Sports Oakville Beaver 32 SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email [email protected] • FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 2012 Former Leafs Vaive Bring it on! to coach minor midget AAAs

By Jon Kuiperij earlier this month. “The one thing we wanted BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR when we took over the ’97 program was Oakville kids to not feel they had to leave In the biggest season of their minor Oakville to be successful. Now we think we’re hockey careers, the Oakville minor midget in a position where we’ve got an extremely AAA Rangers will have a big name behind talented team and these kids are going to their bench. have an amazing year. It will be nice to see Former captain and them wearing Oakville jerseys as opposed to two-time 50- Toronto Marlies or Jr. Canadiens or all those scorer Rick Vaive will coach the other teams.” team of 1997-born players next Bruce Robertson, who has season, taking over from longtime worked with Strong for nine years, coach Duncan Harvey. will assist Vaive with the Rangers The 53-year-old Vaive, a long- next season. Harvey will also time Oakville resident, has a coach- remain involved with the team. ing resume that is nearly as impres- Vaive said winning is always a sive as his accomplishments as a focal point, identifying the OHL player. Vaive coached East Carolina Cup minor midget provincial to an East Coast Hockey League championship tournament as a championship in 1997 during a goal for the Rangers, but realizes five-year stint with the Stingrays, Rick Vaive player development and exposure and also served as bench boss of is also crucial next season. The the ’s Saint John minor midget year is the final year before Flames and Hockey League’s players are eligible to be drafted into the Mississauga IceDogs. Four years ago, he CHL, and college recruiters will also be pay- coached the Toronto Young Nationals minor ing close attention. midget team that included Jeff Skinner and Growing up in Prince Edward Island, Tyler Seguin, both of whom are now stars in Vaive didn’t face the same kind of pressure in the NHL. his minor midget year. It wasn’t until he was Vaive says he’s excited in junior A that Vaive drew about the opportunity to “He’s a wealth of interest from CHL scouts, coach a Rangers squad that knowledge, and he’s eventually being drafted by hopes to set an Oakville both the Quebec Major single-season record for excited to get back at it... Junior Hockey League’s most draftees to the Now we think we’re in a Sherbrooke Castors and the Canadian Hockey League. position where we’ve got OHL’s Toronto Marlboros. “They’ve been working an extremely talented team But Vaive said there is for a couple years to keep and these kids are going to still plenty of advice he can their existing players and pass along to 15-year-old have an amazing year.” bring in a couple players to players who are looking to PHOTO SUBMITTED put this team over the top,” showcase themselves next said Vaive. “There are a lot Former minor midget AAA season. MIGHTY MITE: Faith Peros of the Oakville mite select Angels digs into the batters box during of expectations for this Rangers coach Duncan Harvey “I don’t think you can a tournament earlier this month at Trafalgar Park. Oakville beat the Dundas Devils 11-5, Mississauga team.” shield or protect them. You Tigers 13-9 and Milton Bats 12-9 to reach the final before falling 8-4 to the Whitby Lightning and Vaive actually wasn’t the first choice to teach them what they’re going to encounter settling for silver. coach the minor midget AAA Rangers this and how to handle it,” said Vaive. “Not (tell- season. Ken Strong, also a former Maple ing) them what you say and what (scouts) Leafs forward who coached the Toronto want to hear, but how to handle yourself and Matheson going to Olympics Marlies the past few years, was initially sup- simple little things. Like when you meet a posed to coach the Rangers next season (general manager), give a good, firm hand- Diana Matheson is headed to her second tive appearances (45), a streak that ended in before accepting a pro hockey coaching job in shake, look him in the eye and talk to him. Olympic Games. 2006. Europe. The little things they look for, more so than The 28-year-old was one of 18 players Matheson missed the Olympic qualifying Vaive, who has helped out with the team what you do on the ice, are the intangibles off named to Canada’s Olympic women’s soccer tournament in Vancouver earlier this year in the past, certainly was not a bad Plan B. the ice, the confidence you have. team Monday. Matheson is one of Canada’s while recovering from surgery to repair torn “He’s a wealth of knowledge, and he’s “I think they can all get better and excel in most experienced players, ranking behind cartilage in her right knee. The White Oaks excited to get back at it,” said Harvey, who’s several different areas,” he added. “I’m going only Christine Sinclair among current team grad returned to the Canadian lineup in coached the team since the novice age but is in trying to improve everybody’s deficiencies members in international appearances — May. stepping aside after becoming the general by 10-15 per cent. If you can do that, you and third all-time — with 131. She also Matheson has been with the national manager of the Oakville Blades junior A team make them better all-around players.” owns the Canadian record for most consecu- team since 2003.