DO IT NOW! Lawnmower Service J auto ••rv io tL u p vt l $ 4 0 <cp^M }Q +parts on brake pads or CURRENT POWER MACHINERY INC. shoes installed 1661lbbi LakeshoreLakesnore Kd.Rd. W.w. MississaucMississauga Limited time offer. See Manager for Details. (2 block east of SouthdownSo A 0 4 4 112 Speers Rd., Oakville (just west of Kerr) Road in Clarkson) ' A I I SPORTS Editor: Norm Nelson Phone: 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax: 905-337-5567 e-mail: [email protected] Eight bantam skaters chosen in OHL draft Total o f eleven local players selected by teams in province s top junior league By Robb Swybrous went to the Spitfires in the 11th round players, three other Oakville skaters crop. or they wouldn’t be here,” Keith SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER and Nick Davis is now property of the were chosen. The sturdy Blades’ forward finished Murray, MOHA Town Rep vice-presi­ Ottawa 67’s who chose him in the 12th Evan McGrath who played for the third in scoring in the Provincial Junior dent, said. “We are very pleased that y now you’d think Oakville round. Oakville Blades this year was taken in A Western conference with 43 goals these players have chosen to come As per OHL rules only a team’s top the first round (12th overall) by the and 44 assists for 87 points. home to Oakville to continue their Rangers bantam AAA coach two draft picks each year are eligible Kitchener Rangers. He was also named OHA player of hockey careers. This is a great day for Scott McKenzie was as to play the next season in the OHL. the month in January and the Western Oakville Rangers’ hockey.” B T. Donati impressed with his team as any That means none of the bantam- conference’s rookie of the year. Heading the list of returning players coach could be. aged players can suit up for an • Oshawa Generals Oreskovich also had an impressive is Luke Moodie, who played last year After all his group of players OHL club next season but season. with the North York Rangers in the wrapped up their third straight Ontario McKenzie is pretty sure at Heersink McKenzie The 6-foot-2, 195 pound GTHL but has signed to skate with Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) least a few of his for- •W indsor S p itfir e s Windsor Spitfires forward earned rookie-of- Oakville’s bantam AAA squad this title this season and earned a silver mer players will be the year honours this year. medal at the all-Ontario championships skating in the past season playing Joining Moodie on the bantam team in March. league during the in the Golden will be Scott Hamel, Domenic But after last weekend’s Ontario 2003-04 sea­ Horseshoe Junior Monardo and Daniel Ruffo. Hockey League (OHL) Priority draft, son. B Hockey Each earned an all-Ontario champi­ McKenzie says his players have taken “I think League with onship last season with the GTHL’s it to another level. probably the St. Junior Canadians. Eight of the Rangers were selected Chris Catharines Oakville’s minor bantam AAA into the province’s top junior league, Rowan has Perkins squad will welcome Jordan Watts for including both of the team’s goalies — a really Falcons. next season after a one-year hiatus to Chris Rowan and Matt Pike. good shot He was play with the Mississauga Senators. “The guys went who I thought and also select­ Michael Ide is also re-joining the would,” McKenzie said. “Both goal- Heersink’s ed to that Oakville rep system and will play with tenders went which I though was really a real solid that the minor bantam AAA team after good. It’s got to be pretty unusual to defence- league’s all- playing three years in Mississauga. have both goalies drafted.” man. He’s star team. The midget AAA’s are expecting Rowan was selected in the sixth six-two and Davis UlU m News that Andrew Antidormi to bolster their line­ round by the Barrie Colts, while Pike can really • Ottawa 67ys • Owen Sound eleven Oakville up and the peewee AAA’s are hoping was drafted in the 10th round by the move the puck,” A ttack hockey players for big things from former Wexford Saginaw Spirits. he said. “(And) were picked in Raiders’ player Andrew Neuwald. In addition to the team’s puck-stop- Tyler Donati — he lit Pike Rowan last weekend’s OHL Joining the peewee AA team for pers, it up this year, he had a * Saginaw Spirits • Barrie Colts Priority draft isn’t the only 2002-03 defence- “Both goaltenders tremendous year.” J. Donati thing that has Oakville “Obviously they must are Dylan Having eight players selected (MOHA) rep hockey officials excit­ man Ben went which I thought * Oshawa Generals Mac- Heersink to the OHL means McKenzie will ed. be comfortable with Dougall was chosen was really good. It's leave a tremendous legacy on Oakville Great day for Rangers ’ hockey our program. This is and Dylan by the got to be pretty minor hockey. Victor Oreskovich played junior B The organization is also set to wel­ a great day for Ellis. Windsor The veteran bench boss is turning this season in St.Catharines and was come back a crop of hometown skaters Ryan unusual to have both Oakville Rangers Spitfires in in his clipboard and hanging up his selected in the sixth round by the to play in the MOHA system for the Zurawell the fifth goalies drafted.” skates this season. Spitfires. 2002-03 year. Hockey.” and Daniel round; • Scott Mckenzie Unprecedented draft Rounding out Oakville’s selections Many of the returnees are players • Keith Murray Tremblay twins Tyler The bantam squad was well repre­ was Ryan Wilkinson. He played last who previously skated with an join the and Justin Donati were taken by the sented at the the draft but when you year for the Burlington bantam AAA Oakville club but left to play with minor bantam AA. Oshawa Generals in the sixth and 15th add in the other Oakville-based players team and was selected in the 15th teams in the Greater Toronto Hockey At the single- A level, Daniel rounds respectively; Charlie Giffin was chosen, it turned out to be an unprece­ round by the Mississauga Ice Dogs. League (GTHL). McRae joins the bantam team, while chosen in the eighth round by the dented draft for this town’s players. Of the 11 local players selected, “Obviously they must be comfort­ Eric Carr will lace up for the minor Owen Sound Attack; Brad McKenzie In addition to the eight bantam McGrath is perhaps the cream of the able with our program and philosophy midget team. Barrie Erskine • Oakville Beaver An Oakville Coyotes player (white) tries to fend off a Burlington Wave defender while the Wave goaltender makes a save. The Coyotes got two goals from rookie Jeff Brown in an 8-6 win Sunday at Oakville Arena. The Coyotes next home game is Friday at 8 p.m. against Brampton. Coyotes counting on locals GM thinks Oakville players will make difference Tired of searching all over the Rookie Jeff Brown lead all as well as Brett Edwards to pro­ province for the right mix of scores with three goals and one vide the goaltending this season. players, Oakville Coyotes gener­ assist and made a great first- The team’s defence will be al manger Jay Labelle started impression on GM Labelle. anchored by veteran Mike Zack looking in his own backyard. “Some rookies take a game or while Domski, Rosso and Geoff After all, says Labelle, two or sometimes even a season Aselstine will be counted on to Oakville’s pool of young, talent­ to acclimatize themselves to the provide some scoring punch. ed hockey players is as good as quickness of the Junior A level,” It was just the start Labelle another other town in the he said. “Brown took a half.” was looking for from his team province. Other Coyotes scoring in the that has been a middle-of-the- “In the past couple of years win were veteran Luke Domski pack achiever in the past couple we’ve had a lot of out-of-town- with two goals, Shaun Dakin of seasons. guys, a lot of OHL guys,” with a goal and two helpers, Considering the team is made Labelle said. “But it just never Kelly Vietch and Dan Rosso up of 11 rookies, Labelle admits jelled. This year we went with with singles. his expectations aren’t sky-high completely local guys. And the Ryan Kuri also played a but his ready to be proved fact that we had a really good strong game chipping in with a wrong. group of young guys coming up couple of assists. “When you have three or four through the system allowed us to The Coyotes had a slim 3-2 returning guys you can’t expect do that” half-time lead but came out in too much,” he said. “To be hon­ Labelle’s focus on home­ the second half and took it to est I’d probably be happy with grown talent is already paying Burlington early netting five middle of the pack but I thin off. The team opened its goals in the first 10 minutes of we’ll probably out-do my expec­ Provincial Junior A roller hock­ the second half. tations. We’re pretty pumped ey league season Sunday at Goalie Sean Tompa played about it.” Oakville Arena with an 8-6 win well in the game’s final 10 min­ Their next home game is over the Burlington Wave.