away as Temiscaming, junior A players, but find it tough to make a School, claimed Que. (the Titans) or as close as Toronto (the 23-team OJHL,” said Hetherman. “The GMHL the sparring title in Blue Ice Jets, Predators and Attack), depend- gives them a place to gain experience and the black belt boys’ ing on how the schedule is devised. hopefully elevate into the OJHL and other lev- under 48-kilogram There are 20 teams in the league at the mo- els of hockey.” welterweight division ment, with the Cyclones the latest addition.