SportsOakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email [email protected] • FRIDAY,AUGUST 22, 2008 35 Legein Okay, here’s the plan... Johansson, Stittle considering finish fourth quitting in Olympic sailing QINGDAO, — A late rally by Oakville’s Oskar Johansson and teammate Kevin Stittle fell short as they settled for fourth in the fast catamaran sailing class at the Olympic Summer hockey Games. Johansson and Stittle finished second for the third consecutive Seven months ago, Stefan Legein walked race yesterday (Thursday), but that wasn't enough to reel in off a plane at Pearson Airport to a hero’s wel- 's and Carlos Espinola for the bronze. come, a gold medal from the World Junior The Canadian duo began the day fifth overall after 10 races and Hockey Championships around his neck. was 13 points back of the Argentines, who were sixth in the medal Now, at the age of 19, the Oakville native race — which counts double — and finished with 56 points. appears to be walking Johansson and Stittle finished with 61 points and needed the away from the game. Argentines to finish ninth or worse in the medal race to move up Columbus Blue further. Jackets general man- "We went out there and knew we had to have a good race due ager Scott Howson to the points spread. We achieved that," said Johansson. "We raced said he received a call well, but our final placing depended on circumstances beyond our from Legein’s agent control." Doug Woods on The Canadians were hurt by poor results in the sixth (15th), Tuesday, informing seventh (11th) and eighth (12th) races. Competitors drop their Stefan Legein him Legein would worst result. not be reporting to Fernando Echavarri and Anton Paz of won the gold training camp next month. medal with 44 points while Aussies and Glenn “We knew he was struggling with some Ashby took silver at 49. issues last season with his passion to play — Torstar News Service the game,” said Howson, who drafted Legein in the second round of the 2007 NHL entry draft, “but we didn’t think it would Van Koeverden in 500m final come to this. He’s a really good player and hopefully he can sort this out and get his Olympic double-medal threat Adam van Koeverden, who was desire back.” scheduled to paddle in the kayaking singles 1,000-metre final this Legein played four seasons in the morning (Friday), will also shoot for gold in tomorrow’s (Saturday’s) Hockey League, three in 500m final after winning his semifinal yesterday (Thursday). Mississauga and his final year with the The Burloak Canoe Club athlete easily advanced to the 500m Niagara IceDogs, after the team relocated to final by posting a time of 1:42.438 in the semis, easing off at the fin- St. Catharines. He separated his shoulder in ish line to save his energy for the medal races. the gold-medal game at the world juniors in “I was thinking this is the last (race) before a final. Time to tune CHRIS KORNACKI / OAKVILLE BEAVER the Czech Republic and missed several up. I’m feeling really good. I’m putting my best races together. I’m weeks. Upon his return, he racked up 18 AIM FOR THE GLOVE: Minor A Athletics catcher Spencer Gaion (left) dis- concentrating on having the best races possible and that’s all I can points in 10 games for Niagara in the play- cusses strategy with pitcher Owen Janssen during the Oakville Little League’s cham- ask of myself,” said the Loyola grad. offs and then joined Columbus’ American pionship day Saturday at Cornwall Park. The Athletics fell to the Cardinals in extra Earlier in the week, van Koeverden set a world record in heats of Hockey League affiliate for innings. the 500m — the event he won at the 2004 Games in Athens — with two playoff games. a time of 1:35.554. The 500m final will be held at 3:30 a.m. eastern. It was after joining Syracuse that Legein The news wasn’t as good yesterday for van Koeverden’s friend told the Blue Jackets he needed some time off. Jenner, Kessler on national teams and Burloak teammate, Mark Oldershaw, who finished fourth in his “He indicated that he has lost some of his canoeing singles 500m semifinal. The top three athletes in each Brianne Jenner has been named Oakville netminder Christina passion and needed a break,” Howson said. semi advanced to the final. captain of the Canada's women's Kessler was named to the Canadian The Columbus GM assumed that his “I went harder at the start than in the heats,” said Oldershaw, under-18 hockey team that will play roster for the under-22 team, which desire would return over the summer and who was seen as a medal threat. “I guess I wasted too much energy. against the United States in Lake will also play three games against the was surprised to get the phone call from I didn’t have it at the end. I am completely disappointed. I came here Placid, N.Y. The three-game series U.S. in Pierrefonds, Que. The Oakville Legein’s agent on Tuesday. to contend for a medal and I’m not even in the final.” begins Wednesday and continues Trafalgar grad is entering her junior Howson said if Legein doesn’t report to Burloak’s Brady Reardon, Chris Pellini and the men’s K-4 crew until Saturday. Jenner also played for year at Harvard, where she posted a camp, he’ll be suspended by the team. earned a spot in today’s final by finishing third in Wednesday’s semi, Canada at the World Under-18 30-2-0 record with 12 shutouts and a A phone call to Legein was not returned. posting a time of 3:02.572. Championships in Calgary in January, 1.06 goals-against average last sea- — Herb Garbutt — Torstar News Service where Canada earned a silver medal. son. If you love golf, you will love TRAFALGAR GOLF & Trafalgar Golf & Country Club! 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