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. The recent decision by the OJHL to al- with an 8-3 win in the When Adam Bennett, a Georgetown busi- low teams to charge players a fee to play (bit. final. He also won the ness owner, announced last week he had to ly/19uaR7e) is already an operating strategy youth boys’ poomsae step away from the team for personal reasons, for many GMHL teams. black belt division, Mark Hetherman, the Burlington Cougars’ “It’s very difficult to run a junior A franchise scoring 5.9 points general manager for the past three seasons, and make any money,” said Hetherman. “As a out of a possible 10 bought the club. matter of fact it’s virtually impossible without for Pattern 8 and The Cougars are members of the Ontario having a pay-to-play model.” 6.0 for Koryo. The Junior Hockey League, as are the Oakville Hetherman will officially announce the runner-up tallied 5.4 Blades. Hetherman said there are no hard feel- identity of the Cyclones’ first head coach — and 5.3 points in ings between the two junior A teams based in 25-year-old Oakville native Oliver Wren — Pattern 8 and Koryo, Burlington, or with any other OJHL teams in this week. The former Cougars and Blades respectively. the area. goaltender recently played in Australia after “No not at all,” he said. “For me it’s just the attending SUNY-Brockport and playing NCAA | photo by Hannah next step going from GM to owner. I don’t be- hockey from 2008-12. Yoon — Special to lieve (we’ll be in competition with the Cou- Hetherman admitted that he and Wren have the Beaver gars). It’s a different league, I would say it’s be- some studying to do on all facets of running low the calibre of the OJHL. In fact, I think it’s a new team, including player eligibility rules, a great feeder opportunity for the Cougars and schedules and travel. the OJHL in general.” The league conducted its 2013-14 draft ear- The Cyclones’ home base will be the Wave lier this month, with the Cyclones choosing Sports Centre on Benson Ave. Swede Douglas Engstam in the first round, The GMHL is not under the Hockey Cana- 17th overall. They added local Blyth Academy da umbrella, so regulations regarding signing student Marcel Leclerc in the second round and players and their origin are not as stringent as Konnor Roskovich of the North York Rangers the national governing body. in the third round. The complete draft list is “The (GMHL) allows you to bring over play- available at the GMHL site, www.gmhl.net. Buzz puts scare into Green Gaels, doubles up Mimico to move to 4-2 For the second time in two weeks, the Oakville Buzz dem- Those losses are the only blemishes this season for the Sunday, Campbell struck for another three goals and four onstrated the ability to compete with the Ontario Lacrosse Buzz (4-2), which rebounded from Friday’s defeat to down assists as the Buzz built an early 5-1 lead and carried a 9-3 Association junior B league’s elite. the Mimico Mountaineers 12-6 Sunday. That game was advantage into the second intermission. Troy O’Donnell also Oakville nearly handed the Clarington Green Gaels their also played at the TRAC as the Buzz continued an early- had a hat trick and added an assist, with Renaud (goal, four first loss of the season Friday at the Toronto Rock Athletic season schedule that sees the team play six of its first seven assists) and Watkinson (goal, three assists) each enjoying Centre (TRAC). The Green Gaels needed a goal with 1:25 games at home. productive outings as well. Jimmy Shea, Andrew Kew, Wales remaining in regulation time to earn a 9-8 win and improve Mitch Wales paced Oakville Friday with two goals and and Bolduc added singles in support of Noseworthy. to 7-0 on the season. three assists, while Greg Campbell added two goals and two The Buzz will play its fifth consecutive home game Fri- The Buzz also gave the 5-0 Halton Hills Bulldogs all they helpers. Mitchell Bolduc, Eddie Renaud, Liam Corbett and day (an 8 p.m. start against the Mississauga Tomahawks at could handle May 4 in Georgetown, trailing by a goal with Dalton Follows also tallied, and Colton Watkinson had three the TRAC) before hitting the road Sunday for a visit to the six minutes to go before falling 9-7. assists. Brent Noseworthy took the loss in net. Newmarket Saints..