16 Independent & Free Press, Wednesday, February 13, 2008 SPORTS & LEISURE Raiders nail down second to earn first-round bye EAMONN MAHER it to prove what type of team we really have here. Staff Writer It also gives us a chance to heal some bumps and bruises and we’ll be able to get in a few practices Never ones to do things the easy way, the to work on some things and I know everyone’s Georgetown Raiders have nonetheless earned a looking forward to a bit of rest.” much-needed week-long break from the The number of teams from each of the four upcoming OHA Provincial Jr. A Hockey League OPJHL conferences that qualify for the post- playoff battles after a couple of weekend victo- season was cut from eight to six this year, ries. meaning that the top two clubs in the division Duelling with the Hamilton Red Wings over received opening-round byes, while the the final two weeks of the regular campaign for remaining four square off in best-of-5 the coveted second spot in the loop behind matchups to be played in just eight days. powerhouse Oakville, the 30-14-5 Raiders A number of Raiders could use some down pulled off a gritty 4-3 comeback win Friday time to recuperate from game action and while night in Burlington over the Cougars and then the team received good news on the ankle sta- dusted bottom-place Streetsville at the Alcott tus of forward Anthony Luciani, first-line Arena Saturday 6-3. winger Jeremy Wick will miss the first three Lead Ken McDermot (centre) of Georgetown had a strong week of play for Meanwhile, the Red Wings lost 2-1 to games of the second-round series. Wick and Rob Lobel’s rink from the Brampton Curling Club as the team placed fourth-place Brampton on Saturday evening, Burlington’s Michael Folkes were assessed fourth at the TSC Stores Tankard. Also pictured are Team Lobel members clinching second spot for the Raiders, who pre- four-game suspensions for intent-to-injure Scott Foster of Burlington (left, second) and Whitby’s Steven Lobel (vice). vailed by just one point over Hamilton despite match penalties in the second period of Photo courtesy Carol Pearson, Ontario Curling Association recent demoralizing losses to Burlington and Friday’s contest. Mississauga. “Missing Wick is tough but to get Luciani “The way this season’s gone, if there’s an back is like getting a free agent because not Local curler McDermot experiences expressway to the cottage, we’re the type of many people expected him to play again this team that likes to take the scenic route year,” said Freeman of his player’s fractured highs and lows at Ontario Tankard instead,” laughed Georgetown’s director of ankle, suffered Oct. 27. Georgetown native Ken McDermot battled a nagging hockey operations, Lonnie Freeman. The 17-year-old Luciani had 14 points in 13 McDermot was a key member of a throat infection through the week “But really, to get the bye is a load off every- games with the Raiders after starting the season Brampton rink that went nose-to- but soldiered on, and his side nearly body’s mind because after some of the things with the OHL’s Erie Otters. nose with some of the world’s top knocked off the undefeated Howard we’ve gone through, the guys just really wanted See RAIDERS,pg. 17 men’s curlers this past week at the in the round-robin, coming up just 2008 TSC Stores Tankard in short at 10-9. Waterloo, begrudgingly settling for a “It was a fun week. I’ve never won top-four result in the province. this event and have always left disap- The 39-year-old pointed. I’m leaving disap- McDermot was the lead pointed but it’s still fun to be for Brampton skip Rob here,” said McDermot, a Lobel during their run to married father of three who Saturday’s playoff round has made provincial curling after posting a 5-4 record appearances dating back to in preliminary pool play, 1989 with teams such as Bob facing the likes of current Fedosa, Peter Corner, Bob world champion Glenn Turcotte, and Russ “Hurry Howard, Peter Corner, Hard” Howard. Wayne Middaugh and MIKE “In the playoffs, anything Georgetown native Mike HARRIS can happen. We were think- Harris along the way. ing if we beat Harris and Lobel’s foursome quali- then there’s one game fied for the final four by edging against Howard and Peter Corner Brantford’s Wayne Tuck 9-8 in 11 and you never know, we’re off to ends in Saturday morning’s tiebreak- Winnipeg (for the Brier). There are ing game. Facing 1998 Olympic sil- hundreds of teams that would have ver medalist Harris in the 3 vs. 4 liked to be in our position, and we’ve match on Saturday afternoon, Lobel’s made it to the last four in the team led 7-4 after stealing three in province. That’s a pretty good the eighth end and led by a point accomplishment.” Jeremy Wick of the Georgetown Raiders (left) helps out his defence by warding off Burlington with the hammer in the 10th, but Cougars Jordan Gidaro (87) and Michael Budd (27) during their OHA Provincial Jr. A Hockey Harris prevailed 8-7, moving on to —with files from League contest in Burlington on Friday. The Raiders clinched second place in the division by lose to eventual champion Howard. Andrew Coppolino rallying for a 4-3 victory. Photo by Eamonn Maher A GOOD REASON TO SHOP LOCAL #2. Shopping local saves you money. Out of town shops have done a good job of convincing us all that sole traders = expensive, but the evidence just isn’t there to back this up . If you add in trav- 3(/0(!,4/.(),,3 YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER This message brought to el, parking costs, fees to transport larger items home and your you by your time, the overall cost is often much higher. local newspaper 905.873.0301.