22 Independent & Free Press, Wednesday, September 19, 2007 SPORTS & LEISURE Shootout win evens Raiders’ record at 1-1

EAMONN MAHER and 16-year-old phenom Bathgate Staff Writer seemed eager to shoot first, burying a wrist shot to the Mississauga Although it won’t count in the goalie’s stick side. Another of the year-end statistics, rookie Andy Raiders’ highly touted prospects, Bathgate’s first Jr. A goal was worth Lukas Ciotti, clinched the victory 2- an extremely valuable two points to 0 on a spectacular deke. the Georgetown Raiders at the Port “I love the Credit Arena in Mississauga on shootout. If a Monday evening. shootout hap- The Raiders chalked up a fran- pened every game chise-first regular-season shootout I think we’d really victory over the host Chargers, a do well this year,” wide-open 6-5 tilt that at times laughed the 6- resembled training-camp scrimmage. foot-1, 175-pound Playing in just its second game of ANDY BATHGATE Bathgate, who has the year and leading 5-1 after a Nets winner already committed superb first period, Georgetown to study and play allowed the upstart Chargers back hockey at Northeastern University in into the contest with some shoddy Boston in 2009. defensive zone play. The visitors While Raiders’ coach James were actually fortunate not to lose Richmond expects some growing the game in regulation, thanks to pains with such a youthful lineup in two big saves in the closing seconds front of him, the OPJHL’s reduction by netminder Eddy Davey, leading to in playoff qualifiers from eight teams a frantic but scoreless 4-on-4 extra to six in 2007-08 means that points period. thrown away against previously The OHA Provincial Jr. A Hockey weaker teams such as Mississauga Georgetown Raiders’ defenceman Jeremy Wick lands awkwardly in this collision with League has introduced the NHL-for- are even more damaging. Mississauga’s Fred Santini on Monday in an OHA Provincial Jr. A Hockey League matchup at mat shootout to break ties after the “We had the pedal down in the the Port Credit Arena. Acquired during the off-season from Orangeville, Wick has made quite five-minute overtime period this year first period and then got out of posi- an impression on his opponents in the first two games of Georgetown’s regular season, tion a couple of times and it cost us,” delivering several punishing hits while a provinding a steady presence on the blue line. The said Richmond. “It’s early in the sea- Raiders let a four-goal first-period lead get away from them Monday but eventually won in a son and we’ll figure it out. There are shootout 6-5. Photo by Eamonn Maher some good young players here and they’re working with the veterans to be better as the season goes on. At least you can’t say it’s not entertain- ing to watch.” Spike in high school activities Wearing the same number nine his namesake grandfather starred in Regular-season action for the Halton Georgetown beginning at 3:30 p.m. for many years with the New York Secondary School Athletic Association gets Meanwhile, Georgetown’s senior and junior Rangers, Bathgate has already drawn under way this week for a number of sports basketball teams will play at Oakville-Trafalgar attention of NHL scouts for his over- and Georgetown District High School’s senior this afternoon in their Division One season all talent levels and puck sense at the boys’ volleyball Rebels tuned up with a top- debut as well. Georgetown’s Christ the King centre position. Drafted by the flight tournament over the weekend at the Jaguars travel to Burlington today to take on Ontario Hockey League’s Belleville University of Guelph, finishing as runners-up. the Lester B. Pearson cagers. Bulls in the spring, the Grade 11 The senior Rebels swept through pool play Girls’ field hockey also starts Wednesday, Christ the King student has turned to place first and then knocked off Grand River with the GDHS seniors hosting Robert Bateman down a substantial education pack- in the semifinals, setting up a championship of Burlington and Christ the King entertaining age offer from the Bulls to maintain match with host Guelph Centennial. Notre Dame. Both games face off at 3:30 p.m. his eligibility to attend Northeastern. Georgetown dominated the first game, but On the gridiron, HSSAA football kicks off “There’s been a lot of distractions Guelph rallied to take the third-and-deciding this Thursday with new divisional realignment with Belleville and some tough deci- set 15-13. Rebel captain Ricky Davids led the that will see Georgetown and CtK play against sions but I just feel Georgetown is offence, with Aaron Hnatiw, Devin Rattie, the powerhouse teams from Oakville and the right place for me,” added Chris Pett, Millar Galbraith and Travis Wright Burlington. Last fall, the senior Jaguars cap- Geoffrey Crowther of EndZone Bathgate, whose father Bill played for contributing scoring kills as well. Setter Matt tured the Division 2 title in Hamilton over the Sports (left) duels with Matthew the local Jr. B Gemini. “It’s comfort- Barker, along with Billy Partridge and Tyler Rebels and now both teams have been moved Preston from Paul Armstrong able playing at home with a great Sauve, helped establish the GDHS passing up to the Division newly established 1&2 Insurance in an under-9 boys’ divi- bunch of guys and I’m just trying to attack. league. sion match at the Georgetown get into the flow of playing at the Jr. Coach Kyle Stewart’s side, which finished The senior Rebels will host Loyola Thursday Soccer Club’s Closing Day earlier A level. I can just go out and play 11th at last year’s OFSAA championships, will at 3:30 p.m. and the Jags will be at Oakville- this month at the Croatian Centre. now and not worry about the off-ice face a stern test today (Wednesday) in the sea- Trafalgar on Friday afternoon. The Georgetown EndZone prevailed 4-0. stuff.” son opener against rival Oakville-Trafalgar in schools will faced each other Oct. 4. Photo by Jon Borgstrom See BUSY, pg. 23

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