www.aplushomes.ca Oakville Beaver Adam Campbell Broker of Record 905-844-4444 REALTY COR P. BROKERAGE Sports INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email [email protected] • WEDNESDAY,APRIL 28, 2010 25 CENTRAL CANADA CHAMPS: The Oakville Blades won the Dudley Hewitt Cup last weekend to qualify for the RBC Cup national junior A hockey champi- onships in Manitoba. In far photo, players cel- ebrate with the Dudley Hewitt Cup. In near photo, captain Mike Ingoldsby accepts the trophy from Hockey Canada’s Rick Richardson. PHOTOS BY JIM EGAN / SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Blades headed back to national tournament By Jon Kuiperij winning goal Saturday, deflecting a Blades goalie Daniel Savelli. But Newmarket Hurricanes, Morissette Greenham quit the team just prior BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR point shot by Blades defenceman Savelli atoned for his mistake the was the winning goaltender in to the RBC Cup in order to main- Alex Cord at the 5:24 mark of the rest of the way, finishing the game Game 7 of the Blades’ previous tain his NCAA eligibility for the fol- For the second time in three third period. But the bigger with 21 stops and concluding the playoff round against the defending lowing season, thrusting the team’s years, the Oakville Blades are moment of the final for the Blades tournament with a 4-0 record, Ontario Junior Hockey League little-used backup into the starting preparing to take the national stage. might have taken place in the first allowing only three goals in the champion Kingston Voyageurs. role. Oakville qualified for the RBC period, when the game was still four games. That means goaltending should- “We had a tough situation with Cup national junior A hockey scoreless. Savelli and Mike Morissette have n’t be an issue at this year’s RBC our goalie last time,” Lain admit- championship tournament Oakville was two men short for a provided Oakville with depth in Cup, something that wasn’t the ted. “(Greenham) was our best Saturday, winning the Dudley 1:32 stretch early in the game. But goal all season. While Savelli played case when the Blades went 1-3 and player by far. I know, probably, Hewitt Cup championship with a 2- the Blades not only killed the every minute of the Dudley Hewitt failed to reach the playoff round at mentally it affected us a little. 1 victory over the Fort William penalties off, they also scored a Cup and got the bulk of the playing the 2008 tournament in Cornwall. “It’s really nice (having two top North Stars in Sault Ste. Marie. shorthanded goal as Mark time in the Ontario Hockey That year, the Blades’ main goalies). They push each other. If The Blades will represent McGowan banged in his own Association final against the backstop was Scott Greenham. But one of them’s not playing well, we Central Canada at the RBC Cup, rebound 7:52 into the contest. don’t need to worry because we which will also feature the Pacific “It was just a big momentum know both of them are capable of champion Vernon Vipers, West shift,” said Steven Guzzo, one of playing well. It’s good for the team champion La Ronge Ice Wolves, the Oakville penalty killers during OAKVILLEOAKVILLE BLADESBLADES not having to worry back there so East champion Brockville Braves the 5-on-3. “Once we killed it, we 2009-10 Central Canada Junior A Hockey Champions we can just play confidently no and tournament host Dauphin just kind of knew that this game matter who’s in there.” Kings. The tournament begins this was ours.” PLAYERS: Bradley Ryan, Thomas Evans, Nick Lain, Guzzo and Badham — all Saturday in Dauphin, Manitoba. Kyle Badham, who was watch- Rivait, Alex Cord, Kyle Blaney, Dan Hunt, Steven local residents — were part of that “I know it’s not too exciting out ing the game from outside the Guzzo, Andrew Santino, Ryan Murphy, Stephen 2008 team, as were Dustin Alcock there,” said Blades forward Kellan glass after being ejected for hitting Hickey, Dustin Alcock, Tyler Karius, Kellan Lain, and Dan Hunt. The experience of Lain, who was the MVP of the from behind, agreed. Michael Ingoldsby, Mark McGowan, Mike having been there before should Dudley Hewitt Cup. “But I’m defi- “It was a big kill, and then Morissette, Daniel Savelli, Kyle Lysaght, Steven provide a big advantage this time nitely excited to go play some hock- McGowan got that goal,” said Trojanovic, Josh Ranalli, Nick Scamurra, Kyle around, the veterans said. ey there.” Badham, who had six points at the Badham, Mark Bennett “The teams there are really Oakville went 4-0 at the Dudley Dudley Hewitt Cup and shared the good,” said Lain. “They’re the best Hewitt Cup, defeating Fort tournament’s top scorer award STAFF: Gary Tune, Carlo Coccimiglio, Jason Nobili, teams in the country. If you’re not William, the Abitibi Eskimos and with Abitibi’s Marc-Alain Begin. “I Chris Vanstone, Matt Moore, Brandon Cordua, on top of your game, you’re not host Soo Thunderbirds in the think it really lifted the team up.” James Brock, Jim Holman, David Scamurra, Jim going to win. round robin before edging the Fort William would tie the game Shanks, Dr. Benjamin Fryer, Craig Clayton, Caroline “We just have to go there pre- North Stars in the final. 1-1 in the second period, taking Low pared and wanting to win and play Ryan Murphy scored the game- advantage of an ill-advised pass by our best and see what happens.”.